MARLBORO — “Everything we do is improvisation that is made up on the spot,” says Karin Hammerberg, one of four members of the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), arguably America's best-known improv troupe, who will make their way to Marlboro College for a performance this weekend.
“UCB's touring company is composed of a pool of around 20 individuals, from which four will perform at any given gig,” she says.
Hammerberg was introduced to improv after a performer from Second City demonstrated the art of improvisation to a class she was taking. She fell in love with improv and resolved to make a career out of it - which she has. She has been working with the New York branch of UCB for many years.
“We have no props, and we never leave the stage,” she explains. “However, our shows may be somewhat different from the improv most commonly seen in comedy clubs. Rather than creating a short takeoff on something someone in the audience suggests, which generally leads up to some joke or topper, we do what is called 'long-form improv,' wherein we develop rather lengthy pieces that really become short plays.”
That style comes straight from ImprovOlympic (now known as iO, after the International Olympic Committee threatened a trademark-infringement lawsuit in 2001 over its name), a theater in Chicago that pioneered the long-form style.
“For instance, in most of our shows, like the one we will be performing at Marlboro, we present only two extended improv sets per evening, each running around a half an hour,” she says. “As in most other kinds of improv, for inspiration in the first half of the show, we interview the audience to get our ideas. Usually, people will say something like 'food.'”
Hammerberg says audiences offer food topics so often, “we will tell the people to suggest anything but food.”
She describes how the process works.
“Let's say someone suggests spaghetti,” she says (since the topic of food is, in reality, off the table). “Okay, then someone in the troupe might think of places like Olive Garden, where they give you an obscene amount of food to eat, and from that all four of us begin developing our piece.
“But there is no planning or pre-discussion of what we will do,” she says. “Everything is developed spontaneously before the audience on stage.”
Touring around the county with UCB, Hammerberg has performed in front of a wide variety of people.
“Our audiences vary all the time,” she says. “One week we could be at a liberal arts college, and the next week we might find ourselves at some local theater which has interests that are quite different. Our troupe has to keep on its toes as we test the audience to find out what style plays well where.”
The art of improv
UCB is not only a performing venue but also a place to learn the art of improv. The Upright Citizens Brigade Improvisational and Sketch Comedy Training Center is the only accredited improv and sketch comedy school in the country.
“With facilities in New York and Los Angeles, the UCB Training Center offers comedy courses seven days a week,” according to the school's website. “In cooperation with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, students have a chance to perform and learn from current alumni in a popular venue.”
In addition to teaching the necessary skills, UCB Theatre also works on behalf of its students to give them every possible opportunity to develop their own creative voices, industry relationships, and comedic careers. Many students have gone on to appear in and write for stage, television, and major motion picture productions as well as popular comedy content on the Internet.
“There are four levels of instruction at the school, ranging from courses at 101 up to 401,” explains Hammerberg. “Each level is made up of eight classes at three hours each. To be on the team working at the UCB clubs or be on tour, you have to have taken all the classes.”
But those improv performers who do perform at any of the UCB clubs are quite dedicated to their art, since no one is ever paid there.
Robin Williams, Mike Myers, Will Ferrell, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, and Conan O'Brien have each appeared in shows at UCB Theatre.
“You work at any of the UCB clubs for free,” Hammerberg says. “UCB is dedicated in its mission to provide low-cost entertainment. You do it for the fun, the experience, and the connections.”
“It is only when you work for the touring company do you get any significant money for what you do,” she says. “But I do not work only the tours. I still perform often in the UCB clubs.”
“You see, improv remains for me a labor of love.”