The Official Del Close Marathon Thread

[wrinkle_in_my_pants]

The Del Close Marathon is on August 8th-10th here in NYC!! Post the shows you're in here. Tell us about your troupe, or group, whatever. Talk about the shows you are excited to see....


More about the marathon here: http://www.delclosemarathon.com/dcm10/shows
Full scehdule here: http://www.delclosemarathon.com/dcm10/schedule

I haven't dived into the schedule just yet, but I already have my tickets to see Scheer/Mcbrayer. It was the HIGHLIGHT of the DCM last year! Hands down! Also looking forward to the FabriceFabrice-athon. I also recommend The Satellites. Rob Riggle, Ed Helms, Jason Sudekis. The three of them are hardcore Dave Matthews Band fans. Great show last year.

[Aaron1933]

I have a question, and maybe someone in the know can answer it.

Since passes are only being sold at the door, will they still likely be available after the first day?

[disl]

i plan on being present for at least 30 hours of the marathon this year. the highlight for me last year was cage match, the combination of extreme ridiculousness and it being 5:30am was sublime. 99% of the shows are great, but i can't remember laughing harder than at that cage match show.

[mezmorized]

I have a question, and maybe someone in the know can answer it.

Since passes are only being sold at the door, will they still likely be available after the first day?

I would say yes, because they are just passes and don't guarantee you a seat (you have to wait in line until you get into the theater), but I'm not a 100% sure. Call the theater and ask.

I can't wait for the marathon. Last year's marathon was the best weekend of the summer for me, which means this one is going to be even better. I'll be at the shows for a good 18 hours each day and I'm starting to catch up on my sleep now for that weekend.

Shows you need to see (which also means I need to see again):

Wicked Fuckin Queeyah
Directors Commentary Live
Hotsauce
Glaser & Walsh
Match Game 76
Walsh & Roberts (In my opinion this was the perfect show to end the marathon)

Sidenote: If I ever get a chance to see Andrew Dice Hitler (played by Brett Gelman) again, I will probably die. From the laughter.

[sharilyn]

I'm VERY excited for this year's DCM.

Some valuable (imo) tips for a good DCM experience can also be found over in the Improv Resource Centre: http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/showthread.php?t=59028

The best show last year was the Daily Show / Colbert Report Improv Jam. Laura Krafft and Peter Gwinn are two of my favourite improvisors. Plus, with Helms and Riggle in the mix, you know you're golden. Last year, John Oliver made his improvising debut at this show and did amazingly well.

My personal must-sees for DCM...
Friday: Everything @ UCBT up to and including Satellites (Dave Matthews Band themed improv, hilarious!), Naked Babies, Respecto Montalban. Saturday: UCB @ 5:30, TDS/TCR jam, Horatio Sanz's thing, and hopefully Smartest Panel if I can get back into the theatre. Sunday is a no-brainer, as everything from 4pm onwards is pure awesome -- Delta Force 2, Let's Have a Ball, Naked Babies, Scheer-McBrayer, Baby Wants Candy, Walsh & Roberts.

One thing everyone should do is try to see stuff in the week leading up to the Marathon as well, both at the UCBT and the theatre at FIT. A lot of the groups, like Baby Wants Candy, Scheer-McBrayer, and the Swarm are doing shows pre-Marathon, which takes some of the pressure off your schedule if you're facing tough choices. Full schedule is here: http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/schedule/

[Lil G]

I am in St. Patrick's Wake (2:15am on Sunday, right before Match Game 76).

I can't wait to see:
Bassprov
The Satellites
The Stepfathers
Death By Roo Roo
Wicked Fuckin' Queeyah
Cracked Out
The Sunshine Gang
Mister Diplomat
Match Game 76
Scheer-McBrayer
Baby Wants Candy

Obviously.

What time do you guys think the theatre will start getting packed? My flight should be getting in around 5:30pm and I'll be going straight to UCB from the airport.

[wrinkle_in_my_pants]

Heading straight there is a good choice. It was full at the first show, but don't worry, you'll get in. I spent about 43-44 hours or so there last year, not inculding the crazy ass afterparty. I went straight from seeing opening of The Simpsons movie to UCBT, left at one point for a gig and to see another comedian perform at a different event, and then strolled back.

Don't worry about not getting a pass, it's all about getting into the theater for the shows you want to see. But if you really wanna know a secret about getting in and are worried, PM me. I'm thinking about bringing a sleeping bag and some food or some shit and just spending the weekend there. 72 hour UCB sleepover! Can't wait!

Also, another show NOT to miss is the Drunken Sonic Assault. "Hippie Crack!"

[RegularKarate]

Our troupe, Midnight Society, is playing at The Hudson Guild at 9PM on Saturday right after Bassprov.

excited

[mezmorized]

Also, another show NOT to miss is the Drunken Sonic Assault. "Hippie Crack!"

"Hippie Crack" was ridiculous last year. Drunken Sonic Assault was definitely something I wasn't expecting last year when I saw it (it was my first time) and it was just a great experience/show.

[AndyHohner]

I've never been to the Del Close Marathon before. If I get to the theater around 11 or 12 on Saturday, would me and 3 of my friends be able to get in or would there be a long wait? Also, I know the UCB-LA allows you to bring food and beverages in, is this true of NY and the other theaters involved?

[Aaron1933]

I'm definitely going Saturday, through Sunday night. To add to the above post, can anybody just detail the wait situation? Once you're in, you're in until you leave or they clean the theater, right?

[disl]

they allow food and drinks to be brought in for the marathon.
you only have to leave for theatre cleanings.
i don't have an answer about wait times, but plan on it being packed at all times. i can guarantee, though, that you won't be walking up at 11pm and getting right in. are you high?

[priceyeah]

Andy: During daylight hours or after 1am you should be able to walk up and get a seat immediately. Anytime between 6pm and 1am, you may have a hard time getting in. If people don't leave, people don't get let in, so there's a tendency for the venue to get filled up in the evening and then nobody leaves until midnight or later. Watching primo latenight shows requires a plan.

[mezmorized]

Last year I got to the theater around 1:30 - 2pm on Saturday and got in right away, but didn't have a great spot. By 6pm, when UCB performed before the theater cleaning, after I had moved almost after every show, I had the best seat in the house (in my opinion). But after that the theater cleaning pretty much brought me back to square one in that I had to wait about 45 minutes to get back in and about 30 minutes to find a seat.

Theater cleaning can be your biggest hitch in any plan (and Priceyeah is right, you should have a plan), because everyone who is inside before the cleaning has to stand behind everyone else who had been waiting to get in. I went to the marathon alone so it was easier for me to find seating because I didn't have to worry about not sitting next to friends. My advice to people who are in a party of more than one, find what you can find seating wise and work your way to sitting next to each other.

I should also add that Poptarts and Gatorade is the best diet to getting you through the majority of the marathon, at least for me it was. 3 MORE DAYS!

[priceyeah]

My experience is based on 2006 (couldn't attend last year), so I'm sure mezmorized is right -- it sounds like it's a bit tough to get into even when it's not evening.

Honestly, the fact is, all days from like early evening through about 2am are pretty great shows at UCB, and many of the performers are UCB vets or people now on well-known shows. Those shows will be crowded, and it's not like they keep rotating new audience members in every half hour. If you are cherry-picking evening shows in different venues, you are pretty much ensuring that you will spend lots of time on line and see very little comedy. Much better to pick a venue and camp out in it for an evening. That's my plan for Friday and Saturday.

Mez, what time do you think it'll be necessary to get on line to see the UCB show at the UCBT on Saturday afternoon?

[littlegirltree]

Shows you need to see (which also means I need to see again):

Wicked Fuckin Queeyahe
Directors Commentary Live
Hotsauce
Glaser & Walsh
Match Game 76
Walsh & Roberts (In my opinion this was the perfect show to end the marathon)

Sidenote: If I ever get a chance to see Andrew Dice Hitler (played by Brett Gelman) again, I will probably die. From the laughter.


Last year's DCM was incredible, hippie crack and all. Jackie Clarke owns every scene she's in. Last year's WFQ - my signature's sake, made me sick from laughter. And Gelman's Andrew Dice Hitler gets better every year.

[alivefromnewyork]

According to the UCB site, the performers at Sunday night's ASSSCAT (which, unlike previous marathon assscats, you have to get separate tickets to) include:

Matt Besser
Ian Roberts
Matt Walsh
Horatio Sanz
Michael Delaney
Jon Glaser
Miriam Tolan
and More!

Does this mean Amy Poehler won't be at the marathon at all? She skipped out on the '06 marathon because she was filming.

[disl]

holy moly, jon glaser in asssscat?!?! my ticket has been purchased.

[Aaron1933]

holy moly, jon glaser in asssscat?!?! my ticket has been purchased.

Same here. I'm fucking excited to see Jon Glaser live for the first time.

[mezmorized]

Mez, what time do you think it'll be necessary to get on line to see the UCB show at the UCBT on Saturday afternoon?

Well I'll get to the UCBT on Saturday around 2pm, but I think a safe bet would be 3-4pm to get a seat for the UCB 6pm show and anything after that time maybe might just get you in, but not gaurenteed a seat.

If you come at 5 or after you will be waiting in line for 30+ minutes, but anything before that I think depends. If you have the time to just come in at 3pm your pretty much covered until theater cleaning after the UCB perform.

And especially with something like this it is always better to come earlier than later. There's a good chance because its the 10th DCM that more people will be there and so the standards about the times just get pushed back. The earlier the better is all I can honestly recommend.

[alivefromnewyork]

I just realized that the cast list of the UCB show leaves off Amy as well.

What:
The Upright Citizens Brigade performs an improv show one billion years in the making. Just the UCB. Just for you.

Who:
Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh

Where and When:
Sat 6:00 pm at UCB Theatre


Looks like she might not be at the marathon this year after all.

[wrinkle_in_my_pants]

heard last night she's still preggers :(

see you all this weekend. we should have an ast meet up or something.

[mezmorized]

Anyone going to be there at the press conference? I'll try to get to the theater around 4pm so if you see a black guy in a red Venture Bros t-shirt say hi and I might let you cut in line with me...

[Jerkmonivich]

How young is too young? I have a couple thirteen year olds visiting me this weekend... Am I crazy?

[wrinkle_in_my_pants]

i don't think so. just know there is ALWAYS a chance of adult language and content.

unless its a show about mormans perhaps..

[Jerkmonivich]

Thanks!
These kids are already corrupt. I'm more concerned with looking like an a-hole and making people uncomfortable.

[disl]

i could be wrong, but i believe the ucb has an 18+ age limit.

[sharilyn]

i could be wrong, but i believe the ucb has an 18+ age limit.

This belongs in the DCM Fake Rumors thread over on the IRC (http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/showthread.php?t=59796). There is no age restriction at the UCB.

[mezmorized]

Just got back from day one of DCM.

Great shows so far have been:
Glaser & Walsh (aka Apples and Oranges) which switched with Seth and Ed's puppet show
Chum Chat
Bassprov
Death By Roo Roo
The Stepfathers
Cracked Out
Director's Commentary Live
Pass the mic (aka the Benson Interruption) How high do you think Doug was during this show? I only assume he was high, because I could see his red eyes from the audience.
The Satellites
Worst. Heckle. Ever.

I'm going to sleep now.

[Aaron1933]

They switched Glaser and Walsh? Fuck. Thank god Jon Glaser's in ASSSSCAT at least.

I'll be at this in three hours or so.

[dougbenson]

so when does this marathon start? i can't wait!!

[wrinkle_in_my_pants]

matchgame was ridiculously great last night. poor jack.

my hopes of going all weekend was crumbled by me having to scout at another show friday and i'm heading to apw today, so last light was my only night. debauchery and comedy rolled into one. that one show at 11 i think with the kid in the front row screaming "scripplewhizzle" or whatever the fuck he was shouting, why wasn't he kicked out? RUINED that troupes whole set! half an hour seemed like an eternity... of non-comedy...

[mogate]

Spent a good 20+ hours at the theater over the past two nights and am officially spent. Of course two minutes before I plan on leaving, Besser decides he's gonna pull me up on stage and make me ballet dance to the theme from "Fame", but suppose that's par for the course and the price you pay for sitting up front all weekend.

Highlight shows included:

Friday-
Myspace
Bassprov
Lazy Man
Death by Roo Roo (best formal improv group I saw, hands down)
Glaser & Walsh
Pass the Mic (what a lineup! Great to see Aziz and Leo)
Director's Commentary Live
Wicked Fuckin' Queeyah (as always)
Sunshine Gang
To Catch a Predator

Saturday-
Code Duello: Hamilton & Burr
Seth and Ed's Puppet Talk Show (feat. two ASTers as guests)
America's Best Comic
The Smartest Panel
Match Game '76 (w/Brooke Shields?!!)
Fabricefabrice-athon
Drunken Sonic Assault

Wish I was able to see more tonight, with the last few hours just plain stacked. This was my 3rd straight year coming to the marathon and probably the most fun I've had yet. Met a ton of cool people, got good and fucked up and even got an in-show wake-up call from a pointing Jon Glaser. Thanks to Matt et al for putting this phenomenal time together (it's quickly become the highlight of my summer) and here's to another 10 years.

[disl]

i showed up to the marathon at 11:30 friday night (i would've been there from the start but got stuck at work) and stayed through asssscat earlier this evening. last year was my first and it was amazing, but this year was even better. literally the only disappointing thing to me was that there was no appearance by amy at all. totally understandable due to her pregnancy, but i was holding out hope for maybe a small appearance like maybe doing the monologues at asssscat.

everything was great, but i think my favorite show from the weekend was "just pallin' around" because i had no idea who they were going into it and they completely blew me away. their set was some serious tim-and-eric, next-level stuff, i am legitimately upset that they are based out of chicago and i won't see them again (presumably) until the next marathon. it legitimately pissed me off that i seemed to be one of a handful of people in the audience really laughing during their set, they were great.

single favorite moment: jon glaser doing harlem globetrotter moves at asssscat. i hope that ends up online.

[priceyeah]

mogate, that was you Glaser called out? Ha. You probably had the DCM that I wanted. I saw about half the things you did. The ones you listed were great. I always tire just as the great things are starting up. I have to learn to push through midnight better.

Two favorite moments, both from Friday:
1. Andy Secunda showing up halfway through Omelette Vision and the other cast members berating him for being late -- totally in character (as elves).

2. Shannon O'Neill and Chris Gethard turning the Stepfathers slot into their own personal wrestling match (they really went at it).

Death by Roo Roo was mind-blowing -- so many different, very assertive kinds of intelligence, all working together, wow.

Code Duello managed to get people cheering. Quite right.

Bassprov was a laid-back treat.

[Aaron1933]

I was there starting at 4 PM Saturday through ASSSSCAT tonight. I haven't slept in 40 hours. This was a great fucking experience. Sleep.

[john_frusciante]

This belongs in the DCM Fake Rumors thread over on the IRC (http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/showthread.php?t=59796). There is no age restriction at the UCB.

I'm going to use my first post to clarify that the age policy is 16+ unless accompanied by an adult.

[mezmorized]

I agree with everything said about the above shows. I slept for around 12 hours this weekend and like last year it was the best weekend of the summer.

"The smartest panel of experts in the universe ever" show was probably the best show that I had no idea of what it was going to be like. The guy who played Gary Busey was on fire. (Best part was seeing the website he was promoting the magna carta site written on the mens bathroom wall.)

FabriceFabrice-athon was great. Brett Gelman in the dog suit is worth staying up for 10 days to see.

"A getting poopy with it."

Other day 2 & 3 shows I really enjoyed:

Mother:The Soundtrack
Porn Prov
Match Game 76
Pudding-Thank You
Naked Babies
Delta Force 2
Scheer-Mcbrayer
Let's Have a Ball
Walsh and Roberts

[littlegirltree]

Someone has already posted a gallery of <a href ="http://faceoffphoto.com/?p=101">DCMX pics </a>online.

[sharilyn]

I have pics too, so far just of the Daily Show / Colbert Report Improv Jam:

http://flickr.com/photos/sharilynj/sets/72157606664914667/show/

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[derekthedrummer]

I was visiting New York this past week and the wife and I didn't really know what to expect from this Marathon thing, so we didn't catch too much. We did check out about 5 and a half hours Saturday night hoping to see Glaser/Walsh, only to get Seth and Ed's Puppet Talk Show instead (a suitable replacement). We did however happen to get into the Swarm show Wednesday because we showed up early for F'ed Up and Illegal Videos, I got to pick a candidate to be thrown out of the show and my wife had to dance like a retarded person, quite a show. And we caught the Benson Interruption Thursday, which was awesome.
As for DCM, we might have to make this a regular vacation thing. Improvised Shakespeare was much better than I had anticipated (I was kinda annoyed when I first heard the premise, but they were really spontaneously funny), as was I Eat Pandas. We really disliked Just Pallin' Around, but everything else we saw was pretty good. Being on vacation all week we didn't know about Bernie Mac ahead of time and were kind of confused the first time someone made a joke about it, less so the next 15 times someone joked about it. We were bummed to not see the UCB show and to be leaving town before ASSSCAT (we got picked up by our shuttle at 3:00 Sunday morning, a mere hour and a half after getting back from the Marathon), but we still had a great time.

Also, Code Duello was fuckin perfect. You couldn't have pre-written something that hysterical. "Then why don't you marry it?" had me in tears. Wow.

[priceyeah]

Who did play Busey in the Smartest Panel etc.? He was awesome.

[disl]

We really disliked Just Pallin' Around, but everything else we saw was pretty good.

how dare you single out the one group for ridicule that i had singled out for praise!

honestly, though, the scene where they tried to simultaneously announce the high school's homecoming king/queen at the same time as the principal's funeral arrangements was nothing short of amazing (assuming i'm remembering it right).

[mattbesser]

The great James Adomian played Busey in Smartest Panel of Experts in the Universe Ever.

[derekthedrummer]

how dare you single out the one group for ridicule that i had singled out for praise!

honestly, though, the scene where they tried to simultaneously announce the high school's homecoming king/queen at the same time as the principal's funeral arrangements was nothing short of amazing (assuming i'm remembering it right).

I don't mean to front. I just wasn't enjoying them, a little too much yelling and stomping, sort of like the Mr Show that ends with Moe Phelps version of acting. I just didn't feel it. Maybe it was a sleep thing.
Again, though, I have to point out the absolute genius that was the Code Duello. WOw, just wow.

[littlegirltree]

Great to hear you enjoyed it, DTD. My husband and I had the same experience as you 3 years ago. We were on vacation and stumbled across DCM. The next year we took my little sister and the year after we rented an apartment a few blocks away and made DCM our vacation. This is the 1st year we haven't gone, and I'm regretting that we didn't make it, esp since Glaser was more prevalent this year than previous years.

[littlegirltree]

Brooke Shields balks at 'dead' gag
Tuesday, August 12th 2008, 4:00 AM

Brooke Shields can't take a joke — at least, when it comes to gags about a slew of recently deceased celebrities.

The "Lipstick Jungle" star dropped in at the Upright Citizen's Brigade theater over the weekend to be a panelist during a 72-hour marathon of improv comedy sketches, but "freaked out" when some jokes turned crass, says a spy.

"Everything was going great until three comics came out, each playing" a dead star, said the eyewitness. "One was playing Heath Ledger as the Joker, and he just kept listing prescription pills he had in his pocket. Another was playing Estelle Getty, and the third was Bernie Mac's ghost."

That's when Shields' smile faded. "She was so freaked out, her eyes welled up, and she actually bit her nails at one point," says the spy. "When someone pretended to dump Estelle Getty's ashes on ["30 Rock" star] Jack McBrayer's head, Brooke got up and walked offstage. She watched the rest of the show from behind a curtain backstage, with a grimace."

Shields' spokesman said she left to talk to the writers before she was about to go on.

Not all the evening's performers found humor in the unsavory topic. Comic Seth Morris started to make a Mac joke, but was quickly put in his place by "The Office" star Ed Helms, who was manning a puppet from behind a table. "Ed cut him off quickly and said, 'I'd love to see how you're going to make this funny,' with his puppet," says the spy. "It stopped Seth right in his tracks."

<a href = "http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/08/12/2008-08-12_brooke_shields_balks_at_dead_gag.html">link</a>

[Aaron1933]

Wow. I always hate these hyperbole-laden gossip articles, but now I get to have been two feet away from the event being detailed and can actually legitimately call bullshit.

[disl]

the article conveniently leaves out brooke's vicious attack on michael jackson, using HIS FACE as a punchline! for shame!

[littlegirltree]

I was impressed to read that DCM was able to have writers and still managed to be an improv marathon. That's amaaazing!

[yumitree]

the article conveniently leaves out brooke's vicious attack on michael jackson, using HIS FACE as a punchline! for shame!

brooke shields punched michael jackson in the face?

[disl]

metaphorically, yes. it was disgusting.

[mogate]

The great James Adomian played Busey in Smartest Panel of Experts in the Universe Ever.

And was also a pleasure as Frank Caliendo during America's Best Comic and Orson Welles during Match Game, in both making good use of a fat suit. Glad to finally see his work live in NY. Riggle was extolling the virtues of Adomian quite a bit backstage, claiming his Bush to be the best there is and I'm probably inclined to agree.

[karyrogers]

Paul Scheer's response (http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/08/12/2008-08-12_brooke_shields_balks_at_dead_gag.html) to the Daily News report.

I’d love to see the same show that their “Rush and Molloy Spy” saw…this story is pure bunk and makes the show sound incredibly offensive and mean spirited, when in fact, it was an insane fun goof around. The article in question is best summed up by a commenter named “Chumgrinder”

“You had a “spy” at a show that was open to the public, with press invited and photographers everywhere? I was at the show in question, and this story is wildly inaccurate. The show was a parody of the game show “Match Game” with a panel of over 20 improvisers playing different stars of the 70’s as well as today. Heath Ledger was indeed represented, played by for SNL alum Horatio Sanz. There was no one playing Bernie Mac, though his death was mentioned. They were onstage the entire time with Brooke, who I was a few feet away from in the audience. She was laughing and enjoying it throughout. When a mock fight and beer spilling broke out Brooke backed up, seemingly to prevent from getting soaked in beer. She did not seem “freaked out” nor did i see her “eyes well up”. I saw her laughing throughout, as she stood next to Bill Haders wife who was playing a Charlies Angel.”

[RegularKarate]

Exactly... I thought she seemed to be really into it... when the Heath Ledger joke was made, some groaned, but most laughed really hard, including Brooke who gave an "oh my gosh, that's funny" look.

Death By Roo Roo confirmed themselves as my favorite improv troupe now. The fact that the first time I saw them they did quick one to two minute scenes and this time they did one long scene and both were equally funny was ultra-impressive.