Amy Poehler.Photo: Steve Vas/Featureflash/Silverhub/Shutterstock
Amy Poehleris considering a variety of options for the potential future of herUpright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
Speaking withThe New York Timesfor an interview published on Friday, Poehler (who cofounded the UCB alongside Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh) said she “[doesn’t] know” whether the theater will ever reopen.
“It’s been brutal for us,” said theParks and Recreationalum, 49. “We’re basically using the fire of COVID to start some new version. We’re changing our school and our theater to not-for-profit. Whether or not we’ll be able to get there, I don’t know.”
Back in April, Poehler and her cofounders sent out an email announcing that the Hell’s Kitchen Theater and 8th Avenue UCB Training Center would close, writing, “This is devastating to us, but for some time now, even in a normal, robust economy, we have barely been able to paythe high rents in New York Cityfor the Hell’s Kitchen Theater and the Training Center.”
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Ian Roberts, Matt Besser, Amy Poehler and Matt Walsh.Vincent Sandoval/WireImage
Amy Poehler performing at the UCB Theater in 2015.Gary Gershoff/WireImage
“Given the indefinite shutdown of all theaters and schools in both Los Angeles and New York City and the anticipated slow and uncertain return to normal when restrictions are lifted, we cannot afford to continue on in our New York City leases,” they continued at the time.
The lengthy email went on to explain that while the theaterwould no longer operate a brick-and-mortar location, it would continue to exist in New York and offer classes to students.
“UCB is not leaving New York City. The school and the theater will continue on in a pared-down form, which will be very similar to how we operated when we first started in N.Y.C. over 20 years ago,” the founders said, referencing UCB’s beginnings in the ’90s when many of its famous alumni first performed there.
UCB moved into the Hell’s Kitchen location in 2017 after leaving its original spot in Chelsea but had continued to struggle financially since laying off staff members in 2018 and closing its East Village outpost a year later,the Timesreported.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.Brad Barket/Getty
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Poehler also toldtheTimesin her recent interview that “our business is dying,” from institutions like the UCB toBroadway, which hasbeen shut down since last Marchamid the pandemic.
“It’s a tough time to survive,” said the actress and comedian. “That said, this year has been an opportunity to hear from people who felt that they needed more or less of things and to change things. We’re making sure we listen to the right people so that we can do that.”
Added Poehler, “We’ve been working with members of a group called Project Rethink, which is made upof performers from UCB, as well as other groups, to basically be like, ‘If and when we reopen, what is this going to look like?’ "
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source: people.com
