Del Close Marathon ’08

CASUAL ENCOUNTER McBrayer, left, and Scheer need nothing but each other.

The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre’s celebration of long-form (and its progenitor, Del Close) is the most fun you’ll ever share with a room full of drunk 20-somethings—college orgies included. Troupes from around the country convene in New York for 56 straight hours of play in the tenth-annual edition, which features more than 250 shows on four stages.

Catch big-ticket shows at the Fashion Institute of Technology (D Building, Seventh Ave at 28th St), and a mix of acts at the Hudson Guild Theatre (441 W 26th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves), the UCBT (307 W 26th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves) and Urban Stages (259 W 30th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves)—the latter two run nonstop; take a chance on a young team in the wee morning hours.

If there’s anything that’s evident from the festival’s immense growth since its inception ten years ago, it’s that the spirit of the DCM, of improv and of Del Close is infectious. So get sick on it already.—Jane Borden

Bassprov (Chicago)
Mark Sutton and Joe Bill make intelligent scene work look easy. Their show, which has wowed 20 cities, takes place in a fishing boat. Trust us, what goes on in the performers’ heads is much less blasé than their boozy characters let on. Fri 8 at 7:30pm, UCBT; Sat 9 at 8pm, HGT

Code Duello: Hamilton & Burr (Boston)
Neil Reynolds and Matt Tucker return with their much-buzzed ode to Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. In wigs and costumes, the duo reimagines one of American history’s most fabled duels. Sat 9 at 10pm, UCBT

Improvised Shakespeare (Chicago)
Although the actors employ faux-British accents, Elizabethan-era speech and Shakespearean tropes, this hugely popular show somehow avoids being gimmicky. Good improv rises above. Sat 9 at 7pm, UCBT; preview show Thu 7 at 9:30pm, HGT

Naked Babies (L.A./NYC)
John Ross Bowie, Brian Huskey and Seth Morris are three quarters of what used to be one of the best sketch groups in New York. They’re also talented improvisers. Tonight the expats reunite. Fri 8 at 8:30pm, FIT; Sun 10 at 5pm, UCBT

Scheer-McBrayer (L.A./NYC)
Would you believe that Human Giant’s Paul Scheer and 30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer are even funnier as improvisers than they are on TV? And yes, we realize that’s a lot to ask. Sat 9 at 10pm, FIT; Sun 10 at 5:30pm and preview show Thu 7 at 8pm, UCBT

Weirdass (L.A.)
Married couple Stephanie Weir (Mad TV) and Bob Dassie prove that knowing your improv partner inside and out makes for transcendent scene work. Sat 9 at 7pm, FIT

Time Out Chicago’s Comedy editor, Steve Heisler, also recommends Windy City visitors Tha Weave (Sat 9 at 10pm, HGT), Broad Shoulders (Sat 9 at 11:30am, HGT) and Just Pallin Around (Sat 9 at 9:30pm, UCBT). We’ve also heard good things about Seth Ed’s Puppet Show Talk Show (Fri 8 at 11:30pm, UCBT) from L.A. And every year, local stars concoct these ridiculous screw-arounds that never disappoint: Cosbyprov (Sun 10 at 4:30am, UCBT), Matchgame ’76 (Sun 10 at 2:30am, UCBT), Director’s Commentary Live (Sat 9 at 1:30am, UCBT) and the inimitable, impenetrable Wicked Fuckin’ Queeyah (Sat 9 at 2am, UCBT).

The Del Close Marathon begins Fri 8 at 4:30pm; the last show is Sun 10 at 8pm. Festival passes ($25) can be purchased online or in person at any venue. Visit delclosemarathon.com for the full schedule.