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The poster for the original Del Close Marathon

UCB's Del Close Marathon is moving to L.A. in 2019

After twenty years of hosting their ever-expanding, multi-day improv marathon across various theater in New York City, the Upright Citizens Brigade is moving their annual Del Close Marathon to Los Angeles in 2019. The improv giant confirmed the move with Vulture today:

After 20 years of hosting the Del Close Marathon in NYC and with much thought and consideration, we felt it was time to pass the torch to our left coast partners, UCBTLA, and let the chaos run rampant on Franklin Avenue and Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. Factors such as the rising costs of doing business in NYC and offering our many talented LA-based performers the chance to participate in DCM impacted the decision. We look forward to going out with a bang in NYC with the kickoff show at Carnegie Hall on June 28 and our incredible DCM lineup of over 750 shows across eleven stages.

The festival began in 1999, following the passing of controversial improv guru Del Close, who garnered a cult-like following among the future comedy elite, training the likes of Bill Murray, Mike Myers, John Belushi, Chris Farley, and of course, the UCB4 (Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, Amy Poehler, and Ian Roberts). Since then, the festival has expanded from a single theatre to 11 stages and over 700 shows.

This year’s festival, which is the 20th edition, features plenty of performers who call LA home, including Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and of course, the original UCB4. In addition, this is the first year the festival will be held in part at UCB’s new Hells Kitchen venue. Check out highlights from the upcoming festival here.