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By: Mo Diggs »
July 30, 2007
The Del Close Marathon 9 @ The UCBT - 7.27.7 - 7.29.7
Ari Voukydis and Anthony Atamanuik in Wicked Fuckin' Queeyah, improv with a distinct Boston vibe.
Sifting through the Nicoderm dream of another raging Del Close Marathon, with its vividly intense flashes of brilliance stopping abruptly in the face of waking life, it's impossible to put a definitive take on the event because one's experience varies drastically depending on one's level of involvement with improv and the community at large. Though there was something engaging for everyone--the disciples, the stargazers, the casual observers, and the pilgrims--generally speaking, the DCM is tailored for the hardcore and the initiated as a means to bring together our jutting paths. It's also a breathy coquette's whisper in the ears of the next generation of improv stars.
The marathon is a marvelous feat of planning and engineering too, in that it's able to be pulled off so smoothly. 50 continuous hours of performance and guest relations and artist coordination and stocking beer and teching and keeping everyone happy and minding building codes--that ain't easy. The DCM is in a lot of ways a technical manifestation of improvisation as a whole: in the hands of the pro UCB staff, the madness onstage and in the beer soaked back hallways seems always magically controlled with an invisible net of trust, support, and respect. Does that make sense?
Instead of highlighting any particular show, especially since the bombardier presentation style of the DCM lobs everything in one ear and out the other, here are some stories and anecdotes from the weekend.
The Scene Backstage
By: Rebecca Ciletti
While the crowd stood shoulder to shoulder packed in tight in the thick heat watching the UCB Del Close marathon this weekend, just as many people could be found hanging out in the back room and tunnels of the theater.
Entering the back room was like entering the 5 circles of hell. Or the set of Knocked Up or Undeclared or any Judd Apatow project appealing to the 20-something male. In the crammed Green Room Matt Walsh showed off photos of his new baby while Ed Helms, Horatio Sanz and Rob Riggle milled about. "Is this the Del Close marathon or the Del Close sauna?" Jon Daly asked. A woman gave back massages for $1 per minute. She had a massage chair and everything. It was a lot like Burning Man.
In the hallway, the air was thick with smoke and a giant, red plastic cigarette butt disposer sat by the door under a handwritten sign that read "No Smoking." The beer line wrapped down the wet hallway and people squeezed past, in and out of the back room. The back room was the real reason why everyone was there. Free beer, free jungle juice and couches.
I wish I could say I made it out of the Green Room, I heard that there were a lot of great shows, fun costumes and even nudity, but I'm still there as I write this.
Photo courtesy of Ari Scott
Sound Bytes From the 2007 Del Close Marathon
By: Eliot Glazer
If The DCM were a flavor of ice cream: "Melted chocolate, vanilla, strawberry Neapolitan on the sidewalk next to a mailbox." - Will Hines
If The DCM were a superhero: "Staminaman because he doesn't have to sleep and can drink a lot without getting really tired (but only for 50 hours at a time because he has to take the occasional break." - Peter Grosz
If The DCM were a candybar: "A Snickers Marathon Bar, an energy bar that used to be a chain-link shaped chocolate-covered caramel treat that lasts a really, really long time." - Peter Gwinn
If The DCM were a tween sitcom: " Electrify My Tennis Shoes." - Rob Riggle
If The DCM were a nursing home: "The Neverending Death Community." - John Oliver
If The DCM were a breed of dog: - "An over bred pug, shaped like a meatball dressed in a baby gown, pushed in a carriage by a poodle" - Laura Krafft
If The DCM were a sneaker: "The Sweatshop Special" - Ed Helms
If The DCM were a condiment: "Peanut Butter & Jelly combined." - Chuck Dauble
If The DCM were a variety of condom: - "Twisted Pleasure." - Chris Kula
If The DCM were a type of houseplant: "A creeping vine: you never know where it ends or where it began." - Christina Gausas
If The DCM were an after-school club: "Drunken Sonic Assault." - Charlie Todd
If The DCM were a type of flower: "Magnolia - it only blooms once a year." - Charlie Sanders
If The DCM were an article of clothing often worn by a middle aged woman: "A bracelet decorated with Egyptian scarabs." - Brian Faas
If The DCM were a chapter of the Bible: "I've never read The Bible." - Heather Fink
If The DCM were a piece of jewelry: "A hunk of ugly gold." - Jason Mantzoukas
RELATED LINKS
The OFFICIAL DCM Highlights Thread
Ari Scott's Extensive DCM 2007 Photo Set
Zach Linder's Extensive DCM 2007 Photo Set
A Los Angeleno Tourist Posts Her Photos
Improve Your Improv By 200% for Only $20
A Weekend of Highlights
Hey, That's My Improv Teacher Onstage Crazying it Up
The Only Event Where Everyone's Allowed to Be a Little Retarded?
Thank Yous to the DCM Staff
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Pre-DCM Tips!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2: Mid-DCM Tips!
Posted by The Apiary at July 30, 2007 1:11 PM
Comments
I should add that although that photo of Brianna, myself, and Sarah is from my flickr photoset and taken with my camera, it was actually taken by Katie Cheek. Thanks.
Posted by: ari scott at July 30, 2007 7:01 PM