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Upright Citizens Brigade to Close Its Permanent Locations in New York Upright Citizens Brigade to Close Its Permanent Locations in New York
(32 minutes later)
In another cultural casualty of the pandemic, the Upright Citizens Brigade is planning to close its two Manhattan locations, leaving the storied improv and sketch comedy hub without its own permanent space in the city.In another cultural casualty of the pandemic, the Upright Citizens Brigade is planning to close its two Manhattan locations, leaving the storied improv and sketch comedy hub without its own permanent space in the city.
In an email sent to students and performers on Tuesday, founders of the 30-year-old group said that they had made the “heart wrenching” decision to close its theater in Hell’s Kitchen and the training center on Eighth Avenue. U.C.B., which has long been a launching pad for up-and-coming comedians, has been showing signs of financial strain for over a year, having laid off staff and shut down its East Village venue.In an email sent to students and performers on Tuesday, founders of the 30-year-old group said that they had made the “heart wrenching” decision to close its theater in Hell’s Kitchen and the training center on Eighth Avenue. U.C.B., which has long been a launching pad for up-and-coming comedians, has been showing signs of financial strain for over a year, having laid off staff and shut down its East Village venue.
The founders — Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh — said in the message that they had already been struggling to pay New York’s high rents before the coronavirus hit, but the uncertainty created by the lockdown meant that they could no longer afford their leases. The message did not mention any threat to U.C.B.’s two locations in Los Angeles, but noted that even shutting down the two Manhattan locations would not be a “cure-all for the financial health of the organization.”The founders — Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh — said in the message that they had already been struggling to pay New York’s high rents before the coronavirus hit, but the uncertainty created by the lockdown meant that they could no longer afford their leases. The message did not mention any threat to U.C.B.’s two locations in Los Angeles, but noted that even shutting down the two Manhattan locations would not be a “cure-all for the financial health of the organization.”
The severe impact of the pandemic on the group’s future was already clear last month, when all of the theaters and training centers went dark and the organization laid off broad swaths of staff members in New York and Los Angeles, including theater managers, bartenders and security staff. Online campaigns sought to raise money for laid-off employees on both coasts. (U.C.B. performers typically do not get paid, which is a sore point for many in comedy.)The severe impact of the pandemic on the group’s future was already clear last month, when all of the theaters and training centers went dark and the organization laid off broad swaths of staff members in New York and Los Angeles, including theater managers, bartenders and security staff. Online campaigns sought to raise money for laid-off employees on both coasts. (U.C.B. performers typically do not get paid, which is a sore point for many in comedy.)
The organization said it would not be shutting down activities in New York entirely. The plan is to continue to host shows at SubCulture, a 130-seat venue on Bleecker Street, and to rent new space for classes as they happen.The organization said it would not be shutting down activities in New York entirely. The plan is to continue to host shows at SubCulture, a 130-seat venue on Bleecker Street, and to rent new space for classes as they happen.
The founders compared the next chapter in U.C.B.’s life to its beginnings in the 1990s, when it started as a scrappy troupe without an official home. The group grew into a comedy institution that propelled the careers of A-list comedians like Ellie Kemper, Aziz Ansari and Kate McKinnon.The founders compared the next chapter in U.C.B.’s life to its beginnings in the 1990s, when it started as a scrappy troupe without an official home. The group grew into a comedy institution that propelled the careers of A-list comedians like Ellie Kemper, Aziz Ansari and Kate McKinnon.
“Paring down to the size we were when we started is our best chance for survival,” the founders’ email said.“Paring down to the size we were when we started is our best chance for survival,” the founders’ email said.
The coronavirus has been devastating to arts institutions across the country, prompting mass cancellations, furloughs and questions as to whether some organizations will ultimately survive.The coronavirus has been devastating to arts institutions across the country, prompting mass cancellations, furloughs and questions as to whether some organizations will ultimately survive.
The future of U.C.B. looked brighter in 2017, when it left the Chelsea theater it had occupied since 2003 for the Hell’s Kitchen location on 42nd Street, closer to the heart of the theater district.The future of U.C.B. looked brighter in 2017, when it left the Chelsea theater it had occupied since 2003 for the Hell’s Kitchen location on 42nd Street, closer to the heart of the theater district.
But in 2018, the theater laid off several staff members, including much of its sales and marketing teams. Then, in 2019, the organization said it would be shuttering its East Village theater where it had been for about eight years, attributing the closure to the cost of rent, property taxes and other expenses.But in 2018, the theater laid off several staff members, including much of its sales and marketing teams. Then, in 2019, the organization said it would be shuttering its East Village theater where it had been for about eight years, attributing the closure to the cost of rent, property taxes and other expenses.
Updated June 22, 2020
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
On social media, comedians including Chris Gethard, who studied and performed at U.C.B., mourned the loss of the facilities, while noting some dissatisfaction with more recent decision making by management.On social media, comedians including Chris Gethard, who studied and performed at U.C.B., mourned the loss of the facilities, while noting some dissatisfaction with more recent decision making by management.
Like many cultural institutions, U.C.B. is adapting to stay viable without brick-and-mortar venues. It has already moved its improv and sketch classes online, typically charging about $400 for eight 3-hour sessions.Like many cultural institutions, U.C.B. is adapting to stay viable without brick-and-mortar venues. It has already moved its improv and sketch classes online, typically charging about $400 for eight 3-hour sessions.