Please read this in its entirety. All pertinent information should be answered below, so read thoroughly before asking that burning question!
CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:
6/28: Submissions Open
7/26: Submissions Due
8/23 – 8/27: Round 1 Auditions
9/8 – 9/10: Callbacks
WHAT ARE MAUDE TEAMS?
Maude Teams are UCB’s house sketch comedy teams. They are formed and overseen by the Artistic Directors. Maude Teams generally consist of six writers and six performers.
Each Maude Team will be assigned a director who will oversee the writing and production of a monthly sketch show and UCB will pay these directors. Maude shows are 25-30 minutes and consist of new material written specifically for Maude Night.
Maude Teams generally meet twice a week for writers meetings and rehearsals. A typical Maude schedule consists of a pitch meeting, two writers meetings, a read through, two rehearsals, a tech rehearsal, and the show. Additional time may be required, but this is up to the individual team and their director.
UCB MAUDE TEAM INFO AND EXPECTATIONS
Maude Teams are expected to put up shows featuring polished, funny, UCB-style, game-based sketch comedy. Every Maude Team member is expected to boldly bring their unique voice and sense of humor to shows.
Maude Teams must be a priority for team members. This is demonstrated by attending rehearsals and performances. Team members with a pattern of poor attendance or lateness will be removed. Commitments with other UCB house teams (Harold/Lloyd/Betty) or at other theaters are NOT excuses for missing meetings, rehearsals, or shows.
As a team member, you are expected to perform at a high level and demonstrate commitment to improving, but you are NOT expected to be perfect. Team members must show they are open to notes from their director and the Artistic Directors and be willing to work at implementing those notes.
Writers are not guaranteed to have a sketch in every show and actors are not guaranteed to be featured every month. In months where actors and writers are “light,” they are expected to support their team in any way that they can.
WRITER-SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
Writers must attend all Maude Team meetings, rehearsals, and shows.
Writers must produce a minimum of one new sketch every week. Writers must rewrite sketches based on feedback from writers meetings.
Writers must provide constructive feedback on other teammates’ material and be an active participant in the writers’ room.
Writers are the “producer” of their sketch, and responsible for coordinating all necessary props, costumes and set pieces that their sketch requires (it is not mandatory to purchase props; there are Facebook groups for borrowing props and miming props is also allowed).
Material created by the writer belongs to them, even if they have accepted input from other writers, actors or the director. Dual or multi authorship should only be addressed when more than one person actively created the idea or wrote/re-wrote the sketch. (e.g. if an actor creates a character and a sketch is written around that character).
ACTOR-SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
The following are mandatory for performers to attend: Pitch Meeting, Read Through, Rehearsals, Tech, Show. It is up to the individual team if Writers Meetings are mandatory for the performers, so performers should be prepared to attend the same amount of meetings as writers (all).
Performers must prepare a minimum of 3 pitches at each pitch meeting, with a strong emphasis on their own original characters (if a writer chooses your pitch, they may write it up themselves or invite you to collaborate; it’s up to the writer). Actors will not write alone or solely with other performers.
Performers must memorize lines in a timely manner so performances are nuanced and not just a recitation of lines.
WRITER/ACTOR-SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
Writer/actors are responsible for everything a writer and actor would be responsible for.
Writer/actors should strike a balance between writing for themselves and fellow actors.
WHAT ARE BETTY TEAMS?
Betty Teams are UCB’s character teams (formerly Characters Welcome). Teams feature 8-10 performers who each develop a 3-5 minute character piece to be showcased at the monthly show. Shows will run about an hour and consist of new material written specifically for Betty Night.
The team will run for six months, after which a new team will be formed.
Betty teammates meet once a week, but are expected to write and rehearse outside of these meetings.
HOW TO SUBMIT FOR MAUDE NIGHT / CHARACTER NIGHT
Auditions for Maude and Betty will be held concurrently. When submitting as a performer, you may choose to submit solely for Betty, solely for Maude, or both at the same time.
NOTE: You may submit to be a Maude writer and also audition to be a Maude/Betty actor. Submitting as a writer does not disqualify you from auditioning as an actor, or vice-versa. Nor does it gain you any advantage in either aspect. Please note that writers and actors will be evaluated separately, and that no writer/performer hybrid positions on Maude are guaranteed.
MAUDE WRITER SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Submissions for Maude Writers will be accepted until 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023.
Writer Requirements:
Have completed Sketch 201 at UCB or at a comparable comedy theatre
OR
Are currently enrolled in a Sketch 201 (at UCB or a comparable comedy theatre) that will have its last session on or before July 31st, 2023
OR
Have completed (or currently are enrolled in) Sketch 101 and one other UCB course
All former members of Harold, Lloyd, Maude, and Characters Welcome at UCBTNY (or UCBTLA) are eligible to submit as a writer or as a performer.
If you are unable or unwilling to adhere to the UCB Maude Team Expectations as outlined above, do not submit.
WRITER SUBMISSION PROCESS:
Packet Content
Submit the following Sketches:
Three (3) Sketches of your choice
***SKETCHES SHOULD BE NO LONGER THAN FOUR PAGES IN STANDARD SCRIPT FORMAT.
***YOUR STRONGEST SKETCH SHOULD BE THE FIRST ONE IN YOUR PACKET
***Please note that we cannot consider material you have co-written — include only sketches you’ve written solo.
STEP ONE:
Email your packet to [email protected] by 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 formatted as follows:
Subject line:
WRITER 2023 – LAST NAME, FIRST NAME
(EX: WRITER 2023 – WESTON, WILLA)
Body of Email:
– Sketch 1: [Title]
– Sketch 2: [Title]
– Sketch 3: [Title]
Attach to email:
-PDF version of writer packet with file named in this way:LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME2023.PDF (EX: WESTON_WILLA2023.PDF)
A single PDF should contain all sketches. DO NOT SEND FINAL DRAFT OR OTHER TYPES OF FILES.
STEP TWO:
Fill out this form by 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023:
2023 UCBTNY Maude Night Writer Submission Form
Late submissions will not be accepted. Submitting late due to technical problems is not an excuse.
Have answers to the following questions ready and fill out the Google Form:
-Name
-Phone Number
-Answers to eligibility criteria.
-A link to Professional Resume
-A link to a recent photo of yourself
-In 50 words or less, why do you want to be on a UCB Maude team, and how will Maude night benefit from your unique voice?
NOTE: People who were Maude Team writers at the time of UCBTNY’s closure in March 2020 must submit as well, but their packets will automatically advance to the next round of internal evaluations.
PERFORMER SUBMISSION INFORMATION (Both Maude Night & Betty Night)
Submissions for Performers will be accepted until 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023.
Performer Requirements:
Have completed Character 101 at UCB.
OR
Are currently enrolled in a Character 101 that will have its last session on or before May 31st, 2023.
OR
Have completed (or are currently enrolled in) any two performance-based courses (Improv, Character, Storytelling) at UCB or a comparable comedy theatre.
All former members of Harold, Lloyd, Maude, and Characters Welcome at UCBTNY (or UCBTLA) are eligible to submit as a writer or as a performer.
PERFORMER SUBMISSION PROCESS:
The 2023 Maude performer auditions will consist of two rounds:
Round One – Solo live audition of your material.
Round Two – Callback where you will be assigned two (2) sketch scripts you will prepare and perform with another actor in the callback pool.
Have this info ready before you fill out the Google Form below:
-Name
-Phone Number
-Answers to eligibility questions
-A link to Professional Resume
-Link to Headshot
-In less than 50 words, why do you want to be on a UCB Maude/Betty Team, and how will Maude/Betty Night benefit from your unique voice?
-Your availability for live auditions August 23rd-27th, 2023
Fill out this form by 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 26th, 2023:
2023 UCBTNY Maude/Betty Performer Submission Form
Late submissions will not be accepted. Submitting late due to technical problems is not an excuse.
***SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT EXCEPTION POLICY — PLEASE READ***
If you do not fulfill the eligibility requirements to submit but you still wish to submit/audition, you may fill out the Exception Request Form here:
The deadline to fill out the Exception Request Form is 11:59pm Wednesday, July 19th, 2023. If you are granted an exception, you will be notified by Friday, July 21st, 2023, and, at that point, you can fill out the relevant submission form(s). Please do not fill out the regular submission form(s) unless/until you’ve been granted an exception.
PERFORMER AUDITION PROCESS:
FIRST ROUND
Actors notified of their audition appointment days/times by Friday, August 11th.
Auditions will take place Wednesday-Sunday, August 23rd-27th at UCBTNY (242 E. 14th St.). You must have availability in this window to be considered for Maude Night or Betty.
These auditions will consist of a 3 minute live performance for the Artistic Directors. The live audition should showcase your comedic acting skills. We ask for at least three characters in your allotted time. If you want to be considered for Betty, this material has to be written by you. If you want to be considered for Maude only, you can present material written by someone else, but you must credit the writer(s) at the top of your audition. Feel free to bring wigs and props, and whatever else you need for your set. We would LOVE if you didn’t make a mess.
CALLBACKS
Callbacks will take place Friday-Sunday, September 8-10 at UCBTNY (242 E. 14th St.). You must have availability in this window to be considered for Maude Night. Betty will be formed from all Live Auditions, and thus Callback availability is not required.
Actors will be assigned two sketches that they will prepare and perform with another actor who has received a callback. You are expected to show us that you can make funny comedic choices that showcase the game of the sketch. Costumes are welcome, but not required.
NOTE: People who were Maude Team actors at the time of UCBTNY’s closure in March of 2020 are eligible to go straight to callbacks. If you were a current Maude Team actor as of March 2020 and wish to return to Maude Night, please still fill out the form and we will reach out when we’re scheduling callback appointments.
OMG Maude Night is coming back!!! We missed her!