UCB Artistic Director Shannon O’Neill Will Be Stepping Down at the End of the Summer
Comedy News Upright Citizens Brigade
Shannon O’Neill, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre New York artistic director, has announced her resignation. According to an email she sent to UCB performers on Monday, O’Neill will step down at the end of the summer to pursue other career goals. A cast member on The Chris Gethard Show and longtime member of beloved UCB team The Stepfathers, O’Neill wrote that she plans to remain active in the community as a teacher in UCB’s training center. “Being AD is truly a highlight of my life,” she said. “I know that regardless of what could be going on in my life or the world, because of this job, I get to laugh every day.”
Read the full text of O’Neill’s email below.
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Hello UCBTNY,
After a lot of thought and negotiating with my head and heart, I have decided to step down as Artistic Director. Being AD is truly a highlight of my life, I wake up every day with one of the coolest jobs in the world. I know that regardless of what could be going on in my life or the world, because of this job, I get to laugh every day. The joy I get from watching the talented writers and performers go from doing okay to finding their voice, kicking ass and booking jobs is a very unique position to be in, and not an easy one to say goodbye to. This decision is based on my own personal goals and desire to give myself the chance to achieve them, so I’m stepping down to focus on my career! Hooray!
The search for a new AD is not a quick one, so I won’t be leaving the position until the end of the summer, that still gives us a lot of time together to keep learning and keep making cool shit. And I am not going to disappear. While being AD I haven’t been able to teach very much, and I really miss it, so I look forward to getting back in the classroom.
We are going to continue to operate as normal, I’m still in charge, I’m still making decisions, I’m still giving notes, I’m still looking forward to the daily laughs.
We will be officially posting the job in a few days. I wanted to keep my personal announcement to you separate from the job posting. If you are interested in applying, want to know more about the job etc, please wait for the email with that information! If you didn’t read this email and you still ask me, well….that part of this job I will not miss.
HA HA HA LOLZ 4 EVA
Through a spokesperson, O’Neill declined to comment to Paste.
Seth Simons is Paste’s assistant comedy editor. Follow him on Twitter.