Last night we ran into Amy Poehler—and her influence—at a party (where her friend Craig Wedren was performing an intimate set) in the East Village. The very same East Village that recently demanded the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater take down their scandalous "Hot Chicks Room" sign (inspired by this UCB skit). Now that Poehler has banished the sign to Governors Island as an act of goodwill towards the neighbors (very Leslie Knope of her!), what does she have to say about the whole debacle? Here's what she told us last night:
"I'm happy that something fun and weird came out of it, because that's the spirit of the theater, and we know it's important to be good neighbors so we want to do what we can to feel like we're part of the East Village, which we feel very connected to.
But I think what's so great about New York are those small little moments, small little stories. And I hope whoever didn't like the sign, will like everything that happens inside. And we would love to show them."
And what about those red velvet curtains that are now making the once pristine neighborhood look like a common whore? Sorry local morality police, Poehler's not going to bend on those. She told us:
"That I refuse to change. Look, I know that when you look outside your window, if there's something you don't like, it drives you crazy everyday. But the spirit of the theater has always been cheap, fun entertainment... Whoever wants to come in, we welcome them, and we'll show them a good time. That sounds sexual. There will be 24/7 stripping."
Please note, NIMBYs: Ms. Poehler is a comedian, and was just kidding about the 24/7 stripping.
