By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo New Editor
EAST VILLAGE — Just call them the "Uptight" Citizens Brigade.
That's what some in the East Village think of local residents' successful efforts to get a comedy troupe's controversial "Hot Chicks Room" sign removed from its forthcoming Avenue A theater space.
"Neighbors shouldn't dictate what sign they put on an establishment," said Damani Hawkins, 36, of the decision by the Upright Citizens Brigade to take down the sign, which neighbors called "tawdry" and "repulsive."
The sign is actually a nod to a UCB skit starring troupe member Amy Poehler, but residents said it would only serve to incite the hordes of bar-goers that flood the block on weekends.
"They should put up whatever they want," added Hawkins, who works in the area and suggested the theater put up something even lewder featuring parts of the male anatomy. "They pay the rent — that's it."
Some believed that of all the neighborhoods, the East Village would be the one most likely to embrace the joke.
"People should really be open to anything here, creativity-wise," said Rebeca Acosta, 22, who works nearby. "But different generations have different standards, so it's expected that somebody's going to have a problem."
Upright Citizens Brigade managing director Alex Sidtis said he decided to back off the sign because the Chelsea-based troupe has been working for years now to get the new space open.
"Any child gets more exposure to 'questionable' material by walking past a newsstand in my opinion, but that ultimately isn't my call to make," he said, referring to statements made by a neighbor about a school being located up the block.
"I am also eager to see how irritated people get about ads placed on the bus shelter outside our door. Is this really about propriety, or is there something else going on?"
Still, some local residents felt that such a highly visible advertisement would attract crowds mistaking the theater for something else.
"The 'Hot Chicks' part makes it just seem like a dance bar," said Ariane Marder, 32, who lives on Avenue A, noting the space's official "UCB" signage abutting the pink "Hot Chicks Room" letters doesn't stand out as much.
"It doesn't let you know what exactly is going on inside."
Sidtis, for one, said he was more worried about what happened inside the space.
"The UCB would rather be known for the comedy they bring to the stage locally and are able to promote nationally," he said. "The nature of good comedy is that it's bound to offend some people. We have a lot of experience in that department."
