Capitol Steps to Perform at Homecoming

For Immediate Release:
Oct. 4, 2007

The Capitol Steps will perform
on Friday, Oct. 19, at Goddard
Auditorium with shows at 7 p.m.
and 10 p.m.

RICHMOND, Ind. — The ever-popular political satire group Capitol Steps brings its wickedly funny parodies to Earlham College for two performances on Friday, Oct. 19, in Carpenter Hall's Goddard Auditorium.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Artist and Lecture Series shows are $20.

Cash-only purchases can be made at Earlham's Runyan Center Desk, open
Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. For credit card purchases,
please call the Office of Events at
765/983-1373.

The Capitol Steps began in 1981 when Senate staffers were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Ronald Reagan was president, so co-founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala figured that if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers. So they decided to dig into the headlines of the day, and created song parodies and skits which conveyed a special brand of satirical humor that was as popular in Peoria as it was on Pennsylvania Avenue.

More than 5,000 shows later, a five-member cast and a keyboardist will present political and topical parodies in fast-moving songs interspersed with short skits including a spoonerism routine called "Lirty Dies" as part of Earlham's homecoming festivities.

Although not all of the current members of the Steps are former Capitol Hill staffers, taken together the performers have worked in more than 18 Congressional offices and represent more than 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.

No matter who holds office, there's never a shortage of material, Newport says.

"Typically, the Republicans goof up and the Democrats party," she says. "Then the Democrats goof up and the Republicans party. That's what we call the 'two-party system.'"

The material is updated constantly, whether it is the Democrats' current infatuation with Barack Obama in "A Leader Like Barack" (to "The Leader of the Pack") or the latest opinion from Ann Coulter ("Loonies of the Right") or on the international side, President Bush and the Prime Minister of Japan reconciling their differences in the touching "Stand By Japan." No matter who's in the headlines, the Capitol Steps are equal opportunity offenders, says Newport.

— EC —

Contact:
Denise Purcell, public affairs assistant
765/983-1323 — E-Mail Denise

Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond, Indiana 47374-4095
Send corrections or comments to Web Editor .
Copyright Information

This page last updated: October 4, 2007