SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT
The Capitol Steps brings political satire to ECU
The Capitol Steps formed in 1981 and represents 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.
In this day and age, political discussions may be overwhelming or disheartening at best, but when the political satire troupe the Capitol Steps comes to East Carolina University in April, its members plan to lighten the atmosphere.
As the final event in the 2017-18 Voyages of Discovery Series, the Capitol Steps will perform “The Lighter Side of Politics” at 7 p.m. April 12, in Wright Auditorium.
The Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. The troupe was born in December 1981, when some staffers for Sen. Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Ronald Reagan was president when the Capitol Steps began, so co-founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala figured that if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers.
Their bio states, “Their first idea was to stage a nativity play, but in the whole Congress they couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin. So, they decided to dig into the headlines of the day, and they created song parodies and skits that conveyed a special brand of satirical humor that was as popular in Peoria as it was on Pennsylvania Avenue.”
No matter who is in the headlines, whether on the left or right side of the aisle, according to their bio, the Capitol Steps are “equal opportunity offenders.”
Taken together, Capitol Steps performers have worked in a total of 18 Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.
Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded 26 albums. They have appeared on NBC, ABC, CBS and PBS, and can be heard four times a year on National Public Radio stations during its “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio specials.
Tickets for the Capitol Steps event are $20. Tickets for youth ages 16 and under are $5. Tickets may be requested through the ECU Central Ticket Office by calling 1-800-ECU-ARTS (1-800-328-2787) or by visiting www.ecu.edu/voyages/tickets.cfm.
The Capitol Steps performance, which is a Wellness Passport Event, is free for ECU students. Tickets are required. To receive a free ticket, ECU students must go to the ECU Central Ticket Office, located in Mendenhall Student Center, and present his or her 1 Card. Individuals requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.
The Voyages of Discovery Series is made possible through contributions from Harriot College’s Dean’s Advancement Council, university organizations, and many friends and supporters. For additional information about the Voyages Series, visit www.ecu.edu/voyages.