Contact: Maridith Geuder
The Capitol Steps
Describing themselves as "equal opportunity offenders," a troupe of former congressional staffers-turned-satirists will present a post-election evening of entertainment Nov. 16 at Mississippi State.
The Capitol Steps, whose political send-ups are heard regularly on National Public Radio, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Colvard Union ballroom. The Washington, D.C.-based group's appearance is a part of the university's 2004-05 Lyceum Series.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens (65 and over by request) and $11 for children 3-12. MSU students are admitted free with student identification.
Representing a total of 18 congressional offices and 62 collective years of U.S. House and Senate work experience, the Steps happily skewer the very people and offices that once employed them.
Since launching in 1981 as holiday entertainment, the troupe has recorded 24 albums, including their most recent, "Papa's Got a Brand New Baghdad." In addition to NPR, they have been featured on all major television networks and the Public Broadcasting System.
When the group first inaugurated its unusual take on politics, Ronald Reagan was in office. At the time, co-founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala said they decided that "if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers."
Others obviously agree--the group currently performs about 500 shows each year and has traveled to 49 states.
No matter who's in office, the Capitol Steps never lacks for material. "Typically, the Republicans goof up and the Democrats party," Newport said. "Then the Democrats goof up and the Republicans party. That's what we call the two-party system."
Capitol Steps takes its material from the day's headlines, whether it's George Bush's latest malapropism in "Don't Go Fakin' You're Smart" or John Kerry's positions on the issues ("I've Taken Stands on Both Sides Now").
Lyceum Series season tickets are $50 and include upcoming performances by the National Players: The Oedipus Cycle, Camerata Sweden chamber group and the Freddy Cole Quartet. Tickets also include admittance to the Lyceum Faculty Chamber Series, with performances by MSU faculty artists.
Season tickets may be purchased at the door or by sending a check and self-addressed, stamped envelope in care of Lyceum Series Season Tickets at P.O. Box HY, Mississippi State, MS. 39762.
For more information about the Lyceum Series, visit www.msstate.edu/dept/lyceum or telephone (662) 325-4201. For more information about the Capitol Steps, see http://www.capsteps.com.