Capitol Steps: A mesmerizing, GOP (grand old political) trip
For decades, American political figures have endured the risk of being mocked, and in Washington, no one does it better than the Capitol Steps.
This live comedy troupe has been poking fun at presidents, congresspersons, news media, lobby groups, Republicans, Democrats, and the Metro public transport system since 1981, when the group was founded by six Republican Congressional staffers working on the Senate Subcommittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Government Processes. No wonder they needed an amusing diversion! Ever since, the Capitol Steps are as much of an institution to Washington as Washington itself.
After the members of the group quit Congress to become full-time mockers of their former employer, they performed for every president. Reagan requested only skits involving him, Bush Sr. sang with them on stage three times, while Bill Clinton did not invite them back after the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. The performers had a field day with Dan Quayle skits and George W. Bush's relations to George Sr. (I want It Dad's Way and One Bush, Two Bush, Old Bush, New Bush were two resulting albums) as well as W's grammatical errors. In the 2000s they also went after Tony Blair, Condoleezza Rice, Arnold Schwarzenegger, same-sex marriages, Kobe Bryant and Saddam Hussein.
The group is no longer just Republican, but it is now 26 members strong. Their material has expanded beyond politics to cover the economy, newsmakers, famous trials and current events. They release an album nearly every year in the spring and sometimes with a bonus recording around the holidays. Recent releases include Liberal Shop of Horrors, Barackin' Around the Christmas Tree, Obama Mia!, Springtime for Liberals, and Papa's Got a Brand New Baghdad. One of their signature skis is Lirty Dies, a flipping of words that rhyme.
HelloWashingtonDC Tip: Performances are every Friday and Saturday evenings at the Ronald Reagan building on Pennsylvania Avenue. Tickets cost $35 and reservations are required. No profanity is used, so if your child is familiar with current events, he or she will get the gist of the parodies. The group travels often to perform and is also available for private functions, and appear frequently on National Public Radio.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
