Capitol Steps: Make America Grin Again

Capitol Steps
A 2008 performance
Medium	Television, theatre, radio, audio recordings
Nationality	American
Years active	1981–2021
Genres	Satire
Subject area(s)	American politics, Washington, D.C., the U.S. federal government
Members	over 25
Website	CapSteps.com

The Capitol Steps was an American political-satire group that performed from 1981 to 2020.^[1] Well-nigh of the Capitol Steps' material parodied well-known gimmicky songs, usually introduced with a short skit. The songs were interspersed with other routines, including a spoonerism routine ("Lirty Dies") nearly the end of each performance with innuendoes about contempo scandals. They have released over forty albums, primarily song parodies. Originally consisting of congressional staffers who performed around Washington, D.C., the troupe was later primarily made up of professional actors and singers. The Capitol Steps take performed on PBS, public radio and in small- and medium-size venues around the Usa. On January thirteen, 2021, the Capitol Steps announced via Twitter that they would be shutting downward after 39 years of performing. The shutdown is due to the loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reagan years [edit]

In 1981, three Republican congressional staffers (Bill Strauss, Elaina Newport,^{[2] [iii] [4] [5] [six] [seven] [eight] [9]} and Jim Aidala) used their spare time at the Subcommittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation, and Government Processes of the Senate Committee of Governmental Affairs to write and sing parodies of electric current events. Joined by fellow Republican Senate staffers Nancy Baskin, Barbie Granzow and Dave Nichols, they decided on a Christmas show as their showtime performance while continuing to work total-time as congressional staffers. They chose "The Capitol Steps" as their group name because of a sexual practice scandal earlier that yr in which Congressman John Jenrette had sex with his wife, Rita, on the steps of the Capitol Edifice.^[10]

Their kickoff show was a Dec 11, 1981 Christmas party for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.^[10] The performers, considering the show a success, performed the same songs several more than times that month. In 1982, the group expanded to include Business firm staffers and Democrats. Despite existence predominantly Republican, they tried to brand their shows bipartisan with a roughly-even mix of songs lampooning Democrats and Republicans. Although the grouping attracted media interest at the fourth dimension, they refused interview requests out of concern that their jobs could be endangered past printing coverage and their beliefs might affect Strauss and Newport's subcommittee chair Charles H. Percy.

In February 1983, the Capitol Steps began to perform monthly at the Shoreham Hotel and became open to publicity for the commencement time. They received a favorable review in The Washington Postal service, and their performances were successful. In November 1984, they performed at Percy's election-night party; during the party they learned that the senator had lost the election, and Strauss and Newport would lose their jobs with him. Soon later, the Capitol Steps became a professional grouping and recorded their first album: Capitol Steps Live! at the Shoreham. In the fall of 1986 the Capitol Steps began performing on a regular basis at Chelsea'south Cabaret in the Georgetown area.

Three years later,^{[ when? ]} the group decided to quit their full-time jobs. At this time, they included David Gencarelli, Richard Paul, Anne Hill, Ann Schmitt, Brian Ash, and Mike Loomis; all except Loomis and Gencarelli were nonetheless with the grouping in 2012 with Newport. In September 1988, the Capitol Steps performed at the White Firm for an audience which included President Ronald Reagan, his wife Nancy, and hundreds of members of Congress. Through an aide, Reagan asked the group to perform songs poking fun at him; they obliged, and the president enjoyed the evidence. The Capitol Steps released five albums during Reagan's two presidential terms, including Give thanks God I'm A Contra Male child, We Arm the World, and Workin' 9 to 10.^{[11] [12]}

George H. West. Bush years [edit]

The Capitol Steps expanded their repertoire of textile to include international and foreign policy affairs (such as the United States invasion of Panama) and local gaffes (such every bit George Herbert Walker Bush's recognition of September 7 as Pearl Harbor Day) after Bush's 1988 ballot. The group became known for parodying Vice President Dan Quayle, particularly after Quayle's infamous correction of a kid'due south spelling of "potato" by telling him to add a final -e.

The Capitol Steps released half-dozen albums during the elder Bush's presidency, including Stand up By Your Dan, 76 Bad Loans, and Georgie on My Mind, and performed several times at the White Firm. On iii occasions, the president accepted the grouping'southward invitation to sing songs poking fun at himself with them onstage.

Clinton years [edit]

Earlier the Lewinsky scandal, Beak Clinton's assistants provided fodder for new songs and albums and a variety of personalities who were piece of cake to exaggerate: the low-key Clinton and the First Lady, Hillary, Vice-President Al Gore and Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, who had suggested that masturbation could be a useful office of a comprehensive sex-education curriculum.^[6]

In 1994, the Capitol Steps performed at the White House for Clinton and Gore.

George Westward. Bush-league years [edit]

The 2000 presidential ballot yielded the pre-election "I Want a Make New Pair of Candidates" and several other songs about the aborted recount.

The popular impression of George W. Bush-league's intellect, fed by his frequent grammatical errors in speeches, allowed the Capitol Steps to reuse much Dan Quayle material. Afterward the events of September eleven, 2001, jokes aimed at the president or American politics no longer seemed appropriate to the general public. The group cancelled well-nigh of their performances for the next several weeks, performing an edited bear witness at a nightclub on September 15. Information technology was successful, and they before long institute new material that people would find funny in October 2001. The group poked fun at the improved national view of Bush and at figures who were becoming more relevant to the American public, including New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, British Prime number Minister Tony Blair, and French President Jacques Chirac.

Heightened security nationwide soon became a popular subject for the Capitol Steps and other comedians in the wake of media reports that travelers were beingness questioned in airports for having powdered sugar from a donut on their wear. Past the end of the yr, the group was poking fun at terrorists.

In 2002 and 2003, their material lampooned SUVs and their drivers, Hans Blix, the plummet of Enron, the standoff with Saddam Hussein, Condoleezza Rice, Democratic hopefuls for the 2004 presidential nomination, the capture of Saddam Hussein, same-sex weddings, the Kobe Bryant trial, and the California gubernatorial remember ballot (in which they reused "The Fondler"—a Clinton-era parody of "The Wanderer"—with Arnold Schwarzenegger as the target). Since 2004 the Capitol Steps have remained topical with their parodies, releasing songs about the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, U.S. immigration-reform-law proposals, and the Tom DeLay scandals. On Dec xviii, 2007, group co-founder Bill Strauss died at his home in McLean, Virginia of pancreatic cancer.

Obama years [edit]

Obama campaign skit with cast member Felicia Back-scratch

They released several albums during the Obama administration, including Mock the Vote, How to Succeed in Congress without Really Lying, Fiscal Shades of Gray, Take the Money and Run for President, Desperate Housemembers, Liberal Shop of Horrors, and Obama Mia.

Trump years [edit]

They released Orange Is the New Barack in 2017.

Biden years [edit]

On January 25, 2021, an update on the Capitol Steps website indicated that "the Capitol Steps are planning to turn off the phase lights".^[13]

Live shows [edit]

At the Catholic University of America in 2008

In 2008, Mark Eaton stated they had booked over 700 shows.^[xiv] As of 2017, the Capitol Steps had multiple casts, with 24 cast members:^{[ commendation needed ]}

• Brian Ash
• Jon Bong
• Bari Biern
• Mike Carruthers
• Evan Casey
• Jenny Corbett
• Kevin Corbett
• Janet Davidson Gordon
• Nancy Dolliver
• Morgan Duncan
• Mark Eaton
• Corey Harris
• Prince Havely
• Emily Levey
• Elaina Newport
• Richard Paul
• Jack Rowles
• Ann Schmitt
• Tracey Stephens
• Mike Thornton
• Brad Van Grack
• Delores Williams
• Anne Willis Loma
• Jamie Zemarel

As of 2022 the group also had five pianists:^{[ citation needed ]}

• Emily Bell Spitz
• Howard Breitbart
• Marc Irwin
• David Kane
• Lenny Williams

The grouping performed public and private shows throughout the country, and appeared at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Merchandise Center in Washington, D.C. every Friday and Sabbatum at 7:thirty p.m. year-round.^{[xv] [16]}

Recordings [edit]

Since their offset anthology in 1984, the Capitol Steps accept released a new recording of their songs, parodies, and sketches at least once a twelvemonth (usually in the tardily spring). The group has also released holiday recordings in 1989, 1993 and 2006. A 2001 "special high school release", revised and re-released in 2005, is fabricated upwards of songs written for participants of the National Immature Leaders Briefing^{[17] [xviii] [19] [20] [21]} in Washington, at which the group has performed. Their 20th-anniversary book included a CD retrospective of their work.

Discography [edit]

Albums [edit]

1. Capitol Steps Live! at the Shoreham (1984)
2. We Arm the Globe (1985)
3. Thank God I'm a Contra Boy (1986)
4. Workin' ix to ten (1987)
5. Shamlet (1988)
6. Stand Past Your Dan (1989)
7. Danny's First Noel (1989 holiday release)
8. Georgie on My Heed (1989–1990)
9. Sheik, Rattle and Whorl (1990)
10. 76 Bad Loans (1991)
11. Fools on the Colina (1992)
12. The Joy of Sax (1993)
13. All I Desire for Christmas Is a Tax Increase (1993 holiday release)
14. Lord of the Fries (1994)
15. A Whole Newt World (1995)
16. Return to Center (1996)
17. Sixteen Scandals (1997)
18. Unzippin' My Doo-dah (1998)
19. First Lady and the Tramp (1999)
20. It's Not Over 'Til the First Lady Sings (2000)
21. I Desire Information technology Dad's Mode (2001 high-school release, revised and re-released in 2005)
22. One Bush, 2 Bush, Former Bush, New Bush (2001)
23. When Bush-league Comes to Shove (2002)
24. Between Iraq and a Hard Identify (2003)
25. Papa's Got a Brand New Baghdad (2004)
26. Four More Years in the Bush-league Leagues (2005)
27. I'g So Indicted (2006)
28. O Christmas Bush-league (2006 holiday release)
29. Springtime for Liberals (2007)
30. Campaign and Suffering (2008)
31. Obama Mia! (2009)
32. Barackin' Around the Christmas Tree (2009 holiday release)
33. Liberal Store of Horrors (2010)
34. Desperate House Members (2011)
35. Weiner Wonderland (2011 holiday release)
36. Have the Money and Run for President (2012)
37. Fiscal Shades of Grey (2013)
38. How to Succeed in Congress Without Actually Lying (2014)
39. Mock the Vote (2015)
40. What to Expect When You're Electing (2016)
41. Orangish Is the New Barack (2017)
42. Make America Grinning Again (2018)

Singles [edit]

The grouping released Ronald the Red-Faced Reagan for the 1987 holidays and From Yankee Putter to Pander Bear, a history of American political satire, early in Beak Clinton'southward first term.

See besides [edit]

• Theatre in Washington, D.C.

References [edit]

1. ^ Hendrix, Steve (Oct three, 2013). "Capitol Steps Go Into Comedy Overdrive During Authorities Shutdown". The Washington Post . Retrieved October 4, 2020.
2. ^ "Elaina Newport, Co-Founder, the Capitol Steps comedy troupe, Washington". Jan 25, 2004 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
3. ^ WETA. "The Capitol Steps: Washington'southward Ain Political Satire Troupe".
4. ^ "Their material is ripped from the headlines, merely The Capitol Steps comedy troupe doesn't take information technology likewise seriously".
5. ^ "Elaina Newport". Charlie Rose.
6. ^ ^{a b} "Capitol Steps: Elaina Newport Interview". www.cnn.com AllPolitics.
7. ^ "Capitol Steps – 'Between Iraq and a Difficult Identify'". The New York Times. Baronial i, 2003.
8. ^ "hi". viewingamerica.shanti.virginia.edu. ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
9. ^ "Crisis Inflames Bias Confronting Asians / Ethnic stereotypes in broadcast, impress media prompt protests".
10. ^ ^{a b} Lonnae O'Neal Parker (December 28, 2011). "Capitol Steps turn 30". The Washington Post . Retrieved May thirteen, 2017.
11. ^ "Capitol Steps, April 10 1984 – Video". C-Span.org.
12. ^ https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/events/antitrust_law/2016/04/at_capitol_steps.pdf^{[ bare URL PDF ]}
13. ^ Vyse, Graham (February 16, 2022). "The Fall of the Capitol Steps". The Washington Postal service . Retrieved February 19, 2022.
14. ^ Flowers, Eric (Apr 23, 2008). "Politics is a Joke: Creating caricatures on the Capitol Steps". The Source Weekly - Bend.
15. ^ Dingfelder, Sadie (October 13, 2016). "Opinion – The Capitol Steps: An oasis of good-natured ribbing in a fiercely partisan earth" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
16. ^ Thompson, John (January 2, 2018). National Geographic Traveler –Washington. National Geographic Books. ISBN9781426202254 – via Google Books.
17. ^ "Congratulations! Yous Are Nominated. It'south an Honor. (It's a Sales Pitch.)". The New York Times. April nineteen, 2009.
18. ^ "Congressional Youth Leadership Council". www.cylc.org. Archived from the original on November 1, 1996.
19. ^ "Domicile Page". www.closeup.org.
20. ^ "Presidential Classroom". May 22, 1998. Archived from the original on May 22, 1998. Retrieved July thirteen, 2020.
21. ^ "Presidential Classroom – Miller Middle". Archived from the original on Dec 5, 2011.

Farther reading [edit]

• Strauss, Bill; Newport, Elaina (1992). Fools on the Hill: Everything You Demand to Know About Politics You Can Learn from the Capitol Steps. Stamford, Connecticut: Longmeadow Press. ISBN0-681-41676-9.
• Strauss, Bill; Newport, Elaina (2002). Xvi Scandals: 20 Years of Sex activity, Lies and Other Habits of Our Great Leaders . Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks MediaFusion. ISBN1-57071-890-iii.

External links [edit]

• Official Website
• https://world wide web.youtube.com/user/CapitolSteps
• Allmusic entry for the Capitol Steps
• Allmusic entry for Bill Strauss
• Allmusic entry for Elaina Newport
• Allmusic entry for Marking Eaton

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Steps

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