Over 30 years ago, the Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. In the years that followed, many of the Steps ignored the conventional wisdom ("Don't quit your day job!"), and although not all of the current members of the Steps are former Capitol Hill staffers, taken together the performers have worked in a total of eighteen Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.
Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded
over 35 albums,
including
their latest,
The Lyin' Kings.
They've been featured on
NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and can be heard twice a year on National Public
Radio stations nationwide during their
Politics Takes a Holiday
radio specials.
The Capitol Steps were born in December, 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Ronald Reagan was President when the 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 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 created song parodies & skits which conveyed a special brand of satirical humor that was as popular in Peoria as it was on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill; some for Democrats, some for Republicans, and others for politicians who firmly straddle the fence. No matter who holds office, there's never a shortage of material. Says Elaina Newport, "Typically the Republicans goof up, and the Democrats party. Then the Democrats goof up and the Republicans party. That's what we call the two-party system."
Although the Capitol Steps are based in Washington, DC, most of their shows are out-of-town or for out-of-town audiences, whether it's the National Welding Supply Association, a University audience, High Schoolers, or State Legislators. In fact, the Capitol Steps have performed for the last 5 Presidents (6, if you include Hillary). The only complaints the Steps seem to get are from politicians and personalities who are not included in the program!
No matter who or what is in the headlines, you can bet the Capitol Steps will tackle both sides of the political spectrum and all things equally foolish. What more would you expect from the group that puts the "MOCK" in Democracy?!
For interviews, press kits, videos, a free psychic reading, or further information, please contact us!!
Press clippings: news and reviews
Critics review the Capitol Steps and public performances.
New Jersey Stage: "Just Hysterical!"
- Berkshire Onstage Review: "Had the audience roaring with laughter"
- Chicago Tribune: "They poke fun at everyone"
- The Sentinel Newspapers: "Enormously refreshing"
- Anchorage Press: "Fair-and-balanced political humor"
- Spokane Spokesman-Review: "Inspiration from both sides of the aisle"
- Berkshire on Stage: "The performers are exemplary"
- Berkshires Week: "Equal opportunity offenders"
- VOA News: "With a New Administration, American Comedy Group Creates New Jokes"
- WETA Blog: "Washington's Own Political Satire Troupe"
- Flynn Blog: "Every politician got ... hung, drawn, and quartered in a completely bipartisan way"
- Washington Post: "An oasis of good-natured ribbing in a fiercely partisan world"
- DC Theatre Scene review: "A machine gun of comedy"
- Washington Post: "Capitol Steps goes into comedy overdrive during government shutdown"
- Washington Post feature: "Capitol Steps Turn 30"
- The Huffington Post
- Washington Post
- Broadway World
- Politico
- Boston Globe
- South Florida Sun Sentinel
- Arizona Republic
- New York Post
- L.A. Times
- Miami Herald
- New York Times
- Washington Post
Awards and Acclaim:
|
Three-time winner in Washington City Paper's annual Reader's Choice poll for "Best Place to Take an Out-of-Towner." |
|
Four-time winner in the "Wammie" Awards of the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) for "Cabaret/Musical Theater" |
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Nominated for the Drama Desk Awards of 2007 for "Outstanding Lyrics." |
|
Winner of the 2006 WUSA A-List for Best Comedy Club 2006. |
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Winner of the Washington Post Best Bets Readers' Choice Award for Best Live Theater 2005. |
Praise for the Capitol Steps
Comments from actual clients and distinguished audience members:
- School Nutrition Association (February 2016)
- Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts (October 2015)
- Quotes about the Capitol Steps.
- ARC of Carroll County Fundraiser (July 2009)
- World Presidents Organization (May 2009)
- Judge Lance Ito (May 1995)
We also put the FUN in Fundraisers!
-
"'Steps' for Cause and Community"
(May 2017)
- "CATCH Comedy Night a Tremendous Success" (March 2017)
- "Capitol Steps Benefit for UCM Raises Over $75,000 for Families in Need" (November 2016)
- "Most wonderful program for our fundraiser" (March 2016)
- "Capitol Steps Benefit Raises $230,500 for Cornerstones" (February 2016)
- "Sold out crowd" for annual benefit fundraiser (November 2015)
- "Capitol Steps deliver laughs at fundraiser" (April 2015)
Publicity Materials: Photos, Graphics, Logos and More
Members of the Capitol Steps try to remain anonymous, not always with success. Here's downloadable material suitable for print, publicity, programs, and press releases:
- P.R. logos, graphics, mailers, programs, etc.
- Live Performance Photos of the Capitol Steps: Election 2016 and more!
- Even More Live Performance Photos of the Capitol Steps
- Sample Press Release Template.
Cast Biographies
All about each member of our cast: See our About the Capitol Steps page for all the details.
Interviews in the Media
The Capitol Steps reveal their secrets. How did the group get its name? What did Ronald Reagan have to say after a White House performance? Which President Bush has done more for comedy? Does Donald Trump return your calls?
-
Michael Harrison's The Wrap: Interview with Elaina Newport (starting around 35:00).
- NBC4 Video Profile: Behind the scenes with at Capitol Steps World Headquarters! (2018)
- WAMC Interview: The Capitol Steps at Cranwell (2017)
- Co-founder Elaina Newport interviewed in Front Row Center: "Any subjects off-limits?" (2017)
- Mark Eaton interviewed in In the Spotlight: "How do you know when you come to that thin line between humor and blasphemy?" (2017)
- D.C. Theater Scene: "Who’s funnier — Democrats or Republicans?" (2016)
- BBC World Service: "Is this the best year ever for political comedy?" (2016)
- Kojo Nnamdi Show: "Behind the Scenes of the Capitol Steps" (2014)
- Washington Post: "Capitol Steps goes into comedy overdrive during government shutdown" (2013)
- WAMC interviews two cast members, Jack Rowles and Delores King Williams, at the Cranwell Resort (2012).
- Co-founder Elaina Newport interviewed by The Sunday Edition on CBC radio. Listen and find out what the Steps fight about backstage (2012).
- New York Times: "Surviving the Obama Comedy Crisis" (2009): Co-founder Elaina Newport explains: "Of course, every time we lose a president we worry, 'Will the next one be funny?'"
- Backstage with the Capitol Steps: TV profile from Scottsdale, AZ during a post-election tour.
- The Capitol Steps were featured on NPR's wildly popular All Songs Considered.
- Interview with Elaina Newport ( click here to listen ), producer and co-founder of the Capitol Steps, on XM Radio's The Mimi Geerges Show
- The Capitol Steps on NPR's Morning Edition (2004)
Video Preview
See the Capitol Steps on stage and behind the scenes.
-
See the
Capitol Steps Channel on YouTube
-
Download
a Quicktime promo video (c. 2005).
(Eleven minutes, 19MB.)
If you don't have Quicktime installed, free software is available here.
Production Specifications
Here's what it takes to stage a performance:
- Out of Town Production Specifications
- In-Town Production Specifications
- Care & Feeding
- Tips on how to promote a public Capitol Steps show.