Capitol Steps Perform at the Byham Ahead of Election Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: October 4, 2012
Contact: Diana Roth, roth@trustarts.org  (412) 471-8717
Electronic artwork is available at www.Trustarts.org  Press Room

Capitol Steps, Sunday, November 4, 2012, 4pm, Byham Theater 

Part of Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the award-winning comedic group Capitol Steps performing at the Byham Theater on Sunday, November 4, 2012, at 4:00 p.m.  The Washington Times applauds the Capitol Steps calling it, “The best musical satire on Washington I’ve ever seen!”  For information and tickets ($21.00 - $43.00), visit www.Trustarts.org, call (412) 456-6666, or in person: Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue.  To purchase 10 or more tickets at discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.  The performance is a part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

The Capitol Steps began in 1981 when a group of Senate staffers quit their day jobs and set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them.  Using the headlines and scandals of the day, the cast members began to create song parodies and skits which conveyed a special brand of satirical humor that would be popular all across the U.S.  Now, more than 30 years later, no matter who holds office or what is happening on the Hill, Capitol Steps never fails to run out of timely, hilarious material.

Airport Security, Photo by Keith Stanley

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. Bernard Shaw from CNN commends the Capitol Steps by saying, “These people are very funny. They do comedy, they do satire, and they do it extremely well.” The Wall Street Journal gives more praise saying, “The troupe has become a favorite on the Washington social circuit. Its political satire brings chuckles…rave reviews…guffaws…and bipartisan grins all around. The satire hits the mark.”

The show is produced by Elaina Newport, who also writes the lyrics along with Mark Eaton and the touring cast (to be announced).  Their show is constantly changing and based on the scandal of the day.  Current examples include songs about Mitt Romney's plea to the GOP ("Help Me Fake It to the Right") and President Obama's class warfare ("If I Tax a Rich Man").  You might also spot a few of these musical numbers in the performance: Obama Mia, Don’t Go Fakin’ You’re Smart, I Like Big Cuts and I Cannot Lie, Duke of Oil, The Hillary-billies, The Sunni Side of Tikrit, God Bless My SUV, and many more.  In addition, the Capitol Steps offers their own take on new headlines and trending topics.

Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded over 30 albums, including their latest, Take the Money and Run — for President. They have been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and can be heard 4 times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their Politics Takes a Holidayradio specials.  They are also the winner (for the fourth year in a row) in the 24th Annual "Wammie" Awards of the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) for "Cabaret/Musical Theater" (2011).  The Capitol Steps is a very talented group that has a created a hilarious show sure to delight and entertain audiences everywhere.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh’s 14-block Cultural District through public and private support.  The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh.

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh