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Capitol Steps
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Capitol Steps
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The Capitol Steps was an American political-satire group that performed from 1981 to 2020.[1] Most of the Capitol Steps' material parodied well-known contemporary songs. The songs were interspersed with other routines, including a spoonerism routine ("Lirty Dies") near the end of each performance with innuendoes about recent scandals. They released over 40 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 have performed on PBS, public radio and in small- and medium-size venues around the United States. On January 13, 2021, the Capitol Steps announced via Twitter that they were shutting down after 39 years of performing.

Key Information

Reagan years

[edit]

In 1981, three Republican congressional staffers (Bill Strauss, Elaina Newport,[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][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 current events. Joined by fellow Republican Senate staffers Nancy Baskin, Barbie Granzow, and Dave Nichols, they decided on a Christmas show as their first performance while continuing to work full-time as congressional staffers. They chose "The Capitol Steps" as their group name because of news earlier that year that Congressman John Jenrette had had sex with his wife, Rita, on the steps of the Capitol Building.[10]

Their first show was a December 11, 1981 Christmas party for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[10] The performers, considering the show a success, performed the same songs several more times that month. In 1982, the group expanded to include House staffers and Democrats. Despite being predominantly Republican, they tried to make their shows bipartisan with a roughly-even mix of songs lampooning Democrats and Republicans. Although the group attracted media interest at the time, they refused interview requests out of concern that their jobs could be endangered by press coverage and their behavior 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 first time. They received a favorable review in The Washington Post, 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. Shortly afterwards, the Capitol Steps became a professional group and recorded their first album: Capitol Steps Live! at the Shoreham. By this time, the group was performing weekly at the Shoreham. They later moved to The Bread Oven on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House, and in the fall of 1986 the Capitol Steps began performing on a regular basis at Chelsea's Cabaret in the Georgetown area.

After Percy's loss, Strauss decided to work full-time for the Capitol Steps. Newport went to work for Sen. Al D'Amato. Aidala went to work at the US Environmental Protection Agency. At this time, the group included David Gencarelli, Richard Paul, Anne Hill, Ann Schmitt, Brian Ash, and Mike Loomis; all except Loomis and Gencarelli were still with the group in 2012 with Newport. In September 1988, the Capitol Steps performed at the White House for an audience that included President Ronald Reagan, his wife Nancy, and hundreds of members of Congress. The president enjoyed the show. The Capitol Steps released five albums during Reagan's two presidential terms, including Thank God I'm A Contra Boy, We Arm the World, and Workin' 9 to 10.[11]

George H. W. Bush years

[edit]
Three men onstage in judicial robes
2008 skit at the Catholic University of America with Steps performers Evan Casey, Brad Van Grack, and Jamie Zemarel

The Capitol Steps had performed twice for President Bush when he was Vice President -- at his office's Christmas party in 1987 and at an intimate dinner party in the Vice President's Residence in 1989. During the Bush Years, they continued to perform material that included international and foreign policy affairs (such as the United States invasion of Panama) and local gaffes (such as George Herbert Walker Bush's recognition of September 7 as Pearl Harbor Day) after Bush's 1988 election. The group became known for parodying Vice President Dan Quayle, particularly after Quayle's infamous correction of a child's spelling of "potato" by telling him to add a final -e.

The Capitol Steps released six albums during the elder Bush's presidency, including Stand By Your Dan, 76 Bad Loans, and Georgie on My Mind, and performed several times at the White House. On three occasions, the president accepted the group's invitation to sing songs poking fun at himself with them onstage.

Clinton years

[edit]

Until the Lewinsky scandal, Bill Clinton's administration did not provide much fodder for new songs or albums, though a variety of personalities proved easy to exaggerate: the easygoing Clinton and the First Lady, Hillary, Vice-President Al Gore and Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, who had suggested that masturbation could be a useful part of a comprehensive sex-education curriculum.[6]

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

George W. Bush Years

[edit]

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

The popular impression of George W. Bush's intellect, fed by his frequent grammatical errors in speeches, allowed the Capitol Steps to reuse much Dan Quayle material. Immediately after the events of September 11, 2001, jokes aimed at the president or American politics no longer seemed appropriate to the general public. The group cancelled most of their performances for the next several weeks. The group soon found 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 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 being questioned in airports for having powdered sugar from a donut on their clothing.

In 2002 and 2003, their material lampooned SUVs and their drivers, Hans Blix, the collapse 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 recall election (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 December 18, 2007, group co-founder Bill Strauss died at his home in McLean, Virginia of pancreatic cancer.

Obama years

[edit]
Woman holding a picture of Barack Obama
Obama campaign skit with cast member Felicia Curry

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 stage lights".[12] As of 2022, several performers of the Capitol Steps were performing under the name DC’s Reflecting Fools. The new group blends new songs with classic Capitol Steps material.[13] By October 2023,[14] the group was using the name Capitol Fools.[15]

Live shows

[edit]
A bespectacled performer, gesturing with his hands
At the Catholic University of America in 2008

The Capitol Steps regularly performed as many as 700 shows per year.[16] As of 2017, the Capitol Steps had multiple casts, with 24 cast members:[citation needed]

  • Brian Ash
  • Jon Bell
  • 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 Hill
  • Jamie Zemarel

As of 2017, the group also had five pianists:[citation needed]

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

The group performed public and private shows throughout the country, and appeared at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. year-round.[17][18]

Recordings

[edit]

Since their first album in 1984, the Capitol Steps have released a new recording of their songs, parodies, and sketches at least once a year (usually in the late 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 made up of songs written for participants of the National Young Leaders Conference[19][20][21][22][23] in Washington, at which the group has performed. Their 20th-anniversary book included a CD retrospective of their work.

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Man onstage in a Stetson hat in front of a picture of Oprah Winfrey
Cast member Jamie Zemeral lampoons Oprah Winfrey in 2008
  1. Capitol Steps Live! at the Shoreham (1984)
  2. We Arm the World (1985)
  3. Thank God I'm a Contra Boy (1986)
  4. Workin' 9 to 10 (1987)
  5. Shamlet (1988)
  6. Stand By Your Dan (1989)
  7. Danny's First Noel (1989 holiday release)
  8. Georgie on My Mind (1989–1990)
  9. Sheik, Rattle and Roll (1990)
  10. 76 Bad Loans (1991)
  11. Fools on the Hill (1992)
  12. The Joy of Sax (1993)
  13. All I Want 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 Want It Dad's Way (2001 high-school release, revised and re-released in 2005)
  22. One Bush, Two Bush, Old Bush, New Bush (2001)
  23. When Bush Comes to Shove (2002)
  24. Between Iraq and a Hard Place (2003)
  25. Papa's Got a Brand New Baghdad (2004)
  26. Four More Years in the Bush Leagues (2005)
  27. I'm So Indicted (2006)
  28. O Christmas Bush (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 Shop of Horrors (2010)
  34. Desperate House Members (2011)
  35. Weiner Wonderland (2011 holiday release)
  36. Take the Money and Run for President (2012)
  37. Fiscal Shades of Grey (2013)
  38. How to Succeed in Congress Without Really Lying (2014)
  39. Mock the Vote (2015)
  40. What to Expect When You're Electing (2016)
  41. Orange Is the New Barack (2017)
  42. Make America Grin Again (2018)
  43. The Lyin' Kings (2019)

Singles

[edit]

The group released "Ronald the Red-Faced Reagan" for the 1987 holidays, "Like a Suburban Drone" in 1990 and "From Yankee Doodle to Pander Bear", a history of American political satire, early in Bill Clinton's first term.[24]

See also

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References

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Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Capitol Steps

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from Grokipedia
The Capitol Steps was an American musical specializing in , founded in 1981 by a group of United States Senate staffers who began parodying their employers and Washington through original song adaptations of popular tunes. The ensemble, which branded itself with the slogan "We put the MOCK in democracy," emphasized bipartisan mockery by lampooning figures across the , performing live shows that combined topical lyrics with familiar melodies to highlight congressional absurdities, presidential foibles, and policy scandals. Originating from an impromptu holiday performance on December 11, 1981, by six staffers in the office of Senator , the group quickly expanded into a professional act, delivering up to 250 shows annually by the late 1980s and releasing numerous albums of recorded material. Key founders included writer-performer Elaina Newport and Bill Strauss, whose cerebral style helped popularize the format of musical political humor in the vein of earlier satirists like , though with a focus on real-time insider perspectives. The troupe's defining characteristic was its non-partisan approach, avoiding ideological favoritism to target inefficiencies and hypocrisies in governance regardless of party affiliation, which sustained its appeal through multiple administrations. The Capitol Steps ceased operations in 2020, succumbing to the economic fallout from the that decimated live performance venues, after nearly four decades as a Washington institution with regular Friday and Saturday shows at the Ronald Reagan Building. Despite no major controversies, their closure marked the end of a unique niche in American , where empirical observation of political theater was distilled into accessible, humorous critique without reliance on partisan narratives.

Origins and Early Development

Formation in 1981

The Capitol Steps were founded in December 1981 by three staffers for U.S. Senator Charles Percy (R-IL): Elaina Newport, Jim Aidala, and Bill Strauss. These individuals, working on , initially conceived the group as lighthearted entertainment for Percy's office party, shifting from a plan to sing intentionally off-key carols in elf costumes to performing parodies of popular songs with lyrics satirizing current political events and figures. The troupe's name originated from a on a contemporaneous sex scandal involving Representative and his wife Rita, who were reported to have engaged in intercourse on the U.S. Capitol steps. The group's inaugural performance took place on December 11, 1981, at the Christmas party for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, marking the debut of their bipartisan style that targeted politicians regardless of party affiliation. Comprising congressional aides with no prior professional entertainment experience, the early Capitol Steps relied on insider knowledge of Washington politics to craft timely song parodies, performing initially in informal settings around of Columbia. This origin reflected a tradition of Hill staffers using humor to lampoon the very leaders they served, setting the foundation for the troupe's expansion beyond gigs.

Initial Performances and Expansion

The Capitol Steps' inaugural performance occurred on December 11, 1981, at a party organized for staff of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, featuring song parodies of current political events set to popular tunes, performed by a group of six congressional staffers primarily from Senator Charles H. Percy's (R-IL) office, including Bill Strauss and Elayne Boone. The act, initially conceived as a pun on dance troupe but adapted into musical satire due to the performers' lack of dance skills, borrowed costumes from a local school production and drew immediate acclaim from attendees for its timely mockery of Washington insiders. This single event marked the group's debut, transitioning from an ad hoc entertainment idea to a recurring fixture amid the early Reagan administration's policy debates. Following the success of the 1981 holiday show, the Capitol Steps secured regular bookings in Washington, D.C., starting with informal gigs at venues like the National Press Club and expanding to paid performances for political and corporate audiences by mid-1982, as demand grew from word-of-mouth among staff and journalists. The troupe formalized its operations in 1983, incorporating as a professional entity and releasing its debut album, The Capitol Steps: Satirical Song Parodies, which captured live recordings of their early routines lampooning figures like President and congressional scandals. By this point, core members had supplemented their staffer roles with full-time commitments to the group, enabling weekly shows and special events that satirized bipartisan follies, such as budget battles and foreign policy missteps. Expansion beyond D.C. accelerated in the mid-1980s, with the group embarking on its first national tours by 1984, performing at theaters and universities across the U.S. while maintaining a base of over 100 annual shows in the . This growth was fueled by media exposure on outlets like and , as well as invitations to high-profile events, including presidential inaugural galas starting with Reagan's second term in 1985, which broadened their audience from political insiders to general public venues. The troupe's roster evolved to include up to 15 rotating performers, many transitioning from government service, allowing scalability for simultaneous regional tours and productions that numbered over 30 by the . Despite early concerns among members about job repercussions for critiquing employers, the format's appeal as light-hearted, equal-opportunity ridicule sustained expansion without reported reprisals from targeted politicians.

Evolution Through Political Eras

Satire in the 1980s and 1990s

During the 1980s, the Capitol Steps honed their satirical focus on the Reagan administration, producing song parodies that lampooned foreign policy initiatives and domestic fiscal debates. Their 1986 album Thank God I'm a Contra Boy directly referenced the Iran-Contra affair, mocking the covert arms-for-hostages dealings and funding of Nicaraguan Contras through proceeds from Iranian sales. Subsequent releases, such as Workin' 9 to 10 in 1987, targeted congressional budgeting and overtime pay disputes amid Reagan's economic policies. By mid-decade, the group had begun professionalizing, releasing live recordings like Live! at the Shoreham in 1985 and expanding performances from Washington, D.C., venues to national tours. Transitioning into the early 1990s under President , the troupe shifted parodies to the new administration, including in the 1989 album Stand By Your Dan, which poked fun at his public gaffes and spelling errors. The 1990 release Georgie on My Mind centered on Bush's persona and policies, while Sheik, Rattle & Roll that same year satirized the Persian Gulf War, exaggerating military operations and international alliances through musical twists on classic tunes. This era saw further growth, with the addition of professional cast members enabling multiple simultaneous performances across U.S. cities. Following Bill Clinton's 1992 election, the Capitol Steps adapted their repertoire to his presidency, releasing Lord of the Fries in 1994 to riff on Clinton's affinity for alongside early administration quirks, and A Whole Newt World in 1995 targeting Speaker Gingrich's . Later 1990s output, including Fools on the Hill (1992) and subsequent works, incorporated parodies of Clinton's personal scandals and policy missteps, such as the investigation and Lewinsky affair, often blending bipartisan jabs at congressional figures. By decade's end, the group maintained a rigorous schedule of over 500 annual shows, with Presidents Reagan, Bush, and among audiences who attended despite the pointed mockery.

Post-9/11 Adjustments and 2000s Challenges

Following the , 2001, terrorist attacks, the Capitol Steps, like many political satirists, temporarily restrained their commentary on President to respect the prevailing national mood of unity and mourning. Co-founder Elaina Newport noted that "right after 9/11, you couldn't make a George W. Bush joke," reflecting a broader hesitation among comedians to critique leadership during the immediate crisis. This adjustment aligned with a short-term shift away from partisan humor, as the group and late-night hosts treaded lightly in the days following the attacks. By early 2002, the troupe resumed full satirical output, releasing the album When Bush Comes to Shove, which featured parodies targeting Bush administration figures and policies, including tracks like "Don't Go Fakin' the Funk" on foreign affairs. Performances incorporated post-9/11 themes, such as a parody titled "Tal tal tal tal Taliban" lampooning Bush, Colin Powell, and Dick Cheney on the war effort. In 2003, they staged Between Iraq and a Hard Place at the Houseman Theater, satirizing the Iraq War buildup and figures like Donald Rumsfeld, whom cast member Jack Rowles began portraying that year. Later releases, including Four More Years in the Bush Leagues around Bush's 2004 reelection, continued this focus, balancing critiques of Republican policies with jabs at Democrats like John Kerry. The 2000s presented logistical and adaptive challenges for the group's live format, exacerbated by the era's volatile political events. The disputed 2000 presidential election recount between Bush and demanded real-time improvisation; during a performance at Portland's , cast members updated material with hand-scrawled signs tracking vote shifts, underscoring the difficulty of timely amid uncertainty. Wartime sensitivities lingered, requiring careful navigation to maintain their claimed bipartisan approach without alienating audiences, though they persisted in equal-opportunity mockery, as evidenced by skits lampooning both Bush and Cheney alongside congressional figures. Despite these hurdles, the troupe sustained touring and recordings, with co-founder Newport emphasizing the need to suppress personal biases to preserve impartiality in an increasingly polarized environment.

2010s Intensification and Final Productions

In the , the Capitol Steps maintained a rigorous schedule of live performances and releases, adapting their to the 's policies and the emerging [Tea Party movement](/page/Tea Party movement). They released Desperate Housemembers in , featuring parodies of congressional gridlock and political scandals during the midterm elections. The included tracks mocking figures across the aisle, such as "Lieberman" and references to healthcare reform debates. Concurrently, Liberal Shop of Horrors () targeted perceived excesses in progressive agendas, with songs like parodies of environmental and social policies. These productions reflected an intensification of output, with the group performing at venues like CityStage in , from April 14 to 18, , drawing on timely material from the . As the decade progressed, the ensemble satirized the 2012 presidential campaign and subsequent events, releasing Campaign and Suffering in 2012, which lampooned and Barack Obama's contest through song parodies like "." The group continued touring extensively, with shows such as "Orange is the New Barack" in 2017 at Community College, blending humor from the Obama-to-Trump transition. By the late , they produced The Lyin' Kings, their final album, focusing on Trump-era deceptions and political theater. Performances persisted into 2019, including multiple visits to institutions like NC State University, where they had appeared eight times since 1994. The disrupted operations starting in March 2020, halting live tours and performances indefinitely. Unable to resume amid venue closures and health restrictions, the Capitol Steps announced their disbandment on January 13, 2021, after 39 years. The decision was attributed to the pandemic's economic toll on live arts, compounded by the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, which group members cited as evidencing the boundaries of effective . No further productions followed, marking the end of their run of over 35 albums and thousands of shows.

Performance Style and Methods

Satirical Song Parodies and Techniques

The Capitol Steps' satirical parodies formed the cornerstone of their performances, involving the rewriting of lyrics from popular contemporary songs to mock political figures, scandals, and policy failures. This approach relied on selecting familiar melodies to ensure audience recognition, allowing performers to substitute original verses with timely, humorous adaptations that preserved the , meter, and rhythm of the source material. By drawing directly from recent headlines, the group produced content that remained relevant and topical, often premiering new parodies within days of unfolding events. The writing process was handled internally by cast members, typically former congressional staffers, who analyzed daily news to identify satirical opportunities and crafted lyrics emphasizing irony, exaggeration, and wordplay without resorting to profanity, though innuendo was common. Techniques included puns on politicians' names, policy critiques framed through absurd scenarios, and allusions to cultural references, all fitted to the original tune's structure for seamless delivery accompanied by piano. For instance, a parody of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" targeted papal visits and Vatican politics, demonstrating how international events could be localized into domestic satire. These parodies were integrated into live shows with minimal staging, relying on vocal and simple costumes to evoke targeted individuals, enhancing the lyrical jabs through visual reinforcement. The group's emphasis on bipartisan targets—stemming from performers' experiences across party lines—aimed for balanced ridicule, though the core technique prioritized factual distortions in over partisan alignment. Over decades, this method yielded hundreds of original pieces, compiled into albums like those featuring "Buy, Buy American Pie," a takeoff on imbalances sung to the tune of Don McLean's "American Pie."

Claimed Bipartisan Mockery

The Capitol Steps promoted their performances as instances of bipartisan satire, targeting politicians and policies from both major U.S. with equal vigor. The troupe's official stance emphasized "equal opportunity satire," a phrase repeatedly used in their promotional materials and event descriptions to underscore that Democrats and Republicans alike were subject to through song adaptations of popular tunes. This approach was presented as a core principle, with performers asserting that their humor avoided partisan favoritism by drawing material from current events affecting all sides of the . Specific examples illustrated this claimed balance. In the lead-up to the presidential election, the group created satirical numbers lampooning 12 of the 15 Republican primary candidates alongside all Democratic contenders, reflecting an intentional effort to distribute proportionally across party lines. Promoters and venues reinforced the narrative, describing shows as skewering "political figures and hangers-on of both parties in equal measure," with the guarantee that audiences of varying ideologies would find material to appreciate. The Capitol Steps' disbandment in 2021 did not end the emphasis on this purported , as their offshoot group, the Capitol Fools, explicitly continued the tradition by promising "bipartisan belly laughs" in performances that plundered news from both parties for comedic fodder. This continuity was framed as a holdover from the original troupe's method, where derived from verifiable political scandals and gaffes, irrespective of the perpetrator's affiliation.

Reception, Impact, and Criticisms

Popularity and Achievements

The Capitol Steps achieved significant popularity through extensive national touring and high-volume performances, accumulating over 8,000 shows across nearly four decades of operation from 1981 to 2021. At their peak, the group maintained up to five rotating casts to sustain as many as 500 annual performances, enabling broad reach to audiences in theaters, corporate events, and political gatherings nationwide. This scale contributed to their reputation as a staple of -based political entertainment, with frequent sold-out engagements and appearances entertaining U.S. presidents and congressional figures from both parties. Their output included over 35 original albums of satirical song parodies, released independently and distributed through major labels, which amplified their visibility beyond live stages. These recordings, such as The Lyin' Kings and earlier Reagan-era titles like Thank God I'm a Contra Boy, captured timely political humor and were promoted via media features on , , ABC, and programs including and 20/20. While specific sales figures remain undisclosed, the volume of releases—spanning more than three dozen titles—underscored their prolificacy and enduring appeal among audiences seeking lighthearted political commentary. Notable achievements encompassed milestones like expanding from a single impromptu staffer ensemble to a professional multi-cast operation, sustaining relevance through multiple presidential administrations amid evolving media landscapes. The group's adaptability, evidenced by annual updates to material reflecting current events, fostered repeat attendance and a loyal following, though they received no major industry awards such as Grammys or Tonys, with success measured primarily by performance metrics and cultural persistence rather than formal accolades.

Allegations of Left-Leaning Bias and Selective Satire

Critics have alleged that the Capitol Steps exhibited a left-leaning despite the group's repeated assertions of being "equal opportunity offenders" who mocked politicians across the ideological . This perception stemmed from an observed imbalance in the frequency and intensity of , particularly in the later years of their run, where Republican figures such as drew more extensive compared to Democratic counterparts. Co-founder Elaina Newport acknowledged that complaints about uneven coverage contributed to declining bookings, as venues grew wary of audience backlash over perceived favoritism toward liberal viewpoints. The selective nature of the satire was attributed by some to the D.C.-based troupe's environment, where access to insider anecdotes and cultural norms may have amplified material on conservative missteps while underemphasizing equivalent Democratic foibles. For instance, during the Trump era, the group's song parodies increasingly focused on right-wing personalities and policies, with less equivalent scrutiny of left-leaning administrations' controversies, leading to accusations that the humor served as a comforting rather than rigorous critique. Entertainment critics argued this approach evaded the partisan stakes of issues like healthcare and , portraying all sides as mere caricatures to avoid alienating audiences or confronting institutional leftward tilts in media and political circles. Such allegations were not universal but reflected broader skepticism toward self-proclaimed bipartisan groups operating in politically homogeneous hubs like , where empirical data on coverage often showed asymmetry favoring progressive narratives. The troupe's disbandment in January 2021, amid heightened polarization, was partly linked to these tensions, as the evolving climate made maintaining perceived balance untenable without risking offense or irrelevance.

Disbandment Factors in 2021

The Capitol Steps announced their disbandment on January 13, 2021, after 39 years of operation, citing the pandemic's disruption to live performances as the decisive factor. The group had suspended touring and shows starting in March 2020, when pandemic restrictions halted in-person gatherings, leading to a full year without revenue from their core business model of live satirical revues. In an official statement, the troupe explained that, like many entertainment acts reliant on audiences, they "weren't built to survive going a year without live shows," underscoring the absence of viable alternatives such as streaming adaptations for their format of topical song parodies performed to packed venues. Financial strain from canceled engagements compounded the issue, as the group depended on approximately 300 annual performances across theaters, corporate events, and political fundraisers, generating income that evaporated amid venue closures and travel bans. By late 2020, persistent uncertainties about resuming tours—coupled with low demand for virtual formats ill-suited to their interactive, audience-responsive style—rendered recovery infeasible for the ensemble of rotating performers, many of whom held day jobs on or in related fields. Underlying challenges from escalating had already strained operations in prior years, making bipartisan increasingly difficult amid audience expectations for partisan alignment rather than equal-opportunity mockery. The acted as a catalyst, accelerating the end for a model predicated on timely, in-person ridicule of current events, which lost immediacy without live delivery. No formal revival plans were outlined, though individual members pursued offshoots like the Capitol Fools to adapt similar content post-disbandment.

Productions and Output

Live Shows and Touring

The Capitol Steps maintained a regular schedule of live performances in , holding shows every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. year-round at the Building and Center Amphitheater. These D.C.-based productions served as their primary venue, featuring two-hour sets of through song parodies, skits, and costumes, with tickets priced around $40. To accommodate demand, the group expanded from a single cast to multiple ensembles, enabling simultaneous performances in different locations by the mid-1980s; by 2016, five troupes operated, allowing up to five weekly shows across sites. Nationally, they toured extensively for 39 years, booking through agents at theaters, centers, and corporate events in states including , , , , and . Notable venues included the Bergen Performing Arts Center in , and the Mayo Performing Arts Center in . Live touring ceased in March 2020 amid the , as venues closed and the group paused in-person events without resuming before announcing disbandment in January 2021. This halt, combined with financial strains from the prolonged shutdown, contributed to the end of their stage productions after decades of road travel.

Recordings and Discography

The Capitol Steps produced a prolific series of audio recordings consisting of satirical song parodies, sketches, and musical comedy targeting political figures and events, released primarily under their self-titled label. Beginning with live and studio albums in the mid-1980s, the group issued new material frequently—often annually—to reflect current headlines, with over 40 releases documented up to 2019. These recordings were initially available on cassette and formats, later expanding to digital downloads via platforms such as Amazon and for titles from 2001 onward. Albums typically featured 15–20 tracks parodying hit songs with altered lyrics, performed by ensemble casts including core members like Elaina Newport and Bill Strauss. Early efforts emphasized live captures of performances, evolving into themed studio productions tied to presidential administrations or scandals. For instance, the debut Live! at the Shoreham (1984) documented stage shows from their Washington, D.C., origins, while subsequent releases like We Arm the World (1985) and Thank God I’m a Contra Boy (1986) satirized Reagan-era policies. Holiday specials, such as Danny’s First Noel (1989) and O’Christmas Bush (2007), appeared sporadically alongside election-year albums. Later works addressed post-9/11 events, the Obama and Trump eras, with titles like Obama Mia (2009) and The Lyin' Kings (2019), the latter including tracks on figures including , , and . Distribution shifted toward online sales by the , though physical CDs remained available through specialty retailers.
YearAlbum Title
1984Live! at the Shoreham
1985We Arm the World
1986Thank God I’m a Contra Boy
1987Workin’ 9 to 10
1989Danny’s First Noel
1989Stand By Your Dan
1990Georgie on My Mind
1990Sheik, Rattle & Roll!
199176 Bad Loans
1992Fools on the Hill
1993All I Want for Christmas Is a Tax Increase
1994Shamlet: A Political Comedy of Errors
1994Joy of Sax
1995Whole Newt World
1995Lord of the Fries
1996Return to Center
1997Sixteen Scandals
1998Unzippin’ My Doo-Dah
1999First Lady and the Tramp
2000It’s Not Over ‘Til the First Lady Sings!
2001One Bush, Two Bush, Old Bush, New Bush
2002When Bush Comes to Shove
2003Between Iraq and a Hard Place
2004Papa’s Got a Brand New Baghdad
2005Four More Years in the Bush Leagues
2006I’m So Indicted
2007Springtime for Liberals
2007O’Christmas Bush
2008Campaign and Suffering
2009Obama Mia
2009Barackin’ Around the Christmas Tree
2010Liberal Shop of Horrors
2011Desperate Housemembers
2012Take the Money and Run for President
2013Fiscal Shades of Gray
2014How to Succeed in Congress Without Really Lying
2015Mock the Vote
2016What to Expect When You’re Electing
2017Orange Is the New Barack
2018Make America Grin Again
2019The Lyin' Kings
No new recordings followed the group's 2021 disbandment, though legacy compilations and prior digital releases continue availability.

Legacy and Offshoots

Influence on Political Humor

The Capitol Steps advanced political humor by systematizing the adaptation of contemporary pop songs into satirical commentary on politicians and policy failures, a technique that amplified the memorability and shareability of critiques through familiar melodies. Originating from congressional staffers in 1981, their parodies—such as recasting hits to mock events like the Iran-Contra affair or scandals—prioritized topicality and , including signature "lirty dies" (spoonerisms), which became staples of their live and recorded output. This approach, blending musical theater with insider Washington observations, influenced the structure of ensemble-based political revues, demonstrating how satire could thrive without relying on solo stand-up or visual media. Over nearly four decades, the group's more than 5,000 performances across all 50 states and numerous album releases, including compilations like Unzippin' the President, disseminated this format to broader audiences, embedding as a viable medium for bipartisan in American comedy. Their emphasis on equal-opportunity ridicule—targeting Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike—modeled a restraint against one-sided partisanship, contrasting with the ideological skew often observed in and online commentary, and thereby preserving a niche for venue-based, audience-shared levity amid rising national divisions. This legacy is evident in how their method informed offshoot groups and sustained interest in musical satire as a to polarized discourse. Their contributions extended to cultural normalization of self-deprecating political within circles, where staffers and lawmakers attended shows as a ritualistic release, arguably tempering the gravity of with habitual irreverence. However, as intensified post-2010s, their style's reliance on shared cultural references waned in broader appeal, highlighting satire's dependence on consensus for —yet their archival output continues to serve as a benchmark for crafting humor from verifiable absurdities rather than fabricated .

Continuation via Capitol Fools

The Capitol Fools emerged as a successor to the Capitol Steps after the original group's disbandment in December 2021, with former members seeking to preserve the format of musical political satire amid concerns over the absence of such entertainment. Formed by performers including Jon Bell, Evan Casey, Nancy Dolliver, and Jack Rowles—who collectively brought decades of experience from the Capitol Steps—the troupe adopted the name Capitol Fools by October 2023, initially performing under variations like DC's Reflecting Fools. The group's shows feature song parodies of current events, rapid costume changes, spoonerisms, and backward-talking bits reminiscent of the Capitol Steps' style, positioning itself as an "equal opportunity offender" targeting politicians across party lines. Performances incorporate both new compositions responding to recent political developments and select classics from the Capitol Steps' repertoire, maintaining the emphasis on live theater tours at venues such as the and the . By 2024, the Capitol Fools had established a touring schedule, including dates at the Aronoff Center in February 2025 and appearances emphasizing during election cycles, with promotional materials highlighting their role in reflecting "crazy " through . While drawing directly from the Capitol Steps' foundational approach of bipartisan mockery originating in , the new ensemble operates independently, with no formal institutional ties to the predecessor beyond shared personnel and stylistic continuity.

References

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  43. https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/georgia-entertainment-scene/capitol-fools-offshoot-of-capitol-steps-keeps-political-humor-bipartisan/YQZMQ2SKPJDGHCFJ6JP3FRGWNQ/
  44. https://playbill.com/article/capitol-steps-returns-to-new-york-with-between-iraq-and-a-hard-place-july-15-aug-31-com-113848
  45. https://www.avclub.com/can-bipartisan-comedy-ever-be-truly-satirical-1798235775
  46. https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Capitol-Steps-100045616058214/
  47. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/TheCapitolSteps
  48. https://www.capsteps.com/live/reagan04.html
  49. https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/capitol-steps
  50. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/capitol-steps-mn0000647030/discography
  51. https://www.capsteps.com/albums/
  52. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/17/us/washington-talk-avocations-song-and-dance-and-politics-the-capitol-steps.html
  53. https://today.uconn.edu/2024/10/capitol-fools-bring-political-satire-to-jorgensen/
  54. https://dctheatrescene.com/2016/04/06/capitol-steps-still-funny-years-review/
  55. https://www.cincinnatiarts.org/events/detail/capitol-fools
  56. https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/regional/Capitol-Fools
  57. https://columbiaartiststheatricals.com/capitol-fools/
  58. https://atthemac.org/events/capitol-fools/
  59. https://www.mccallumtheatre.org/productions/capitol-fools/
  60. https://www.broadwayworld.com/cincinnati/article/CAPITOL-FOOLS-Comes-to-the-Aronoff-Center-in-2025-20240507
  61. https://leadingauthorities.com/speakers/capitol-fools
  62. https://capitolfools.com/
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