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Capitol Steps take down politicians to lift up Akron Children’s Hospital
By GRAIG GRAZIOSI
YOUNGSTOWN
A group of former congressional staffers-turned-satirists took the stage at Stambaugh Auditorium Wednesday night during a fundraiser for Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley.
Members of Capitol Steps imitated a variety of faces familiar to those paying attention to the presidential election, including President Barack Obama, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, Republican candidate Donald Trump, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joe Biden among others.
The performers also sang parodies of famous songs with a political bent.
One performer portraying Donald Trump sang a parody of Walk The Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance” called “Shut Up and Vote For Me” just before another portraying Clinton sang an email scandal-inspired version of the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” called “I’m Un-Indicted.”
While politics is an evergreen topic for comics and satirists, what makes Capitol Steps unique is their intimate relationships with the people at the butt of their jokes: the founding members of Capitol Steps were a group of staffers for Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois, who died in 2011. Today, the group boasts a collective 62 years of staff experience between the House and the Senate.
The group formed in 1981 while planning entertainment for a Christmas party, pairing skits and song parodies with current events and politics. Eventually the group grew beyond former senate staffers, but the focus on satirizing politics remained.
In Capitol Step’s 35-year history, the group has released 35 albums, performed for the past five presidents and are featured quarterly on National Public Radio’s “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio specials.
Paul Sracic, chairman of Youngstown State University’s department of politics and international relations and an occasional contributor on CNN, introduced the group, saying he was sure there was plenty of material for the group to lampoon from the current election season.
The evening began with an election-themed dinner exclusively for hospital sponsors and donors in Stambaugh’s ballroom.
Pillars lining the ballroom were lit with alternating reds and blues, and a stilt-walker dressed as Uncle Sam milled around the diners telling jokes. Diners posed with cardboard cut-outs of Trump and Clinton, while brassy, Sousa- inspired marches played.
JoAnne Stock, senior director of development for Akron Children’s, said about 200 attended the dinner preceding the event and she expected an additional 300 members of the public to attend the performance. Stock estimated the event would bring in roughly $25,000.
Carter Lewis, co-owner of Lewis Construction, which has sponsored Akron Children’s for nearly three years, said it was his first Capitol Steps performance.
“It’s very easy to support Akron Children’s because of how passionate the people are, and obviously the importance of the cause,” Lewis said. “As for the Capitol Steps, I hadn’t heard of the performers before tonight, but I’m sure they’ve got plenty of ammunition for their show.”