CAPITOL STEPS Returns To The MAC, Today

The Capitol Steps, known for putting the "Mock" in democracy and being an "equal opportunity offender," returns to the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) to perform a mix of material from their newest album, "Orange is the New Barack," and traditional audience favorites Saturday, May 12 at 4 and 8 p.m.

Selections currently scheduled for the MAC engagement include "Small Hands" (sung by Melania, a parody of Pointer Sister's "Slow Hand"), "Tweet Tweet" (a parody of "Rockin' Robin," inspired by the President's tweet storms), "Don't Know Much About History" (with Betsy DeVos crooning "Don't know much about history...Don't know much biology"), and more. Of course, all is subject to change as the Capitol Steps is known for pouncing on breaking news events to keep the show fresh and on trend, never guaranteeing a set song and cast list in advance.

Founded by former U.S. Senate staffers and primed to satirize the political world in which they were employed, the Capitol Steps have been using song parodies and original sketches to play up the comedic political footing in the U.S. for more than 30 years. Their tasteful lampooning of the latest news headlines through satirical skits and lyrics set to favorite songs is legend for leaving audiences laughing. "They're the best. There's no one like them, no one in their league," says CNN's Larry King.

The Capitol Steps was formed in December 1981 when Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala, three of Senator Charles Percy's (R-Ill.) staff members, were asked to entertain the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at its holiday party. The young staffers decided if entertainers, such as then President Ronald Reagan, could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers.

To date the Capitol Steps has recorded 33 albums and been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC. The Capitol Steps can be heard four times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their "Politics Takes a Holiday" radio specials. Though based in Washington, DC, most of their shows are performed in out-of-town at 1000-1500 seat theaters from Seattle to Boston and every city in between. They have also performed for the last five Presidents, but not yet for President Trump.

The Capitol Steps comes to McAninch Arts Center (MAC) located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn Saturday, May 12 at 4 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $42-$49. For an additional $30 add on VIP Suite Service, a private, pre-show cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception followed by coffee and dessert at intermission. For tickets or more information visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000.

The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 236-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Art Gallery, classrooms for the college's academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 75,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.

The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information visit AtTheMAC.org, facebook.com/AtTheMAC or twitter.com/AtTheMAC.

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