Time to Give Thanks for THE CAPITOL STEPS

Returning for their annual Thanksgiving weekend pilgrimage to Scottsdale, The Capitol Steps plan to bring down the House - and Senate - with their blend of sharp political satire set to popular music. The irreverent D.C.-based troupe will take the stage at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24 and 25.

Poking fun at all sides of the issues, from left to right, the Steps' performances will include fresh, up-to-the-minute material inspired by the latest headlines, scandals, presidential tweets and more, as well as songs from their most recent album, Orange Is the New Barack, released earlier this year. "Guest appearances" by many favorite (or least-favorite, as the case may be) politicians also are distinct possibilities.

The troupe's shows, known for their highly entertaining, sharp political satire, are driven by the headlines, so what they will perform can quickly change, since they try to keep their shows as timely as possible. Being on top of breaking news is key - no small task given the unpredictability and volatility of our current political climate - and performers may even get updates/changes while waiting in the wings to go on.

So, while the complete song list can't be forecast, the audience might hear some of these: "Oops I Tweeted Again," "Hey Mr. Tangerine Man," "Stuck In the Middle East Too," "Don't Think Twice, Its Alt-Right, "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Korea?" "Impeachable You," "Filibusterin' Freedom," "If There Were No Rich Men" and more.

The Capitol Steps began in 1981 as a staff Christmas party skit in the office of Republican Illinois U.S. Senator Charles Percy. Their first idea was to stage a nativity play, but they joked that in the entire Congress they couldn't find three wise men or a virgin. So, they decided to dig into the headlines of the day, and they created song parodies and skits that conveyed a special brand of satirical humor.

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 18 congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.

During the past almost-four decades, the Steps have recorded more than 40 albums and performed for five U.S. presidents. The popular troupe has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS television, and can be heard on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their Politics Takes a Holiday radio specials.

The show's producer is Elaina Newport, who wrote the lyrics, along with Mark Eaton and the cast. Performers are Nancy Dolliver, Morgan Duncan, Emily Levey, Brad Van Grack and Jamie Zemarel. The pianist is Marc Irwin.

Tickets:
$69 (M $61) / $59 / $49

Shop small on Saturday, Nov. 25. Just in time for the holidays, the annuAl Small Business Saturday Artists Market at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts showcases up to 20 Arizona artists who offer unique, hand-crafted gifts for sale, including jewelry, ceramics, textiles, limited-edition prints, wearable art and more. Admission is free. Hours are 3-9 p.m. Call 480-874-4644 for more information.

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SCOTTSDALE ARTS

Through its partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts (formerly known as Scottsdale Cultural Council) creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a regionally and nationally significant, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through three acclaimed divisions - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and Scottsdale Public Art - serving more than 400,000 participants annually.

SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Since 1975, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has provided a stage for a wide range of artists and genres, creating shared, inspiring experiences for the community that celebrate artistic excellence and cultural awareness. Today one of the premier performing-arts halls in the western United States, the Center presents a diverse season of music, dance, theater, comedy and film from around the world.

LOCATION AND PARKING

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is located at 7380 E. Second St. in downtown Scottsdale. Free parking is available in the public parking garage located to the west of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Wells Fargo Avenue. Additional free parking is available at the Old Town Parking Corral at East Second Street and Brown Avenue and at the Civic Center Library parking garage located on Drinkwater Boulevard at East Second Street.

ACCESSIBILITY

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers performance accommodations to enhance audience members' experience, including: American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation or live audio description with two weeks advance notice. Assistive-listening devices and wheelchair seating are also available. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/accessibility/ or contact the Member and Patron Services Box Office at 480-499-TKTS (8587) [TDD: 480-874-4694] for further details. Please inquire about services when ordering tickets.

TICKET DISCOUNTS

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of ticket discounts for Scottsdale Arts members at the Friends level and above, groups of 10 or more and those purchasing packages to four or more events in one order. The Center provides free tickets to selected events for eligible students, teachers and active-duty military and veterans, and 50-percent off tickets to selected events for patrons 29 and under. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/tickets-discounts/ or call 480-499-TKTS (8587) for more information.

THE STORE

The award-winning Store at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts supports the mission and diverse programs of the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts. The Store's unique selection of merchandise includes artist-made jewelry, stylish furnishings for home and office, unique creations by Arizona artists, fair-trade and upcycled/recycled global crafts, music, books, greeting cards and imaginative toys. Purchases are tax free, and members receive a 10 percent discount. Gift wrapping and shipping are also available. The Store is open seven days a week: Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.; and throughout most evening events. Phone: 480-874-4644

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