'The Capital Steps' to Return to College of Lake County This Month

The below information came from a College of Lake County press release. 

The well known political satire group The Capitol Steps will return to the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 for an evening of comedy.

The Capitol Steps dig into the news of the day and create song parodies and skits that convey their special brand of satirical humor. Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded over 30 albums, including their latest, “Fiscal Shades of Gray.” They’ve been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS, and can be heard four times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio specials.

The Steps’ Grayslake performance will draw material from their “Fiscal Shades of Gray” album, which includes comedy on topics ranging from the election to the sequester, from Obama Care in the Supreme Court and gay marriage. It includes “guest appearances” by David Petraeus, Lance Armstrong, Pope Benedict XVI, Chris Christie and the Rolling Stones.

The Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. The group was born in December 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Their first idea was to stage a nativity play, but in the whole 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. The group performs regularly in Washington, D.C. and tours the country. Learn more at http://capsteps.com.

Capitol Steps tickets: Subscription price: $39/35/29. Single ticket prices: Regular $43/39/33; Senior/Staff/Alumni $42/38/32; CLC Student/Teen $16. Prices include a $1 JLC facility fee. Patrons can purchase Professional Touring Season Subscriptions (three or more events) until Sept. 21. 

Subscription tickets can be purchased at the Box Office in the James Lumber Center, room P112 on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St., or by phone. Subscriptions are not available for online purchase, but patrons can learn more at www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. 

For more information, call the Box Office at (847) 543-2300 (option 5). The Box Office is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

To request a James Lumber Center subscription brochure or the 2013-14 CLC cultural arts calendar, which includes professional series as well as college-sponsored events such as music concerts, theatre and dance productions, films, art exhibits, literary events and much more, call (847) 543-2300 or join the mailing list at www.clcillinois.edu/tickets.

Groups of six or more people are eligible for discounted ticket prices. Call group sales at (847) 543-2431 or email JLCgroupsales@clcillinois.edu for more information.

7th Annual Box Office Sale Sept. 19 and 21

The JLC Box Office 7th Annual Sale will be held on two days this year, Thursday, Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free and fun event offers discounted tickets to single Professional Touring Series shows, discounted rates on select college performances (patrons must purchase tickets in person), prizes, backstage tours, technical hands-on opportunities and a video preview of the series.