by ASHLEY BENNERS
Intern Lifestyles Reporter

In the past year, Appalachian State University students have traveled near and far to get a glimpse at presidential candidates, worked to register voters and waited in lines spanning across campus to hear a former president speak. 

Thursday at 8 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium, the Town of Boone is encouraged to kick back, relax and enjoy a good laugh with The Capitol Steps, regardless of political affiliation.

Special to The Appalachian

Tickets are $10 for students, $16 for faculty, staff and seniors, and $18 for guests.

Taking aim at political parties, gas prices, global warming and international and financial issues currently facing the United States, The Capitol Steps bring wise-cracking political satire to campus.

In their 26 years and 28 albums that have followed, The Capitol Steps continue to create song parodies and skits that convey a unique brand of satirical humor, according to a press release.

Elaina Newport, one of the group’s original members, recalls their first performance.

“We thought we would do it once and that would be it,” Newport said. “We thought someone would either tell us to stop or fire us. It’s incredible to us that it’s still going on, and that no one made us stop after all these years.”

The show features five performers, each member playing various characters including Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. 

“It’s like a little cabaret show,” Newport said. “There are 30 songs performed in 90 minutes, so it’s fast and furious.”

Newport usually plays Sen. Hillary Clinton, and is also one of the writers and producers. 

This year, she said the women in the group have been fighting over who will play Gov. Sarah Palin.

“[Palin] is so fun to play,” Newport said. “The women are really excited because it’s a big year for us. Usually our cast of characters is mainly men.”

The songs and parodies audiences can expect this year include “Obama Mia,” poking fun at the media’s obsession with the candidate, and “Ebony and Ovaries,” which depicts Sen. Hillary Clinton gritting her teeth as she campaigns for Sen. Obama. 

President George W. Bush might sing a rock song and the Supreme Court might do a disco, Newport said.
Newport said the first time the group performed for the first President George Bush, they were nervous and stuck to international affairs, congress, and the Senate.

“Afterwards, he approached us and said, ‘Now I want to see what you’ve got about me.’” Newport said. “He was very adamant.”

The Steps first performed for George W. Bush before he was president, Newport said.  “We saw him at a campaign stop and he told us, ‘I’m gonna [give] you a lot of good material.’”

The only complaints they seem to receive are from politicians and personalities not included in their program.

“It’s been surprising over the years, because they’ve all been great sports,” Newport said. “Senator D’Amato from New York was mad because there wasn’t a song about him.”

Newport explained The Steps try to be bipartisan, and do not try to push any particular point of view.

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