THE CAPITOL STEPS Returns To Northampton

The Capitol Steps, the political musical satire group that has been putting the "mock" in democracy since 1981, returns to Northampton's Academy of Music Theatre for their first appearance in Paradise City since 2009, with one performance only on Friday, April 20 at 7:30PM.

According to Mike Thornton, the Northern Connecticut native and actor who has played Presidents from Reagan to Trump in his 21 years with The Capitol Steps, often plays President Donald Trump, the performance will include some of their newest songs to be featured on their upcoming CD, Make America Grin Again.

With plenty of opportunities to find laughs amidst the buffoonery in our Nation's Capital, The Capitol Steps works overtime to capture the new administration's antics in satire and song. And since The Capitol Steps mine their laughs from materials ripped from today's and tomorrow's headlines, you never know whether Rex Tillerson, Vladimir Putin, Jeff Sessions, or Kim Jong-un might appear from Mar-A-Lago or The White House.

The Capitol Steps' upcoming performance of mostly new material and some old favorites "is cheaper than therapy", says Thornton. "No matter who is making the news, we all need a laugh. And as fast as a politician can send a tweet, our writers text us a new song or joke. Our show transcends all political views, and there's always more than enough happening that's worthy of satire."

The Capitol Steps began, when a group of Congressional staffers got together to provide entertainment for a holiday office party on Capitol Hill. The Capitol Steps provide their unique mix of musical and political comedy and satire to audiences coast-to-coast.. Each show consists of tasteful lampooning guaranteed to leave anyone in politics or watching it on news smirking. The Capitol Steps perform in Washington DC every weekend, tour nationally throughout the year, and have appeared on "The Today Show," "ABC News Nightline," "CBS Evening News" and on specials for NPR.

Thornton has been on the road with The Capitol Steps a lot this last year. "Audience members come up to us after the show and say "I needed that right now," or "Your show was the perfect remedy for the anxiety I'm feeling every day!" Thornton says: " It's a great gig. We provide ninety minutes of fun and therapeutic laughter."

To preview some of the Capitol Steps materials, visit their website, www.capsteps.com, or find The Capitol Steps on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (@capsteps).

The Northampton performance of The Capitol Steps is made possible with support by New England Public Radio and WGBY Public Television.

Tickets for The Capitol Steps are available at the Academy of Music Theatre Box-Office, 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA, by phone at 413-584-9032 ext. 105 and online at www.aomtheatre.com.