WHARTON, TEXAS – Equipped with plenty of parodies on presidential candidates, the nationally-acclaimed Capitol Steps comedy troupe has earmarked an evening of bipartisan laughter for its August performance to benefit The Wharton County Junior College Foundation.

Capitol Steps takes the stage for “The Lighter Side of Politics” on Friday, Aug. 15 at Safari Texas Ballroom in Richmond, Texas. The evening begins with a reception and silent auction at 6:30 p.m., followed by a dinner, live auction and a brilliant and balanced show. Proceeds benefit student scholarships, faculty development, and academic programs at Wharton County Junior College.

Underwriters for the gala are The Rosenberg-Richmond Auto Mile including The Finnegan Auto Group, Fort Bend Toyota, Ernie Guzman Hyundai, Legacy Ford Lincoln Mercury, Gillman Honda Nissan and Southwest Kia.

Winners of Best Cabaret/Music Theater in the 2007 Washington, D.C. Area Music Awards, the Capitol Steps have performed for the last five presidents and millions of Americans on network television and National Public Radio. These political satirists began as a group of Senate staffers who decided to lampoon their boss, then-Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois, and his colleagues, at a 1981 Christmas party. Today, about half the Capitol Steps performers are ex-congressional staffers. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued this warning: “The Capitol Steps will cause your sides to split.”

The backwards talk of “Lirty Dies” is one act that prompted the surgeon general’s warning. Explaining its trademark act, a Capitol Steps cast member called it the result of mixing your basic national scandal with word-initialization-rejuxtaposition closely following the underlying precepts of harmony, alliteration and innuendo. “Just whip your flords and you‚ll het the gang of it,” he quipped.

Tickets are now on sale for this evening of catchy tunes and fast flowing puns that promises a lighter look at the day’s headlines. Individual tickets are $85 each and are available by calling 979.532.6322 or 1.800.561.9252, ext. 6322.

For sponsor information and directions to Safari Texas Ballroom, located at 11627 FM 1464, visit www.wcjc.edu. For information about charter bus service from Wharton/Matagorda, email mem64@sbcglobal.net.

###