Submitted by Mount Baker Theatre
There was a time when events in big, public halls were where people got their information about national candidates and engaged in face-to-face political discourse — and then private correspondence was where they shared jokes and other stories. Social media seems to have reshaped the second part of that. During the 2012 elections, over one-third of 18 to 24 year olds said their vote was influenced by social media. According to the Pew Research Center, 44% of adults today are saying that everything they learn about the presidential candidates is through social media.
I suppose that makes sense, since we’re talking online about everything else, but we all battle the blur between “correct” and merely “catchy” daily. It can be confusing to tell where entertainment stops and information starts. Sensational news broadcasts don’t sound much different than comedy political interview shows or the messaging written by regular folks that is posted, shared, and retweeted all over social media. The intent gets blurred — are we learning or laughing?
Since folks think the issues are being laid out in tweets, we at Mount Baker Theatre are happy to handle the in-person, big hall event with a new intent that is very clear: laughter. There is still a place where the intent is purely to entertain and the bipartisan spirit is firmly alive: with veteran political comedy troupe the Capitol Steps.
On September 16, “The Capitol Steps: What to Expect When You’re Electing” will be performing live at the Mount Baker Theatre. The Capitol Steps, a bipartisan troupe of ex-staffers from Washington, DC, are setting out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. You can get ready for side-splitting roasts of the presidential candidates, hilarious parodies, and an escape from the viciousness of the political news cycle.
If you can’t beat ‘em, and you can’t join ‘em, you might as well laugh with them all equally! And if you happen to strike up an interesting conversation in the lobby with a new friend at intermission instead of checking for status updates, all the better. Join us at the Mount Baker Theatre on September 16 for “What to Expect When You’re Electing” — tickets are on sale now!
