NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
9 April 2003

POPULAR ‘CAPITOL STEPS’ COMEDY TROUPE TO PERFORM IN BENEFIT FOR CITY’S AMERICAN MUSICFEST & LEVITT CONCERT SERIES

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that the popular Capitol Steps Comedy Troupe will perform in Harrisburg at The Forum Theater on Thursday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m. The performance, included as part of the city’s Independence Weekend American Musicfest along the waterfront, serves as a fundraiser for both the Musicfest and the newly created Levitt Concert Series in Reservoir Park.

Reed said the Capitol Steps are a highly entertaining troupe of former Congressional staffers-turned-comedians who travel the nation satirizing the very people and places that once employed them. Presenting more than 500 performances a year, the troupe has appeared on all major television networks and produced 22 albums of hilarious song parodies and skits about the best and worst of politics, politicians and other world events, people and places.

The Mayor said this is the first time that a ticketed event is being held in conjunction with the popular Musicfest and Levitt Series. “We intend to keep expanding the quality and scope of entertainment at the American Musicfest, and look for new and distinctive venues in the downtown in which to showcase the more more popular groups. The Forum lends itself perfectly to this mission, and we are delighted to present the Capitol Steps as the first of what we hope will be many similar events in the future.

Mayor Reed also noted that this is the first joint effort between the American Musicfest and the newly-created Levitt Concert Series to produce and share in the concert proceeds. Funds raised will be used to offset the entertainment costs of performers at both events.

Located along the waterfront, the American Musicfest is the city’s traditional salute to our nation’s birthday, this year running from Thursday, July 3 to Sunday July 6, and featuring nearly 100 live musical and theatrical performances, noted the Mayor.

The newly-created Levitt Concert Series involves the presentation of free concerts at Reservoir Park’s newly-restored bandshell, which has been renamed the Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion. The free concert series kicks off in June and will present free, live entertainment every Wednesday through Saturday evening through the month of August.

Reed said tickets for the Capitol Steps benefit performance go on sale May 15 at all Ticketmaster locations, with prices ranging from $20 to $30 each. Contact Ticketmaster at (717) 260.2000, or www.ticketmaster.com.

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