Dole Institute plans humorous post-election events

If the last few weeks of intense presidential campaigning are any indication, most Lawrence residents may be ready for a hearty laugh after Nov. 2.

Bill Lacy is hoping to give them just that.

Lacy, director of the Dole Institute of Politics, on Monday announced a lineup of performers and speakers for Political Humor Month in November. Headlining the events will be the Capitol Steps, a comedy troupe from Washington, D.C., that is known for its songs and skits about contemporary politics.

“What made me excited about this is not only that people after the election are in need of repairing their ears from all the cacophony of sounds they’ve been hearing,” Lacy said. “It’s looked for some time that this will be a particularly divisive election. It’s kind of a way of healing some of that division.”

The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Lied Center. Tickets, which are $10 for the public and $5 for KU students, go on sale today. They are available at the Lied Center box office or by calling 864-ARTS.

The Capitol Steps, which have recorded 23 albums, are comprised of former Capitol Hill staffers. They recently have performed such songs as “Osama Come Out Tomorrow,” “Livin’ Libido Loco,” “Die Nadermouth” and “Don’t Cry for Me, Judge Scalia.”

The group also has performed “It’s Not Easy Being Mean,” with Bob Dole — the institute’s namesake — taking the place of Kermit the Frog, who sang “It’s Not Easy Being Green.”

“Here is Bob Dole, who is known for his sense of humor,” Lacy said. “It makes sense to do a program that reflects that.”

Two other events are scheduled for Political Humor Month. The first, “An Insider’s Look at Political Cartoons,” is at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at the institute on Kansas University’s west campus. It will feature three cartoonists — Lee Judge of the Kansas City Star, Bill DeOre of the Dallas Morning News and Zach Stinson of the University Daily Kansan.

The second event in the series is “Political Humor, Kansas Style” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the institute. Speakers will be former Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer; Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth; and outgoing state Sen. David Adkins, who now is vice chancellor of external affairs at the KU Medical Center.

In the past two years, the institute has played host to the Presidential Lecture Series during November. That series will be moved to February, and Lacy said plans for it had not been finalized.