Lyric Theatre In Downtown Stuart

As “America’s Top Political Satirist,” Mark Russell has his finger on the pulse of Washington, D.C., or as he refers to it, the “District of Corruption.” Nary a presidential candidate, senator or House member escapes his comedic wrath — in the daily-scandal world of American politics, nothing is sacred. And, like the sharply-skewering goofballs in the group Capitol Steps, Russell literally never runs out of material. You’ve got the brain-washed, that’s the Democrats, and the brain-dead, that’s the Republicans. Should Libby be pardoned? Absolutely. What better way to honor the memory of Richard Nixon, Marc Rich, Hugh Rodham and all of America’s pardoned heroes. We should all be grateful to the Iraqi parliament for its decision to take two months off. What better excuse for bringing all of our troops home for a well-deserved two-month vacation. Two new books about Hillary describe her as being self-righteous. Really? There is an entire Self-righteous Section in the D.C. yellow pages. Rim shot, please! Russell, who accompanies himself on the piano as he sings political parodies and delivers these topical one-liners, rapid-fire, wrote a short autobiography for his Web site: Mark Russell readily admits that when he was a kid he dodged the draft. He did it by joining the Marine Corps. After serving his full hitch he found himself in the smoke-filled bars of Washington, D.C., singing his funny songs. When he got a job in a Capitol Hill bar he first thing he thought was “I’ve started at the bottom but I’ve managed to work my way down.” Around the time the New Frontier was invading Washington, Mark Russell invaded the Shoreham Hotel for a risky two-week gig. It lasted for 20 years. The Marquee Lounge became the place where politicians would come to hear Mark’s jokes about the things they had done that day. Through his regular NPR and PBS appearances, Russell has become an American institution. “Have I ever said what party I’m affiliated with or lean toward?” he asks. “No, I’m a confused independent, but I can be bought.” Says Elaina Newport of Capitol Steps: “Mark Russell is the person who paved the way for us ... He was so established by the time we started that we were like the little pimple on the back of the elephant.”