Billionaire Follies are the performing wing of Billionaires for Bush. This comedy team from Brooklyn does political satire on the plutocracy and points up the most fundamental tensions in public policy. Through sketch and song, they expose the public/private thoughts and desires of the very rich.

These entertainers originally came together as a team to oppose the immorality of the mean, selfish, and powerful elements in our society. They hilariously impersonate the greedy of both major political parties to reveal their internal motivations. Our current president is a perfect foil for their satire; he has played every wealth card in the deck. His coterie of supporters and even some rivals are not spared. The result is an evening of rollicking laughter and a moment to make light of who is and who isn’t running the country.

They have performed at the National Press Club, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the Million Worker March, at Webster Hall, Spirit NYC, and the Slipper Room in New York City . They have sung live on FuseTV, Air America , a Minority Report, WBAI, and WNYE, and appear in many documentary films about the new progressive movement. They produced “Dick Cheney, a Holiday Spectacular” and will produce it again in 2005 and play in New York City and on college campuses.

The talented actors dance, sing, gesture, and imitate to personify the worst impulses of powerful interests. While delighting simpatico audiences, they give a dose of moral courage for the struggle ahead.

Ira Shorr

Comedian for Peace

Ira Shorr leaves ‘em laughing. By day, he is a diligent opponent of nuclear weapons. By night, he is comedian extraordinaire. His satire entertains and also sheds light on the struggle to bring sanity to foreign policy.

Shorr is currently National Field Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), a network of citizens, doctors, and other health care professionals and an affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, winner of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. As an alternative to military aggression, PSR is promoting a SMART Security program – Sensible, Multilateral American Response to Terrorism. He has served over the past 20 years in key positions for SANE and Peace Action and was founding director of Back from the Brink, a coalition of 40 national arms control organizations working to get nuclear weapons off hair trigger alert From 1994-1996, he was Senior Producer of America’s Defense Monitor, the Center for Defense Information’s PBS documentary program.

Ira Shorr, during these 20 years, has performed political satire and improvisational comedy, including his character Senator Jess Trussme, an “ultra-compassionate” conservative who provides a wealth of misinformation. Shorr believes now is a good time to expose how misinformed people are about the reasons for the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. It is hilarious Truth in Humor when he talks about ending DUMB security – Divisive, Unilateral, Militaristic, and Bound to Backfire policies.