The story begins, as it did in 11 feature films, a long time ago in a place far, far away. In 2011, at a tiny Sydney, Australia venue called The Vanguard, impresario Russall S. Beattie debuted a Star Wars-themed burlesque parody, The Empire Strips Back, for an intended three-night run. And not unlike a certain Corellian freighter that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley, it just … took off.
“They started playing larger and larger venues in Australia and touring it around the country,” says Las Vegas-based theatrical producer David Foster, whose company acquired the touring rights to the show in 2023. “They brought it to the States a couple of times, touring it like a band, doing single-night performances.”
Since then, The Empire Strips Back has flown from one side of this galaxy to the other, kid, landing sold-out touring engagements in more than 40 cities including Paris, New York and San Francisco. And when it lands in Las Vegas on May 4—a sort of holy day for the Star Wars faithful—you’ll be able to pilot your speeder to the Rio (use the free parking, Luke!) and finally learn what Stormtroopers wear underneath that useless armor plating.
The good-natured campiness of Star Wars, always present in a storytelling universe peopled with puppets and “scuzzy nerfherders,” is fully awakened.
“They have their comic moments, but the films take themselves very seriously,” Foster says. “Combining that with the silly, sexy fun of burlesque creates a sort of alchemical reaction.”
And it’s not just about putting Leia in the metal bikini and calling it a day.
“Those first few movies … well, they’re patriarchal. Even with the character of Leia, it’s all about guys. So, there’s also something about having strong women performing assertive dance in a tough, sexy way. That sort of turns it around on the movies, as well. … The women in the show have agency. The women are strong.”
Foster says that agency is reflected in the show’s audience mix. “The audience is 50-50 male to female. I’ve seen groups of women at this show screaming in the way they might scream at Thunder From Down Under or Magic Mike. ... Its [appeal is] surprisingly broad.”
Having said that, we can now answer the short, vital question you’ve wanted to ask for several hundred words now.
“You are absolutely welcome to bring your lightsaber. Just don’t turn it on during the show,” Foster says, chuckling. “And you’re welcome to come dressed as whoever you want.”
And if you don’t own a lightsaber or a wig that looks like two crescent rolls glued to your head, there may be something in The Empire Strips Back that appeals to you anyway. It’s just fun, and fun is universal.
“When I met [my wife] Kim, she’d never seen Star Wars. I was shocked that such a person existed. But she really enjoyed the show,” Foster says. “It really is just in the aether, right? It’s soaked into people’s DNA. They may not even remember seeing Star Wars, but they know it.”
The Empire Strips Back Opening May 4, Wednesday-Monday, times vary, $39-$99. Rio, theempirestripsback.com/las-vegas.
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