The Empire Strips Back – A Burlesque Parody delivered laughs, sexy fun, and visually stunning costuming at its intergalactic debut at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on May the Fourth. The hilarious out of this world parody of the Star Wars universe dazzled a packed house, with galactic fans and celebrity guests celebrating May the Fourth Star Wars Day in unforgettable style.
This is an adults-only production with some attractive not of this universe women doing some good natured bumping and grinding. While it may be titillating in some respects, there are no bare bosoms here. However, audiences are treated to a great deal of booty-shaking in the course of the 1 ½ hour production. (Add a 20 minute get a drink break to that.)
The dancing, choreography, and costuming are broadway caliper in the romping roaring interplanetary production. This is a must-see for Star Wars fans, complete with a bearded Hans Solo, a humongous Jaba the Hutt, the loveably realistic R2D2 and of course Princess Leila. There is a helemeted dancing Darth Vadar who it turns out is a very sexy lady in stilettos along with imperial dancing storm troopers and of course Chewbacca. What can I say about a singing Jabba the Hutt, Ya gotta be there.
The music features songs and tunes familiar to those who recognize the music of Run DMC, the Backstreet Boys, Rihanna and Christian Aguilera, and others. It didn’t matter that this isn’t music that I routinely listen to – it worked. Comedian Eric Newton provides some humor as the numerous costume changes are accomplished.
The fab cast members were Boba – Gabrielle Potapenko. R2D2 Leia – Kennedy Sciarini, Jedi – Jasmyn,Vader – Reese Schwarzentraub, and Host – Eric Newton.Stormies were Mocha Mullins, Bobbi Barricella, Annaka Vong, Joanne Daquigan.
The Empire Strips Back has been thrilling audiences around the world prior to landing in Las Vegas.
The original version was booked in a cramped, 150-seat bar in Sydney, a one-off for a three-night run. Fast-forward to three simultaneous productions constantly touring North America, an enthusiastic audience of more than 300,000, and a Huffington Post video feature boasting 20+ million viral views. In addition to its out-of-this-world premiere in Las Vegas on May the 4th, another production ]opened simultaneously halfway around the globe in London.
This little-show-that-could morphed from touring like an indie band, with one-nighters in rock clubs, to touring like a Broadway hit. After proving its theatrical bonafides at Hollywood’s Montalban Theatre in a three-month 2022 run, the show has sold out engagements in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, DC, Boston, Atlanta, and many others. Outside the USA, the show was a sensation in Paris in 2023 and, also in French, Montreal, as well as Toronto and Mexico City.
This engagement of The Empire Strips Back is produced by Foster Entertainment and Neil Gooding Productions, presented with Fever. The show was created by Russall S. Beattie. This is a must-see for Star Wars fans. And while others may not catch every nuance and reference, it is a dazzling, quality, sexy, lively, enjoyable show which should stay in Las Vegas far into the future.
For information on days and times, check out The Empire Strips Back or Rio Las Vegas.
Article by Dianne Davis and Burt Davis
Splash Magazines
Be the first to comment