The Empire undresses – the unauthorized Star Wars™ slapstick parody will have a limited engagement at the Montalbán Theatre, 1615 Vine Street, Hollywood from November 19 (press opening November 30). Tickets are available at empirestripsback.com.
Featuring all the classic Star Wars™ characters, The Empire Strips Back, created by Russall S. Beattie, takes audiences to a galaxy far, far away, creating one of the most unforgettable (and unauthorized) theatrical versions ever. from the beloved franchise.
Combining striptease, song and dance, troupe routines and plenty of humor, audiences are transported into the world of burlesque to see a menacing troupe of seriously sexy Stormtroopers, a dangerously handsome Boba Fett, tantalizing Twi’leks, a Deliciously warm Taun Taun, a Skywalker, and of course, scantily clad and bold droids. Even Darth Vader will explore his feminine side with a fantasy twist.
The Empire Strips Back celebrates the resurgence of burlesque, while providing a powerful experience for fans of this art form as well as the classic film series. Ariana Bindman of SF Gate said, “Popularized in the United States in the 19th century, burlesque blurs the line between comedy and adult entertainment, incorporating camp and drama into playful strip routines.”
Bindman continued, “Dark and sexy…with each draw of the curtain, we saw a series of visually decadent and tonally unique acts…a captive Princess Leia twirling in a bikini to Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Closer’ or stormtroopers sexy stomp towards the relentless “Seven Nation Army”… or a resident space pimp, R2D2 making it rain by ejecting wads of cash into the air while a swaggering Han Solo rippled on “Smooth Criminal” doing every goth and nerd in the audience screaming like animals.”
She concludes: “I saw the Star Wars striptease and now I’m forever changed. A huge hit…one of the most memorable and impressive live performances I’ve ever seen. I know The Force is already with them.”
Australian creator Russall S. Beattie says producing “Strips Back” was inevitable. “I’m Peter Pan. I never really grew up,” he said. “It takes all the best things about being a kid and all the best things about being an adult and putting them together.” Asked about his knuckle tattoos, which spell “Sexy Boss” – a nickname he earned while working in the burlesque circuit – he said. “I was drunk in Texas one night and I got it and I could tell I was drunk because the ‘x’ isn’t in the middle.”
First imagined in 2011 by Beattie, the original production was booked into a small 150-seat venue in Sydney for a unique three-night run. Fast-forward to seven sold-out Australian National Tours, an enthusiastic audience of over 100,000+ and a Huffington Post Video Feature with over 20 million viral views.
Last touring the United States, The Empire Strips Back was a sold-out success at prestigious venues, from the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, the Wiltern in Los Angeles and the PlayStation Theater in New York, with standing ovations. and rave reviews. Los Angeles’ 2022 engagement follows San Francisco’s successful run at the Great Star Theater in Chinatown, shaking the walls of the 97-year-old venue. Roger Pincombe, Executive Director of The Great Star, said: “The Empire Strips Back was one of the most important and thrilling productions the theater has seen in decades, and it marks the start of a new era for our venerable room.
Beattie and her producing business partner, Craig Ridgwell, made a name for themselves on the Australian and London theater circuits; clients include HBO/Foxtel, Warner Bros, EB Games, Sydney Film Festival and Oz ComicCon. The two worked side by side for 10 years as creators and producers of live shows, achieving cult stardom for developing and promoting other internationally acclaimed slapstick parodies such as Dames of Throne, Biba Wizard of Oz, Batman Follies and Hail to The. King, all seen by thousands in sold-out cinemas across Australia.
The Empire Strips Back Hollywood Engagement is produced by Promote entertainment and Neil Gooding Productions, presented with Fever and Secret Los Angeles.
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