The Empire Strips Back Celebrates One Year of Galactic Glamour

By Debbie Hall

Las Vegas has never been shy about spectacle, but The Empire Strips Back at the Rio Hotel and Casino takes entertainment to another galaxy entirely.

Part parody, part burlesque extravaganza and all-out pop culture fever dream, the hit production transforms the beloved sci-fi universe of Star Wars into a hilarious and seductive night of comedy, dance and dazzling costumes. Stormtroopers swagger across the stage, iconic characters tease the audience and lightsabers glow beneath glitter and sequins.

It’s campy, chaotic and wildly entertaining — and Las Vegas audiences can’t seem to get enough.

On May 4, appropriately celebrated around the world as “May the Fourth Be With You” Day, The Empire Strips Back celebrated its first anniversary in Las Vegas, marking a successful year of sold-out crowds, screaming fans and unforgettable performances.

The production actually began about 15 years ago in Sydney, Australia, inside a small music venue. What started as a niche comedic experiment quickly exploded into a theatrical sensation. Director Russell Beatty created the original production, while producer David J. Foster licensed the show three years ago before launching it in San Francisco, where audiences immediately embraced its outrageous blend of fandom and fantasy.

Since then, the show has expanded globally with touring productions and performances Off-Broadway in New York City, along with stops in Denver, London, Paris and Mexico City.

“The great thing about the show is the audience on a Tuesday night is as loud as the audience on a Saturday night,” Foster said. “There’s just something about the show that people really connect to.”

According to Foster, the production attracts a surprisingly wide audience. While devoted Star Wars fans certainly fill the theater, many attendees come looking for a fun and unique night out in Las Vegas.

“We get the sci-fi fans and maybe the nerdy end of the spectrum,” Foster said. “But it’s not exclusively for that audience. It’s a very broad crowd, and the reaction is always incredible.”

One of the show’s standout performers is dance captain Max Francisco, an Australian-born entertainer who has been with the company for more than two years. Ironically, Francisco first discovered the production as an audience member while her friends were performing in Australia.

“I went to watch it and thought it was hilarious,” Francisco said. “Then I moved to Las Vegas 10 years ago, and now here I am performing in it.”

A veteran of the entertainment industry for more than two decades, Francisco says the production continues to surprise her.

“Honestly, I didn’t even think I would still be on stage at age 40,” she admitted. “But I love that the show is a parody. It’s comedic burlesque, but it’s also sensual and sexy.”

And despite performing in one of the most recognizable sci-fi spoofs on the Strip, Francisco revealed she wasn’t originally a die-hard Star Wars fan herself.

“I may disappoint some people because I became a fan of the movies because I work in a show about it,” she laughed.

That crossover appeal may be exactly why the production continues to thrive in Las Vegas. Tourists from around the globe arrive expecting a quirky parody and leave fully immersed in the glitter-covered madness.

“People could come because they like Star Wars and then realize they love burlesque parody,” Francisco said. “You don’t even have to like Star Wars to enjoy the show.”

One year into its Las Vegas residency, The Empire Strips Back continues proving that geek culture, theatrical comedy and classic burlesque make a surprisingly perfect combination. In a city built on reinvention and excess, the Force has officially found its home on the Strip.

The Empire Strips Back is performed at the Rio Hotel & Casino, 3700 W. Flamingo Road. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 7 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, click here. For more info, visit theempirestripsback.com/las-vegas and riolasvegas.com/shows/the-empire-strips-back. Follow on Facebook @theempirestripsback and @riovegas and Instagram @theempirestripsback and @riovegas.