‘The Empire Strips Back’ Heats Up Vegas

There’s a brand new present on the town and it guarantees to take you to a horny galaxy far, far-off. Journey to the darkish facet for an evening of oohs, aahs, laughter, and memorable moments. 

“The Empire Strips Back” is a burlesque parody present in contrast to another burlesque present you’ve seen. It delivers a daring mix of horny dancing and strip teases with reimagined iconic characters, cheeky humor, and spectacular strikes.

The present simply landed in Las Vegas,very like the Millennium Falcon, and guarantees to entertain each “Star Wars” followers and newcomers alike.

Whether you’re a diehard “Star Wars” fan or not, this present is one thing anybody 18 and older can get pleasure from. 

These aren’t the Stormtroopers and Droids your grandparents knew and beloved from the movie. These are those that you just’ll dream of at night time. And the Force is robust with this solid.

Hosted by Eric Newton, there are many laughs, a lot of cheering, and pure amazement to be skilled.

Mariah Lewis, affiliate choreographer of the Vegas present, informed The Blast that the present got here collectively fairly shortly. 

“We had auditions about three weeks ago. It was a very quick turnaround. We had auditions, we cast all locals for this show, and we started rehearsals a week ago,” she informed The Blast solely. 

“We had to make sure we had trained professionals, quick on their feet, smart dancers that can pick up choreography quickly. There’s a lot of moving parts in this show. On top of the dancing, it’s the costumes, the staging, lighting.”

The solid consists of 10 dancers and two subs, and so they’ll carry out six nights per week.

“I want people to know that this is pure entertainment. As long as you keep an open mind and you’re having a good time, you’re going to enjoy every aspect, at least one aspect of the show,” she mentioned. “You don’t have to be a ‘Star Wars’ fan, but if you are it’s great.”

Lewis began out as a dancer in Los Angeles greater than 10 years in the past and danced in lots of productions and for sports activities groups earlier than pivoting to choreography.

“I used to dance for the Clippers, the Rams, I did a lot of industry work professionally,” she mentioned. “I was actually in this show two years ago. I became captain and now associate choreographer. I’ve done Mexico City, San Diego, and now Las Vegas.”

The Sin City solid contains Gabrielle Potapenko as Boba, Kennedy Sciarini as R2D2 and Leia, Jasmyn Sosa as Jedi, Reese Schwarzentraub as Vader, Mocha Mullins, Bobbi Barricella, Annaka Vong, and Joanne Daquigan as Stormies, and host Eric Newton.

Barricella chatted with The Blast forward of the debut present on Sunday night time. She performs a couple of completely different roles and has really been on this present in different cities.

“I play a couple of different roles. I am an Imperial Guard, C3PO, an officer for the emperor and a Stormie (Storm Trooper),” she shared after red carpet photos.

“I actually did their Florida contract a couple months ago,” she mentioned. “We were in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando and I wanted to keep doing it. I heard about them bringing it to Vegas and it was so exciting and I’m so grateful to be a part of it.” 

For Barricella, dance has been a part of her life since she was very young.

“My mom put me into ballet class when I was 2 and that kind of was it. I’ve been dancing ever since,” she explained. “I sing and I act as well but I love being able to portray characters on stage in this type of show. It’s very different from any other burlesque show.”

She wants people considering seeing the show to know that this show is a “journey inside a journey.” 

“It is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. It’s a journey within a journey,” she told The Blast. “Each individual act tells its own story, and our host Eric is incredible. He will make you laugh, he’ll make you cheer, and it’s nothing like anyone’s ever seen. It’s very unexpected.” 

Reese Schwarzentraub plays the coveted role of Darth Vader, but this isn’t the Vader you’re used to. (And if you’re picturing Vader in your head right now, he’s likely overdressed.)

“I get to play Darth Vader which is a lot of fun, especially because Darth Vader is traditionally a guy and we get to put our own twist. I get to be a different, sexier, kind of powerful version of him and I put my own twist to it,” she told The Blast. “It’s a lot of fun. I walk out there in these high stiletto heels and I’m like let’s get it.”

She’s been dancing since she was 2 when her parents put her in dance classes. “The Empire Strips Back” is her second Las Vegas show, with the first one also a burlesque show.

Schwarzentraub wants people to know they don’t have to be a fan of “Star Wars” to really enjoy this show.