“The Empire Strips Back” now at the Montalbán

Burlesque meets Star Wars™ in this sexy, super-fun production now enjoying a return engagement at the elegant Montalbán Theatre on Vine in Hollywood. The energetic live show is now playing until Sunday December 1st, 2024. Purchase tickets here.

Beloved Star Wars™ characters and themes have been given a burlesque makeover, and the resulting live spectacular is as hilarious and amazing as it sounds!

Boasting some absolutely gorgeous and fearless burlesque dancers, the tastefully erotic show is purely high-class and handsomely staged with elaborate props, sets, plus a dazzling light show, all designed to transport you to a galaxy far, far away…

All of the mind-blowing performances are backed by a taped soundtrack of a variety of contemporary pop and rock songs. The backing music skips across different genres, from Michael Jackson to Bon Jovi, INXS, Lana Del Rey, Guns N’ Roses, Portishead, Bonnie Tyler, AC/DC, Meatloaf and even Tenacious D.

From the press release:

The internationally acclaimed The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody is making its highly-anticipated return to Los Angeles, California on October 10 at The Montalbán Theatre after an extremely successful run in 2022.

Featuring parodies of all of the classic characters, The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody takes audiences to a galaxy far, far away, creating one of the most unforgettable (and unauthorized) theatrical interpretations of the beloved franchise.

Transporting audiences to a world of burlesque fantasy, of menacing and sexy dance, of dangerous seduction, of hilarious parody, and even the droids you’re looking for. Your favorite characters are scantily clad, seriously sultry and live on stage! The Empire Strips Backcelebrates a resurgence of burlesque, while delivering a fun and rowdy experience for fans of the art form as well as the classic film series. 

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 over 300,000+, and a Huffington Post video feature boasting 20+ million viral views.

This little-show-that-could morphed from touring like an indie band, with one-nighters in rock clubs, to touring like a Broadway hit. (And a lot more fun than any of those!) After proving its theatrical bonafides at Hollywood’s Montalbán Theatre in a three-month 2022 run, the show has done three to four month runs 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 2023and, also in French, Montreal, as well as Toronto and Mexico City (where it’s also playing during the Los Angeles engagement).

The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody is an entertainment comedy that is unique. In 2022, the show enjoyed two months of SOLD-OUT performances and spontaneous standing ovations at The Montalbán Theatre. Our theatre team is working to repeat and generate new fun and prosperity to our Hollywood community with The Empire Strips Back.”

Gilbert Smith, President of The Montalbán Company.

The Empire Strips Back

  The Montalbán Theatre
                        1615 Vine St. Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
Dates:             From October 10 – December 1, 2024
 
Times:             Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays at 7:00pm;
                        Saturdays at 7:00pm and 9:30pm; Sundays at 4:00pm
 
Duration:         2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission

Tickets:           Starting at $44 at theempirestripsback.com