Thursday, July 20, 2023

'Star Wars' parody at the Orpheum is joining the dark side after Sunday

The farce may not have been strong with this one. 

After two-plus months at the Orpheum Theatre on Second Avenue, the burlesque "Star Wars" parody "The Empire Strips Back" closes on Sunday, July 20. 

Per Ticketmaster, there were shows scheduled through Aug. 20. While this was said to be a limited production, it's not a good sign that the last month of shows had to be canceled...
 
Originally from Australia, this "Empire" has been touring around the globe since it first opened in 2011. 

The production started here on May 10. (A blown opportunity not to debut on May 4, per some "Star Wars" nerds fans.) 

BTW, did anyone see it here? Let us know in the comments! 

"Stomp" ended its 29-year run at the Orpheum between St. Mark's Place and Seventh Street in early January. 

No word on what production might be next for the Orpheum, reportedly owned by Liberty Theatres, a subsidiary of Reading International, which also owns Minetta Lane Theatre. 

12 comments:

RubberBunsandLiquor said...

I went last month! It was a whole lot of fun, great choreo and good production design, especially since they had to travel cross country with it. It was sold out when I was there, though I admit that while it was worth the lowest ticket price (like $45), probably not as much the higher ones, of which there were a lot.

Anonymous said...

Star Wars is practically religion for the kiddies. Not surprised if this flopped.

Anonymous said...

I got a cheap discounted ticket a while back. It wasn't necessarily the absolute best burlesque I've ever seen, but it was certainly fun and the parodies were amusing.

Anonymous said...

Maybe all the performers saw burlesque at the Slipper Room while in town and were inspired to quit the Orpheum show for something that wasn't creatively bankrupt.

Anonymous said...

It was fun! You can tell that a lot of time & effort was put into the costumes and the props--especially the droid. Definitely a labor of love that brings new meaning to the term "fan service."

Anonymous said...

Remember when theater in the East Village was creatively bold and artistically committed? On a planet far, far away…

Jacob Ford said...

Never saw Stomp other than on the wheeled-in TV cart on substitute teacher days in middle school band.

Saw Empire Strips last month and wished they sold wine or beer, which wildly they do not. I am glad I saw it exactly once and hopeful to see Orpheum become a theater with more than one show per decade (and hopefully not zero).

Dibs on the Landspeeder prop, that was solidly built.

Anonymous said...

Help me Obig Wand Kenobi…

Glenn said...

I wish they would turn this into a grindhouse showing kung fu movies.

Anonymous said...

now THATS what im talking about

cs on b said...

+1 to that!

Anonymous said...

I am for that, but today it would cost as much as a ticket for that Star Wars show and would feature ungrindhouse things like curated menus and craft cocktails. Sigh....