‘Star Wars’-themed burlesque parody extends Las Vegas residency through 2029

‘Star Wars’-themed burlesque parody extends Las Vegas residency through 2029 Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 | 2 a.m. Las Vegas — The Rio Hotel & Casino announced Wednesday that “The Empire Strips Back — A Burlesque Parody” will remain on its stage through May 4, 2029. The adults‑only production, which fuses burlesque, drama and science‑fiction‑inspired spectacle, first opened at the Rio on May 4, 2025 — “Star Wars” Day — and marked its first anniversary at the property earlier this spring. According to the announcement, the show has sold more than 400,000 tickets to date. Inspired by the “Star Wars” franchise, the production reimagines familiar characters through choreography, costuming and comedy. It is not affiliated with Disney or Lucasfilm. Theatrical shaper David Foster said in the announcement that he was thrilled to proceed welcoming audiences to the show through 2029. Tickets are available now at theempirestripsback.com. Performances run at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, at 7 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays, with additional 9:30 p.m. shows on Fridays and Saturdays. The dark night is Tuesday. The Rio offers more than 2,500 suite‑style rooms,