You're listening to Imaginary Worlds, a show about how we create them and why we suspend or disbelieve.

I'm Eric Malinsky.

I recently got a backstage tour at a Broadway theater. It was eight hours before showtime,

and the show was a live Star Wars extravaganza.

Oh my god, that's a life-size R2D2.

So he's fully custom.

That is Russell Beatty, who created this production. He was showing me all the props,

which also included a giant puppet of Jabba the Hot, and the costumes were impressive, too.

Yeah, you'll see there's a lot of costumes in here.

Boba Fett. I recognize all these costumes, except Boba Fett usually doesn't have windows for cleavage.

Yes, you heard him right. He did say windows for cleavage.

Oh, did I mention that this is a burlesque parody of Star Wars called The Empire Strips Back?

I probably shouldn't have mentioned that up top.

Although before I remove any more layers to the story, I should reiterate that this episode

will be dealing with adult themes using adult language.

The Empire Strips Back began in Sydney in 2011. They've been on a world tour. Let's take

them to the UK, the US and Canada. In this tour ended in New York City on May 4th,

which is Star Wars Day, as in May 4th, be with you.

So what did the fans think that night? Seeing their favorite Star Wars characters

stripped down to pasties and g-strings?

I love it. It's very, I don't know how to pronounce the nerd's wet dream. It literally is.

The nerd's wet dream. I couldn't put it any better.

...