Imagine a near-naked cross-dressing Luke Skywalker playing an electric violin, which is both on fire and shaped like a Tatooine Landspeeder, breaking in to the Star Wars theme after opening with a Hendrix-esque Star Spangled Banner.
That's just one of the delights of Star Girls -- probably the nerdiest burlesque show you'll ever see, and certainly the most risqué nerd tribute since Star Wars XXX. Last month, the performers debuted a brand new performance to honor America's latest best-selling film of all time. It's called Star Girls: The Force is A-Shakin'.
"I like the direction of the new movie," says Courtney Cruz, 37, who has been a burlesque dancer and producer for 13 years; she founded Star Girls in 2010. "I like that they decided to try something new. Bringing in the new generation cast is a great way to inspire people to check out the old movies."
You may already be familiar with the Star Girls if you live in Los Angeles, but now they're taking their show on tour for the first time. And as with the Star Wars movies, it's best to start with the original version, which plays at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco Friday.
Cruz isn't just an original trilogy fan; she's a fan of original burlesque, back in the days when the format was used as satirical commentary on politics and culture.
"A lot of it was done in underground clubs where they were poking fun at political issues or actors," she says. "It originated in the circus. All that Dita Von Teese [a modern burlesque dancer, the former wife of Marilyn Manson] stuff — that only evolved recently. We’re doing more of a throwback."
A throwback all the way to a galaxy far, far away, you might say. Cruz says the show evolved out of a bit she did at a nerd-themed night of celebrity burlesque wrestling: Darth Vader vs. Mr. Spock. The crowd went wild for Vader, and a show was born. Now she gets the kind of audience you wouldn't normally expect at a burlesque show: "The crowd is really mixed," Cruz says. "Star Wars fans of all ages."
Here's a sample of the Star Girls scene:
[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Rey.jpg" caption=""Balrey," played by Leggy Lass Greenleaf. " credit="Tim Hunter" alt="Rey"]
[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/KylaRen.jpg" caption="Erica Snap plays "Kyla" Ren. " credit="Tim Hunter" alt="KylaRen"]
