A burlesque variety show celebrating 'Star Wars Day' included donations to charity.

Previously unseen corners of a galaxy far far away were made known on May 3-4 thanks to a local burlesque troupe, who gave Pacific Grove a taste of a cultural phenomenon: a Star Wars-themed burlesque show.

Lighthouse Cinema played host to dancers dressed as iconic characters such as Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, C-3PO and Princess Leia, who came on stage garbed in glitter, then eventually sans-garb. The show was produced in part by Harmony True, aka Miss Belle Voile, in honor of May 4—known by fans as “Star Wars Day” because of the pun that can be made from the date based on a famous line from the films: “May the fourth be with you.”

But between the striptease performances were other interactive engagements that got the audience cheering and whooping, including a Star Wars costume contest and a live auction benefitting Star Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative from Disney and Lucasfilm. But for True, putting on a Star Wars burlesque show was a bucket list item.

“I saw Paper Wing do theirs before Covid and loved the idea of that,” says True, who also says she’s looked up to Princess Leia since she was little. “When I found this venue, I knew that Lighthouse Cinema would be the perfect place to put on this production.”

True is aware that Lighthouse Cinema is listed for sale by its owners, the Enea family. But she still says that the venue is her home and wishes that whoever takes over next will continue its use as a theater. “We’re hoping that whoever does purchase [the theater] will keep with an open heart what we’re doing for the community,” True says. 

The small theater saw a sold-out audience for True’s production on May 3, and Star Wars Day itself also packed the theater to a nearly full audience. Production value was high, thanks to True’s team mixing several songs together for the performers to dance to, while disco-remixes of some of John Williams’ iconic scores for the movies were heard in between acts.

The big screen was also utilized while dancers performed, showing clips from movies and fan-made bits like Darth Vader playing in a rock-and-roll band with stormtroopers. Clips used were matched to the character that the burlesque performer was portraying, such as images from a documentary showing early C-3PO sketches on-screen while performer Nova Noir performed a striptease down to a gold body suit wearing the classic humanoid’s mask.

Variety was also on theme during the auctions for the show, with a scantily-clad woman in a stormtrooper mask parading around the audience as the hostess called out prices of a light-up backpack and a real-life replica of Hans Solo’s blaster—which sold for $69. Among one of the other items up for auction was a chance to be spanked by True with a heart-shaped paddle, which was sold to a man dressed as Hans Solo for $169, and then obliged onstage.

True says her company, Belle Boujee Babe Productions, is still in its infancy and no LLC has been filed yet. But when asked, she calls her fellow performers professionals in her eyes. The Monterey County-based performer is expanding her company to other counties as well, and will be hosting a four-day LGBTQIA+ series of events in San Luis Obispo County as her next show with another burlesque troupe leader.

But as part of her own mission, she plans to donate to LGBTQIA+ charities in San Luis Obispo County each night. “I am here to lift you up,” True says.

Harmony True can be contacted via Instagram for burlesque workshops and other opportunities @missbellevoile.