‘Star Wars’ burlesque, WWE and Phoenix’s best nerdy events in September

After a long, hot summer of staying home and binging must-see streaming shows, geeks of the Valley will have an excuse to get out and do something in September.

There will be a wide variety of nerdy events happening around metro Phoenix in the next few weeks, including a burlesque show inspired by “Star Wars,” a celebration of Batman Day and a place to get an early start to the spooky season.

Also happening this month: All Puppet Players will stage their new production inspired by “It,” the Arizona LGBT+ History Project will conduct its annual reading of banned books and the hosts of popular web series “Game Grumps” will bring their live tour to the Valley.

Here’s a rundown of where you can geek out this month.

‘The Empire Strips Back’

Now through Sunday, Sept. 24
Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St.This lively sci-fi burlesque parody inspired by “Star Wars” features more than just Stormtroopers in skimpy outfits. As the name of the show implies, “The Empire Strips Back” features characters from the “Star Wars” universe engaging in “unforgettable (and unauthorized)” burlesque antics and mixes comedy and music with suggestive performances by costumed male and female dancers. Highlights include twerking Tusken Raiders, a female version of Luke Skywalker twirling around – and on top of – a landspeeder and Princess Leia dressed as one of Jabba the Hutt’s dancing girls (natch). If you’re into “Star Wars,” this is the show you’re looking for. The production runs every Wednesday to Sunday through Sept. 27. Performance times vary. Tickets are $54 to $119.

‘PuppIT’

Now through Oct. 7
Playhouse on the Park, 1850 N. Central Ave. There are three things you should expect when attending All Puppet Players’ latest production, which is a send-up of Stephen King’s “It” and its various film and television adaptations: It’s going to be profane, funny as hell and differ wildly from its source material. As Phoenix New Times wrote recently, APP’s adults-only shows “[aren’t] true to the original story” and “rely liberally on 1980s references and impromptu jokes.” They’re also laced with plenty of gratuitous. So patrons will experience tale of the malevolent-looking, shape-shifting and child-eating harlequin known as Pennywise, only peppered with a lot of naughty dialogue and clever jokes. Performances run at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through October 7. General admission is $42 to $47. Attendance is limited to those 17 and older.

Scaredycon

Saturday, Sept. 9
Taproom-120, 4576 S. Power Road, #102, GilbertLess than two months remain until Halloween and devotees of the holiday have already begun gearing up in earnest. The groovy ghoulies behind “Scaredycast” – the locally produced horror, paranormal, cryptid, UFO and true crime podcast – are putting on a one-day event at Gilbert’s Taproom-12 kicking off the spooky season. More than 30 local vendors and artists will be present, as will four food trucks and three tattoo artists. There will also be a “cryptid creatures beauty pageant” and live music from Valley punk bands Tactless, The Roof Rats, Night of the Spiders, Boo Box, Bare Belly and The Exxes. The scares start at noon and there’s no cover.

Bit Brigade

Saturday, Sept. 9
Valley Bar, 130 N. Central Ave. The shtick for rock band Bit Brigade is as straightforward and geeky as a game of “Rush’n Attack” on the old Nintendo Entertainment System: A gamer plays a speed run on an old-school NES title, which is projected on a giant screen, while Bit Brigade performs a live accompaniment of the game’s soundtrack. Bit Brigade, which was originally known as Contraband or Castlebandia, has been around since the mid-2000s and has played numerous cons and club gigs, proving to be a hit with both nerds and gamers alike. Their music resides in the harder edge of rock and includes riffs more killer than the metal blades from “Mega Man 2.” Speaking of the Blue Bomber, local geek rapper Mega Ran will perform an opening set. Doors are at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $16 to $18.

‘Tempe Signs’ opening reception

Thursday, Sept. 14
Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., TempeLongtime Valley residents who geek out over local nostalgia will likely geek out over Tempe History Museum’s latest exhibition. Dozens of vintage signs from old-school Tempe businesses – ranging from bygone spots like iconic water park Big Surf, music venue Edcels Attic and Mill Avenue restaurant Monti’s La Casa Vieja to a few existing establishments like Changing Hands Bookstore – will be on display inside the museum. Curated by Arizona State University graduate student Aubrey Feyrer, the exhibition will include the history of each sign. The opening reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. and will include music by E Alo. Admission is free.

Batman Day

Saturday, Sept. 16
Gotham City Comics and Collectibles, 151 N. Country Club Drive, MesaIf ever there was a place to mark Batman Day, the annual celebration of DC’s legendary Caped Crusader, it would be at Gotham City Comics in Mesa. The retailer will be giving away copies of two titles that were produced for Batman Day – “Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo” and “Batman/Catwoman: Prelude to Gotham War” – to patrons. They’ll also have free masks of The Joker and Catwoman, a special sale and other activities. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those on the west side can

Saturday, Sept. 16
Landmark Scottsdale Quarter Theatre, 15257 N. Scottsdale Road, ScottsdaleBefore he more or less retired from Hollywood for personal reasons, Canadian-born actor and comedian Rick Moranis created a solid body of work that included a slew of memorable movie appearances. One of his best-known roles was as Seymour Krelborn in the 1986 comedy musical “Little Shop of Horrors.” The milquetoast flower shop worker raises an alien plant named Audrey II that’s developed a taste for human flesh and blood while battling with a sadomasochistic dentist and an overbearing boss. Local film repertory series Cult Classics will screen the film at the Landmark Scottsdale Quarter Theatre at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 16. Tickets are $16 for general admission and $25 to $100 for VIP packages (which include commemorative prints and merch).

WWE SmackDown

Friday, Sept. 22
Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., GlendalePro wrestling geeks from across the Valley will flock to Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena when the WWE SmackDown broadcasts its Sept. 22 episode from the arena. According to the WWE website, the legendary John Cena is scheduled to appear, but – per his famous catchphrase – you might not be able to see him. Other superstars set for the show include Bobby Lashley, Bianca Belair, Austin Theory, Jimmy Uso and Rey Mysterio. Other WWE programming will be filmed during the evening. The wrestling action starts at 4:45 p.m. and tickets are $20 to $125. More details are available here.

Game Grumps Live

Thursday, Sept. 21
Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., MesaThere are literally millions of gamers posting their narrated gameplay YouTube videos these days, but few are as funny or insightful as Arin Hanson and Dan Avidan, better known to their fans as the Game Grumps. Their channel contains hundreds of hilarious videos filled with their infectious chemistry and witty banter while playing through games both old and new. The Game Grumps’ touring show offers the same sort of entertainment, albeit in a live setting. Their latest show, Tournament of Gamers, comes to Mesa Arts Center in late September and involves them competing against members of the audience. The show is 7 p.m. and tickets start at $39.50.

Banned Books Reading

Friday, Sept. 29
Alwun House, 1204 E. Roosevelt St.The Arizona LGBT+ History Project’s annual reading has never been as relevant, as it’s happening at a time when conservatives and right-wing groups across the country are banning books and shutting down libraries on an alarming scale. A variety of local artists, authors, activists and journalists will read from a variety of banned books that range “from the dissident and revolutionary to the downright salacious,” according to organizer Marshall Shore (a.k.a. Arizona’s “hip historian”). Sister Sur Mon Visage from the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will host the event, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.