A Blast from the Past
From the Swingin’ 60s to Motown to disco classics, Faena Theater’s newest production, Retro, parades out a catalog of nostalgic tracks spanning five decades that are brought to life with high-energy music, dance and aerial performances.
“Retro takes the audience back in time to those golden years with a top-notch band led by none other than the brilliant Rocky Lanes, who leaves everything on stage, every show!” said Shane Borth, music director of Quixotic, the awardwinning performance collective that developed the show in collaboration with Alan Faena. Lanes, who starred in Faena’s Allura Cabaret, continues to mesmerize theater guests with her powerful vocals and show-stopping costumes custommade by fashion designer Gustavo Casanovas. “Music has the power to unite us all,” Lanes says at the start of the show, whether that’s across eras or in-the-moment singing along with other guests. “We wanted to bring back the oldies that make you groove—those songs that have been remastered over and over because they’ve withstood the test of time,” said Lanes.
In a white satin gown with matching gloves fringed with glamorous feathers, Lanes and her backup singers channel The Supremes with a rendition of “Baby Love,” before seamlessly transitioning to the 70’s classic “Heart of Glass,” donning a pink glow-in-the-dark bodysuit with long flapper fringe. Then she brings the 80s back in a sexy bullet bra performing Madonna’s “Erotica”. “I wanted to add an element of the iconic costume reveals that Cher used to do,” explained Lanes, which she nails in a Donna Summer “Last Dance” performance that gets the crowd dancing on their feet. Quixotic veteran Megan Stockman and newest cast members Slyvia Dopazo, Candela Perez and Camilo Toro light up the stage with worldclass dance numbers and aerial acts. Toro brings an air of punkfunk legend Rick James meets James Brown with his captivating stage presence and masterful choreography from groovy tap dancing to Studio 54 disco numbers. “I draw inspiration from artists like Sara Reich and Jabu Graybeal for their creativity and charisma,” noted Toro. Stockman and Dopzao infuse Quixotic’s signature cirque element with stunning aerial performances to “Summer Breeze” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The multi-talented Stockman also delights with a bubbly roller-skating act to a mashup of “Pump up the Jam” and “Ladies’ Night” from the horndriven funk band Kool & the Gang.
The musicians are no less impressive. Emiliano Torres, on the trumpet, is a three-time Grammy winner from Argentina, while bass player Rafael Aldama, guitarist Alberto Torres and drummer Yissey Garcia are all classically trained musicians from Cuba. “I love working with them,” said Lanes. “You can give them a rock song and tell them to change it to soul and put a little Latin flair on it, and they can do it at the drop of a dime.” With verve and style, the band jams together on songs like Wild Cherry’s “Play that Funky Music,” and Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground,” to the Beatles’ Abbey Road anthem “Come Together.” “My parents played this music at home when I was growing up,” said Garcia. “It brings back really fond memories.” The Tina Turner songs sprinkled throughout the show are a favorite of the band including “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” where the singers, dancers and musicians unite onstage in a highoctane swirl of chart-topping lyrics, glittering ensembles and music that rocks the entire theater. “The atmosphere of the show is like a big party,” added Garcia. “I think people in Miami really like that.”
