Open your mind and soul, and enter "The New Electric Eden," a one-of-a-kind theatrical production featuring the Latin big band montage, Cabaret Diosa. Formed in 1995 in Boulder, Colorado, Cabaret Diosa has reinvented the Mambo craze of the 1950s, calling it "The New Mambo Revival." Guitarist/vocalist Darrin Feder says the band was inspired by the Latin big bands of the 1930s, records of this style through the 1960s, and a certain movie starring America's favorite dancing duo, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in "Flyin' Down to Rio," which was filmed in Brazil with a cast of thousands. "Our stage show is theatrical by nature," says Feder. "Our two lead singers are extremely comical, there's a lot of improv and slapstick like an old-fashioned radio show."

Sometimes Cabaret even performs their own version of "Alice in Wonderland" (only in their hometown, not on the road), complete with sets, props, and effects. But the cast is really creating a stir with "The New Electric Eden" - a romantic fantasy world of tiki torches, tropical fruit, and lots of passionate Latin dancing - for audiences coast to coast, regularly selling out at the House of Blues in Boston and the Double Door in Chicago. They've appeared on the NBC and WB networks and on-stage with James Brown, Harry Belafonte, and Santana. What's the draw? "We're much more than a band, we're also a dating service," says Feder with a laugh. "People who come to our show will definitely have a romantic experience on the dance floor ... we're creating an environment where it's more likely to happen."

Cabaret plays covers of old material like "Taboo" and "Caravan," music inspired by Cuban and Latin big bands, spiced up with a little more rock in their mambo. According to Feder, they've been described as "Desi Arnez on acid." Their originals aspire to pop/dance music, which will be recorded on a live CD sometime this year as a follow-up to 1999's hit CD, Voodoo Pi-ata. And they're "definitely in search of a multi-million-dollar record deal ... TV, movies, soundtrack deal ... You name it, we'll do it!" he says.

Joining Feder in Cabaret Diosa are Kimberly Franco on vocals, percussion, and keyboards; David Sherman on vocals, percussion, and clarinet; Miguel Ramos on viola and vocals; Grant Rieder on trumpet, vocals, and percussion; Ari Dvorin on saxophones, flute, and clarinet; Paul Mrozek on upright bass and vocals; Mendel Rabinovitch on congas, bongos, and percussion; and Jon Radamaekers on drums, timbales, and percussion.