​Tonight Only! Limited Run Show: “Chasing Tornadoes” – Don't Miss it!

Robert Fusari, a Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter, has returned home—both literally and figuratively. After retiring from the music business a few years ago, following a very successful career writing and producing hit songs for stars including Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child, Will Smith, Kelly Rowland, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga (whom he discovered and developed), Robert, a 1986 graduate of Livingston High School, was asked in 2023 by his dear friend Robin DiLauri, who grew up in Florham Park, to collaborate on a new project.

Together, they created "Chasing Tornadoes," a musical journey inspired by “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which parallels their own lives. The limited-release show has been performed only a handful of times, with the next one scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, at 7 pm, at Alpha Wave Studios in Whippany.

In this captivating show, both Rob and Robin bare their souls, sharing their deepest fears and hardships as they embark on a metaphorical journey down the "Yellow Brick Road." The performance is a high-energy spectacle, filled with electrifying stage presence, mesmerizing vocals, and masterful storytelling. Each performance is unique, featuring different stories each time. Robert discusses his life and career, sharing humorous anecdotes about the famous personalities he’s worked with. The show also features brand-new rock and pop classics written exclusively for the show by Robert, alongside some of his prior hits.
While the stories Rob and Robin share are personal, "Chasing Tornadoes" offers a powerful, moving, and relatable experience for the audience, mirroring the twists and turns of our own personal journeys.

Throughout his career, Robert wrote hits for others; now, he is finally getting to tell his own story. Robin, whose path led her to motherhood and putting her career on the back burner, is now in the spotlight, fulfilling her dream and enjoying this new journey. Together, they are enjoying the process, connecting with the audience, and writing and performing for themselves.
A few tickets are still available for the nearly sold-out show and can be purchased here. To learn more and to find out about future performance dates, visit Chasing-Tornadoes.com.

Ahead of Saturday night’s show, Robert and Robin sat down for a Q&A, which can be found below:

Q: Robin, tell me a little bit about your background. How did you get into music?

Robin: Well, I started singing at eight years old, like so many young kids do in musical theater. I did my first show actually at the Neil's New Yorker, a dinner theater in Mountain Lakes called Showboat. I was hit with the theater bug at a very early age. I started training and met Rob along the way at 13 during that period, and I just never stopped. I majored in theater in college and kept singing continuously.

Q: Now, Rob, how did you get into music?

Robert: I found a piano at around eight or nine years old. A family friend visited my mother and brought her son, who sat down at the piano in our home, which nobody really played. As soon as he started playing, I just felt it. From that day on, I didn’t stop. We knew the teacher he was taking classical piano lessons from, and I started lessons with this teacher. Within a year or so, I was competing in nationwide piano competitions, placing in the top three and performing mini recitals. The piano always stayed with me, even though I never thought it would turn into a professional career. I tried working jobs, but the music kept calling me back every time.

Q: Robin, what did you do next after college?

Robin: I kept singing. I joined a very busy band called “The Infernos,” and we traveled all over. I especially liked singing in jazz clubs in New York. With The Infernos, it was a full-time job, sometimes two full-time jobs while raising my 2 sons, who are now 20 and 17 years old.

Q: Did you have a full-time job in another field, or was it always music for you too?

Robin: No, this is it. Like Rob, I never really had that kind of job. Music was always my life, and I was blessed enough to support myself in that world. This project with Rob is by far the most meaningful musical experience I’ve ever been a part of.

Q: How did this project, “Chasing Tornadoes,” come to be?

Robert: Robin's mother passed away in July. I attended the wake and hadn’t seen Robin in several years, but we always kept in touch. Her mother had urged her to get back into music before she passed. Robin reached out a couple of weeks later and asked if I’d be interested in doing a show with her. I agreed, but then thought we should go deeper. We started incorporating our lives into the show. One turning point was when Robin mentioned someone asked her who her Scarecrow was, referring to “The Wizard of Oz.” That idea resonated, and we began integrating themes from “The Wizard of Oz” and our personal experiences. It turned into more than just a show; it became a therapeutic session for both us and the audience. People were getting really emotional in a good way, and it became clear that this was something special.

Q: I know the show keeps evolving. What are you learning and changing each time?

Robin: Every time we perform, we refine and expand on the show. We’re learning what resonates most with the audience and adjusting accordingly. It's a continuous process of growth and discovery, making each performance unique and more impactful.

Robert: The show has evolved from its initial concept into a profound experience for both us and the audience. Each time we perform, we gain new insights and make changes that enhance the emotional and musical depth of the show. It's a living, breathing project that keeps growing and changing.

Q: What inspired you to create this show together?

Robert: It was a spiritual exercise that Robin and I did together, inspired by "The Wizard of Oz." We asked ourselves who our Tin Man, Dorothy, and other characters were in our journey. But as we delved into our own story, we realized it didn't need to depend on that narrative. We have a beautiful story in itself, with themes that resonate deeply, especially the idea that it's never too late to pursue your dreams.

Robin: Yes, especially from a woman's perspective, there's this notion that we have to choose between career and motherhood. But our story shows that it's possible to have both. This chapter of my life is more beautiful than I ever expected. It's a message to never give up on your inner voice and to keep pursuing your passion.

Q: What is different about your approach to the show now compared to before?

Robin: We've dug deeper into our stories, and we still have so much more to tell. The show is around an hour and 15 minutes, but the story isn't close to being completely told.

Robert: The way the show starts now, it begins with a video surveying the decade of 2010 to 2020. It covers the chaos, lawsuits, and my struggles with drugs and alcohol. Robin comes into that story, and we use video to tell what was going on during those years. It's a much more personal and raw approach.

Q: How does it feel to write and perform your own story and music?

Robert: It's incredibly rewarding. Before, I wrote songs for others and never saw the audience's reaction. Now, I see and feel the impact directly. Writing songs that are deeply personal and performing them is a whole different experience. Everything I've done in my life led to this, even if I didn't realize it at the time.

Robin: Robert has always made others sound amazing, and now he's doing it for us and himself. There's a song he sings at the end called "Pretty Ugly," and it's incredibly moving. It's him writing for his story, not anyone else's.

Q: What are your plans for the show moving forward?

Robert: The next step is to secure a writer and start on the stage version of the show. We've been doing concert versions to try out ideas and see what works. We'll continue these while developing the full stage show.

Q: Do you plan to perform more shows like the one happening on Saturday, May 18th?

Robin: Yes, we'll keep doing the concert versions and branch out to different venues. Each show helps us refine the story and connect with the audience. There's something for everyone in the audience, and the chemistry between us is palpable and gets reciprocated by the audience.

Q: Why are you only doing one show at a time instead of multiple shows?

Robin: Performing these shows is emotionally exhausting because we're not playing fictional characters; we're sharing our real lives. Each performance takes a lot out of us.

Robert: It's hard to disconnect and just play a character. Every time I perform, it's like reliving those moments. It's emotionally draining but also very real and impactful for the audience.

Q: How do you feel about performing on stage and being in the spotlight?

Robert: It's a whole different level of performance. I never dreamed I'd be doing this. It's raw and personal, and every time I perform, I feel like I'm giving a part of myself.

Robin: It's about connecting with the audience. Sharing our real stories makes it powerful and moving. The goal is to make the audience feel something and take away a piece of our story with them.

Q: What do you hope to achieve with this show?

Robin: We want to inspire others, especially women, to never give up on their dreams. It's about showing that it's never too late to pursue your passion and that every chapter of your life can be beautiful.

Robert: Ultimately, we hope to bring the full stage show to life and have other people play our roles so we can create new work. But for now, sharing our story and seeing the audience's reaction is incredibly fulfilling

Q: What has been surprising about creating the show?

Robert: I think what’s really been powerful is seeing how this show resonates with people on different levels. Some come for the music, some come for the stories, and some for the pure entertainment of it all. But what everyone leaves with is a sense of connection, a reminder of the importance of friendships, and the beauty of shared experiences.

Robin: And I think it’s worth mentioning that we don't shy away from the tough stuff either. We talk about the highs and lows, the successes and the failures, the personal struggles, and the moments of triumph. It’s all part of the journey and part of what makes the show so relatable and impactful.

Robert: Yeah, it's raw and honest. We laugh, we cry, we reminisce, and we celebrate. And that's what makes it special. It's not just a performance; it's a shared experience, and that's what we hope people take away from it

Robin: So, if you're thinking about coming to see us, know that you're in for more than just a show. You're in for a journey, a celebration of life, friendship, and music. And we promise you'll leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Robert: Couldn't have said it better myself. We can't wait to see everyone there.

Tickets can be purchased here. To learn more and to find out about future performance dates, visit Chasing-Tornadoes.com.