Get your wristbands and grab your IDs for a night at the Funhouse! The party’s theme is “Hot Mess”!
Montclair State Players’ 2026 dance show, “Funhouse” follows the story of the Bouncer, who creates a 90s nightclub inside of his mind. The club contains reflections, memories, friends, family, ghosts, and fragments of the bouncer, where he guards what is inside while not letting himself fully belong.
Senior theatre studies major Freddie Ramirez, director, writer, and co-choreographer of the show, was greatly inspired by the life of Angel Melendez and the Club Kids movement in writing “Funhouse.”
“The show explores gatekeeping, queer nightlife, queer erasure, found family, and honoring real queer history,” said Ramirez. “This was an original vision that I had come up with in sort of finding myself over the past few years. So this has been a very cathartic experience for me to sort of see my own personal journey with queerness and gender sort of come to the stage.”
Joshua Ramirez-Capistran as Angel.
Photo Courtesy of Hailie Garcia
Angel Melendez, a former fixture of New York City nightlife whom the show is dedicated to, is also commemorated in the show for his creativity, humanity, and joy through movement, fashion and honored possibility.
Throughout the glitter and glam however, Funhouse serves as more than a show about club, it serves a show as about a family and the memories of people who should’ve more nights to dance.
The Cast of Funhouse performing PURE/HONEY.
Photo Courtesy of Hailie Garcia
Senior English major Kaz Charles, the assistant director of the show, enjoyed the ability to help choreograph the dance show and work with dancers and performers of all different backgrounds.
“Players has given me multiple experiences where I’ve been able to choreograph to different blenders and to different skill types,” Charles said. “But working alongside Freddie, who is an absolute visionary, has pushed me to try new things, and I’m so fortunate to have a cast that is so willing to try and willing to put their body in strange shapes and do weird positions to create art.”
Nicolas Hernandez as Bouncer in the finale of Funhouse.
Photo Courtesy of Hailie Garcia
Charles elaborated further on what the cast brought to the performance.
“Every character has their own personality,” Charles said. “In every number, there’s someone else who catches your eyes. Everyone brings something different to the table, really brings the story to life. I think my favorite part has been watching them develop those characters, seeing all of that work that they put in, seeing themselves come to life through the movement and the storytelling.”
The choreography of Funhouse was absolutely stunning. Seeing the synchronized movements of the cast, the solos and the story told through their abilities was beautiful and very unique.
Maria Riveria, Joshua Ramierez Capistran and Live Nieves performing "One Night Only".
Photo Courtesy of Hailie Garcia
The soundtrack choices for the show were very-well utilized, with modern pop songs like “The Diner” by Billie Eilish and “She’s My Collar” by Gorillaz being mixed with older hits like “Hella Good” by No Doubt and “One Night Only” from the musical Dreamgirls.
These songs added to the show’s mix of past, present, and future and the Bouncer’s mind, giving a sense of blending reality, memory and feeling. The shows usage of instrumentals from the film Fantastic Planet (1973) were also very unique. They gave a nice transition from the more dance centric songs to something more experimental allowing the “Funhouse Kids” to move along to them.
The costumes and makeup in the show were also beautifully done. Shown under the even more brillant lighting, they replicated the 90’s queer club scene through the unique patterns, textures, and clothing styles.
Justin Holley as Guest performing "THE DINER".
Photo Courtesy of Hailie Garcia
No single character felt the same, as each scene and actor gave such a brilliant and unique style that brought a needed flavor to garner a better feeling for the story.
The show also had an interesting dramaturgy display outside of the Red Hawk Nest, created by the production team that explained more background behind the Funhouse, Electric Circus, and Club Kids movement, who remain prevalent throughout modern queer culture.
“Funhouse” is a unique venture into the queer club scene, with a story told fantastically through the dancers’ incredible performances, as well as the creativity in the costuming, production design and music selection that brought it to life. While “Funhouse” was not one night only, it was surely one to never forget.
The Cast of Funhouse performing "Deshominisation".
Photo Courtesy of Hailie Garcia
