Musical Mondays at Splash are still one singular sensation.
By Brandon Voss
“I’ve been a theater queen for as long as I can remember,” says Splash VJ John Bantay, a professional dancer who has VJed Musical Mondays, one of the city’s longest-running gay club nights, for about five years. And as the consistent crowds at the raucous weekly event prove, queens of a boa feather stick together.
“I try to present a diversity of musicals,” he continues, “balancing great vocalists with great dance numbers, and standard favorites with more obscure clips.” Bantay increases Splash’s extensive video library by taping television events such as the Tony Awards, Broadway on Broadway, and live performances on various morning shows. “I’m careful to keep the event constantly changing and evolving, so it’s a different journey every week. Though there are musical numbers that I play every Monday because the crowd would probably riot if I didn’t!”
James Valletti, a 21-year-old aspiring theater director, considers the evening a cathartic experience. “Everything I feel comes out in Barbra Streisand’s nose,” he declares with a snort. While he enjoys bonding with a platonic posse he calls the “Musical Monday Marys,” James is also looking for a boyfriend: “Mr. Perfect is someone who knows all the words to every showtune.” Still, he has his priorities in order. “Some really hot guy asked me to go home with him last Monday. I said, ‘Can’t it wait until after Dreamgirls?” But when another cutie begins to attract attention by duplicating a clip’s full choreography, James rolls his eyes and whispers, “Yeah… it’s really sad, some people.” This coming from a man with Mame ringtones.
When a quarrel breaks out among the “Marys” about whether a particular clip is from Oklahoma or State Fair, I approach said dancing queen, a 25-year-old musical theater conductor named Parker Thomas Angel. Though Parker has rarely missed a week in two years, asking him to name his favorite clip is like asking him to choose between two of his children: “I just can’t answer that!” He does admit that his Monday-night obsession has caused problems in his relationship; if his boyfriend calls during a particularly good number, he’ll likely go straight through to voicemail.
Josh Cohen, clearly the breakout star of the chorus line, prefers to have his boyfriend nearby while he “performs.” When I first notice him — and it’s hard not to — he’s dead center in front of the big screens, arms outstretched, pantomiming Jennifer Holliday’s “And I Am Telling You” with the passion and precision of Lypsinka. I soon learn that Josh is a 28-year-old neurologist whose youthful dreams of stage stardom failed to materialize, so he now finds solace in the Splash spotlight. “We always sit right up front,” he says, “because we come every week and deserve it!” Few seem to mind since he regularly lets his jeans fall well below his waist, exposing what his boyfriend proudly calls “a great ass.” Hey, it’s still Splash, after all.
“Musical Mondays is extremely competitive,” says Splash general manager Greg Jones, laughing. “I don’t even watch the screens anymore. I usually turn my chair around and watch the crowd duel it out!” Although Jones says the occasional shirtless tourist gets annoyed that the dance floor is occupied until 11pm (after which the party moves downstairs for a pre-recorded “Encore” until close), he’s more concerned with keeping his loyal Musical Mondays fans happy. Jones even plans to incorporate live performances into the Monday mix from the recent crop of queer Fringe Festival offerings, as well as Spelling Bee, Joy, Once Around the Sun, and others.
Bantay adds: “The biggest joy I get is from looking out into the bar full of people having fun and singing along. It’s really all about a love for theater and introducing people to more of it.” That, of course, and meeting a boy with a great ass who knows every single word.
VJ John Bantay’s Top 10 Musical Monday Video Clips
1. “And I Am Telling You,” Dreamgirls (’82 Tony Awards)
“Jennifer Holliday is begging this guy not to leave her! The queens can relate.”
2. “Defying Gravity,” Wicked (’04 Tonys)
“Another show stopper. Idina Menzel is amazing!”
3. “Some People,” Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall
“Classic Liza: looks great, sounds great.”
4. “Hello, Dolly!,” Hello, Dolly (’95 Tonys)
“Carol Channing’s last time on Broadway. She’s an institution. And I’m in this number!”
5. “But Alive,” Applause (’73 Broadcast)
“Everyone should witness Lauren Bacall singing and dancing.”
6. Medley from Movin’ Out (’03 Tonys)
“So inspirational - the performers are flawless. This just screams for people to see a Broadway show!”
7. “I Am What I Am,” La Cage aux Folles (’83 Tonys)
“I saw this live, and this opener was so exciting. Great choreography and dancers.”
8. “One Night Only,” (’04 Tonys)
“Exciting opening number! Hugh Jackman sings and dances beautifully.”
9. “I Hope I Get It,” A Chorus Line (’76 Tonys)
“When I first saw this telecast, I decided that I wanted to be a dancer.”
10. “I Just Wanna Dance,”Jerry Springer (The Opera) (Video by Bantay)
“This fun, high-energy song is getting lots of play in the clubs. And it’s from a musical!”
HX, September 2005.