Southern Tier Life: Events
Campy Mr. or Miss Outrageous Competition Comes to Binghamton
Spend an evening enjoying outrageous performances as five of the Southern Tier’s most talented drag queens and kings battle for bucks at Mr. or Miss Outrageous at Lost Dog Cafe in Binghamton, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Admission is $15 in advance and tickets are available here. Standing room only tickets will be available at the door.
Hosted by the outrageously talented Miss Viola and Bianca, Saturday’s event promises to be full of unique, whimsical performances from both the MCs and competitors.
Mr. or Miss Outrageous cohosts Bianca and Miss Viola. Photo provided by Frank Carcelli.
“Mr. or Miss Outrageous is … designed for those performers who currently don’t subscribe to the “Beauty Queen” title of drag,” says host Miss Viola aka Frank Carcelli, of Horseheads.
“This is for those that are out there, a little crazy and not afraid to push boundaries. It’s also a chance for those “Beauty Queens” to get a chance to flex those outrageous muscles. It’s all about Camp!”
The competition, created over 15 years ago by longtime show promoter Roger Laughlin, who owns and runs the annual Glitz & Glamour show in Elmira, was purchased by Frank more than a decade ago.
“It’s been a number of years since I have run this but I hope to make this a yearly event with possible spin-off events,” Frank/Viola says.
Saturday’s competition features fierce contestants Ianna Rouge of Little Falls, Chocolate Cee Lalick of Ithaca, Izabell Lee of Albany, Lilly Bola of Oneonta, and Porcelain Platinum of Binghamton; all bringing their most jaw-dropping performances in hopes of winning $500.00 cash.
"Each contestant, as part of their presentations, has to create a fake fast food restaurant and that restaurant's mascot," Frank says, explaining one of the skills Saturday's contestants will be showcasing.
Frank Carcelli definitely has a flair for the dramatic, having performed in a variety of stage productions throughout his life. He created his drag persona, Miss Viola, over two decades ago.
“This October will be 21 years of Miss. Viola!” he says.
“My inspiration for her was a mixture of Sylvia Fine from The Nanny, Suzanne Sugarbaker from Designing Women’ and a lot of SASS!”
A lot has changed since Miss Viola’s first appearance on Southern Tier stages, which Frank attributes to technological advances.
“It’s 100% different,” Frank/Viola says. “Camera phones, Rupaul’s Drag Race, YouTube … It’s all so different now and much more in your face! For all the frustration that can create, there is no one that can say those things have not helped push our art into the forefront and helped to make it way more mainstream than ever before!”
Miss Viola brings that sass, spunk, sparkle and shine whenever she performs, as does her glittery drag gal pal from NYC, Bianca.
“I’ve always said it’s all about entertaining someone,” Frank/Viola says. “If I can make one person in that crowd smile and ask for a picture after a show, I know I have made a positive impact on someone and their life, if even only for a few hours.”
Come enjoy those positive vibes and a great show, along with the tasty food, craft cocktails and mocktails, beer and wine served at Binghamton’s Lost Dog Cafe.
“I encourage folks to have dinner at Lost Dog Cafe right before the show and then walk right over to the lounge for the event,” Frank/Viola says.
The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Click here for tickets and information.