Drag and bingo came together for a night of high-energy performances and fierce competition at Cal State Monterey Bay’s Drag Bingo event on February 21 in the Otter Student Union (OSU) ballroom. Hosted by performer Castrata, who regularly performs in New York, the night blended the classic game of bingo with the flair of live drag performances.
The event kicked off with Castrata delivering an energetic medley featuring songs, “Pink Pony Club,” “Firework” and “Don’t Stop Believin.’” While belting out these strong ballads, Castrata strutted between tables and pointed to audience members. Her performance set a lively tone for the evening, captivating the initially shy audience and drawing them into an experience where traditional bingo changed with a theatrical twist.
As the game progressed, excitement built not only over the prizes – which included digital cameras, Stanley tumblers, Roku devices and more – but also over the unexpected twist that would soon come into play. In a nod to the popular show “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” when multiple players called “bingo” simultaneously, they were challenged to a spontaneous game of “Lip Sync for Your Life!” Students lip-synced and danced to a random song until Castrata announced an official bingo winner based on their performance and style.
Between performances, Castrata shared insights about her journey in drag.
“Once I started doing drag, everything started changing for me,” she said. “I started to realize how much potential that I was wasting and drag helped bring that out of me and make me a stronger performer.”
When asked about the significance of hosting drag events on college campuses, Castrata emphasized the importance of visibility.
“For many people here, tonight might be their first live drag performance,” she said. “It’s important for us to be visible, just to make sure that everyone knows that we’re still here– and we ain’t going nowhere!”
With about 200 students registered per session, attendees shared laughs, cheered on lip-sync performances and seemed to embrace the opportunity to witness a form of artistic expression that many had only seen on television.