Mizel Arts and Culture Center brings the community together with a lively Purim celebration that pays homage to the holiday’s themes of unity and joy. By showcasing Jewish drag queens in a spirited bingo event filled with costumes, performances, and laughter, attendees can connect with friends, embrace the playful side of Purim, and celebrate the vibrant creativity found within Jewish traditions.
Grab your floppy hat, sparkly sandals, and oversized sunglasses and ride your golf cart to Mizel Arts and Culture Center’s 5th Annual Purim Drag Queen Bingo (PDQB) on Saturday, March 8 from 7:30 -10:30 pm. There is no joke off the table at this Boca Raton-themed party. Leave your blush behind as we poke fun at the culture of retired Zaidies and Bubbies living in Florida, and kvetch about the temperature and other slight inconveniences.
This year’s fully Jewish cast welcomes New York queen, Alvah Klempt, our very own Program Director of the Mizel Arts and Culture Center (MACC), Tim Campbell aka Ms. Amerika J. Misdemeanor, and returning emcee and host, Laurah Menorah, for a raunchy night of loud laughter, glitzy shimmying, and of course, good nosh. In addition to peppering the Bingo games with all sorts of antics, each queen performs two numbers for every few rounds of bingo. The show will be rife with surprises, and since Tim has quite the theatrical singing voice rivaling Adele’s, you can expect the diva to sing at least one song live, and possibly with a leaf blower. “When I think about Boca, I think of old Jewish women who either go all out to the nines or just sport the ultimate comfort level,” Tim continues of Ms. Amerika J. Misdemeanor’s debatable outfit choices: either a Mumu or big shoulder pad moment. Though her favorite Boca accessory has to be a statement necklace or large belt.
A full house of fun! Last year’s Bingo night brought everyone together for laughs, lucky numbers, and plenty of prizes
“I love that Purim is rooted in tradition but is also so much fun. We get to make noise and be joyous and dress up,” Tim adds. “And we are excited to be bringing in Alvah from New York for a new perspective.” Alvah Klempt is a New York transplant who has created a name for herself through hilarious, over-the-top schticks. “I am the Jewish mother you never asked for,” she says with sass. “My character is inspired by all the Jewish mothers and grandmothers I knew growing up, and I channel that persona. It feels natural to me because of my Jewish upbringing. I love the ways in which Alvah can be overbearing and overcritical, yet still a loving, sweet, and caring character.” Alvah hopes she “inspire[s] people to call their mothers more.”
Stay true to the theme and bring your heaviest East Coast Jewish accent, along with some Ziploc bags for those soggy tuna sandwich leftovers to take home in your Mercedes- Benz. We hope you will join us for this silly, excessive, and glamorous night of Jewish Joy. Don’t forget your Tums!
Tickets are offered on a sliding scale—purchase yours today.
Tim Campbell
“I love seeing our community come together in a different capacity. It has been such a welcoming and wonderful energy,” says Tim Campbell, whose drag persona, Ms. Amerika J. Misdemeanor made their first MACC appearance debuted at last year’s event.
“Ms. Amerika J. Misdemeanor is a huge fan of the Golden Girls, she sees herself as a Betty White Rose,” Tim hints, “so it might be in one of my numbers.”
Tim Campbell as Ms. Amerika J. Misdemeanor
