Downtown Riverside’s drag scene saw the return of Clash of the Titans ALL STARS at The Menagerie, kicking off this year’s competition with a packed house and a Broadway theme. In true Clash fashion, secrecy was part of the thrill. Neither the audience nor the performers knew the full lineup until each queen appeared on stage.

The competition runs every Wednesday night for seven weeks. Unlike other drag contests, there are no eliminations. Contestants are judged on a point-based system, with occasional mini games and side challenges offering chances to earn extra points. At the end of each night, the top two performers have seven minutes to change into a new outfit and prepare a fresh number before returning to the stage for a final performance to determine the evening’s winner. The series will conclude with one queen claiming a $1,500 grand prize.

This year’s cast featured a mix of talent from the past decade of Menagerie All Stars, with some performers returning from as far back as six years ago and others from just last year. The lineup for opening night included Bubblegum, Kelly K Doll, Veronica S. Halston, Sá Hara, Nebula, Melody Sings Facade Miller, Diva Dean, and Amiyah Bratt.

Midway through the show, host Philip introduced the first mini game of the season. Each queen had to name as many songs as possible from a chosen artist, with selections including Lady Gaga and other pop icons. The audience roared in support as each competitor tried to outdo the others. Nebula won the challenge and was given the option to switch her point total with another performer, but declined, saying she believed she was already on top.

By the end of the night, Diva Dean and Melody Sings Facade Miller were announced as the top two. A seven-minute timer began to countdown, and they had to change into another outfit to perform a second number that would determine who rained victorious. After a quick change, both returned to the stage with new numbers that kept the energy high. Before the winner was revealed, Philip announced that one performer was not competing. Nebula stepped forward and revealed she had been serving as a secret judge for the night, reducing the competition to seven queens for the remainder of the run.

The audience vote named Melody Sings Facade Miller as the winner of the first night. As part of her victory, she chose the theme for the next week’s show from a list of options, selecting an 80’s theme. Clash of the Titans ALL STARS will continue every Wednesday night at The Menagerie for the next six weeks with no cover charge, and early arrival is recommended for seating.