Despite a nationwide trend of diminishing visibility and increasing restrictions on drag performances, Chico remains a stronghold for this vibrant art form.
The city’s drag community has been thriving — and now, performers are stepping into a new spotlight with a local competition called Drag Heat.
“We thought this would be a really perfect way to bring in more of the kings and queens that we don't know [to help them] get a wide reach or a wider audience,” said Kasandra Partain who produced the competition in collaboration with performer Alexander Garcia.
They hope to showcase a diverse array of talented drag artists with Drag Heat, and also provide a platform for performers and entertainment for audiences, even as other regions experience a decline.
Both Partain and Garcia are heavily involved performers in Chico’s art scene.
Partain is one of the producers on this project and also co-produces The Stardust Revue, a popular burlesque and drag show. She got her start producing shows at the now defunct Maltese Bar.
“I just helped them run their drag shows until they closed, and that’s how I got my start producing drag and burlesque shows here in town,” Partain said.
Garcia has been performing as Miss Ruby for four years.
“My goodness, when the spotlight hits the stage, it is just a whole different world,” Garcia said. “I think everyone should experience [that] at least once in their life.”
Garcia said drag plays a crucial role in the community because it fosters visibility, ensures representation and questions established societal norms.
“It's super important for a lot of drag artists to come out. It is a very scary time, especially the time that we're in now with our presidency and everything,” Garcia said. “I believe that just seeing more and more people become their better selves is super beautiful.”
Inspiration through ’90s comedies
Garcia and Partain both cited influential comedy films from the 1990s as sources of inspiration for their journey into drag.
For Garcia, "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" profoundly impacted them.
Initially doubting their ability, Garcia embraced their inner persona, and found the movie's portrayal of male actors transforming into vibrant women a guiding light.
“I started drag in 2021, and I got asked to do a drag performance, and I had never, ever in my life, done it before,” Garcia said. “I just channeled my inner Chi-Chi Rodriguez, my inner Vida Boheme, and it blossomed.”
In Partain’s case, her introduction to drag culture came through the films “The Birdcage,” “The Adventures of Priscilla” and “Queen of the Desert,” followed by participation in local Stonewall Alliance events.
“I grew up here my entire life, and Stonewall put on all these, like, amazing events, and I saw all of these drag queens, and I was like, I have never been in the room with more fabulous people,” Partain said.
Creating safe spaces for all to enjoy
Ultimately, both entertainers aim to devise nights where guests can have a great time and express themselves creatively.
Partain considers her time at the Maltese Bar a safe haven that shaped her deeply.
The bar was a popular home for drag shows in Chico. She said its closure left a void for her and the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s also where she first discovered her identity, which was a turning point in her life.
Partain says The Maltese’s closure created a void for her and the LGBTQIA+ community. She discovered her identity there, which marked a turning point for her.
“It gave me a space to figure out who I am as a person, and I wanted to do that same thing for other people and in any production that I do, no matter what it is, I always want to make sure my performers, the patrons, the venue, is feeling safe, happy, healthy and comfortable,” Partain said.
Both Partain and Garcia say they want to keep creating events that uplift others and celebrate self-expression.
“I think being able to create a safe space means a lot to me because I didn’t have that, and I feel like a lot of people in Oroville still don’t have that,” Garcia said. “A lot of people in Chico don’t have that [even though] it’s a bigger city.”
Drag Heat is 7 p.m. tonight at The Winchester Goose.
