Last month, Kent State’s Alpha Psi Omega (APO) chapter hosted their annual drag competition: OMEGA. APO is the National Theatre Honor Society for participants in collegiate theatre. Creative Director Cass Dickey shared that OMEGA is a tradition within the School of Theatre and Dance, and a celebration of expression and community. It’s also an opportunity for students to perform in one last show for the school year.
The contestants participated in three different categories to compete to be the next OMEGA Victor and People’s Choice Winner. The show’s theme was “Intergalactica” and was hosted by 2024 OMEGA Victor Adam To The Cart, Dharling. Dancers, known as Water Fairies, performed three numbers between th
e acts to entertain and keep the energy going, channeling their out of this world fierceness.
This year’s judges consisted of Eugenia, who tied with Adam To The Cart for OMEGA 2024 Victor; Miss Vera Fyde, 2021 Victor and 2023 host; and Barbara Allegra Verlezza: Professor Emerita Director of the Kent State Dance Division from 2002-2024. Her son was the first dance major to be crowned an OMEGA Victor in 2011.
To begin the competition, contestants Alanna Legs, Mx. Anne Dromeda, Cabaretta,, Karat Cake, Lex Vanderbite, Ronnie Wrath, Ultraviolet and 2025 OMEGA VICTOR Frida Sl’avés walked the runway showcasing their first bold looks of the night. Frida Sl’avés mesmerized the audience with her dress reveal.
Even the audience got to participate in the fashion and glamour of the show. Seven audience members were brought to the stage to compete for applause and determine who had the best intergalactic costume.
Alanna Legs kicked off the talent portion with a performance to “Dark Lady” by Cher complete with backup dancers Lucia Lazarra-Goodrich and Drew Fitzgerald. Other notable performances included Mx. Anne Dromeda as Yoda, Karat Cake’s performance of “Side Effects” by The Chainsmokers and Ultraviolet’s vocal rendition of “Bring on The Men” from Jekyll & Hyde, complete with their four backup dancers.
After the talent section, the Water Fairies came back out for another number, this time to a medley of songs from Charli xcx’s “Brat” choreographed by Drew Fitzgerald. The dancers spent five minutes on stage, using all of their energy to captivate the crowd.
The contestants were then placed into duos and lip-synced for their lives. Cabaretta and Lex Vanderbite showed off their skills in an exciting battle set to “Toxic” by Britney Spears, a lip-sync classic. Ronnie Wrath and Ultraviolet rocked out while lip syncing to Alanis Morisette’s 90s hit, “You Oughta Know.” Frida Sl’avés and Mx. Anne Dromeda’s iconic showdown to “Defying Gravity” featured tumbling, lost shoes and even the use of a cat walk.
While the judges decided on a winner, Kent State dance majors and minors performed an epic dance number to “ALIEN SUPERSTAR” by Beyoncé and “Dem Beats” by Todrick Hall choreographed by AT Sanders, Mary Savocchia and Adam To The Cart.
An audience vote led to Ultraviolet being named People’s Choice Winner, and Frida Sl’avés was finally crowned as the 2025 OMEGA Victor. The contestants celebrated in the joy of the night on stage before the Water Fairies came to give us one more performance to a medley of Chappell Roan’s music choreographed by Brian Boland and Autumn Van Allen. All of the performers ran out for one last bow as the crowd clapped and cheered.
