MQCFest - Oct 9-12,2025

MQCFest 2025 is coming to Pittsburgh Oct 9-12. MQCFest (formerly Midwest Queer Comedy Festival) is 4 Nights 3 Stages 15+ Shows 30+ Comedians 1 Incredible Experience Festival line up: Aimee Sinclair, AJ Hapenny, Alex Bozinovic, Amy Cui, Asher O’Briant, Audrey Redding, Cindy Arena, Connor Meade, D’Jaay Brown Johnson, Dawn Viola, Diana Graham, Eitan Perlin, Ellen Lundie, Gabbie Watts, Greg Cherry, Gwen Sunkel, Hailey Zureich, Hunter Roberts, Jake Leizear, Javann Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Jo Crawford, Justin Matson, Kate Zasowski, Kayleigh Dumas, Kenny Rooster, Marina Wool, Matt Laughery, Matty Malloy, Michael Boone, Michael Buzzelli, Pedro Delhi, Ren Q. Dawe, Rey Tang,Roy Gloeckl, Ryan Rogers, Tooky Kavanagh, Whitney Mor Zach Funk, Zachary Stewart Full Fest Thursday - Oct 9 7:30 MQCFest 2025 Opening Showcase (Main Stage @ Arcade) 9:30 Comedy Power Hour (Main Stage @ Arcade) Friday - Oct 10 6:00 - Improv Mix Up ( Upstairs @ Arcade) 7:00 - Early Bird Special (Main Stage @ Arcade) 8:00 - Talking Points (Upstairs @ Arcade) 8:30 The Local (South Side Stage) 9:00 Here To Pee ( Main Stage @Arcade ) 10:00 Friday Night Filth ( Upstairs @Arcade ) Saturday – Oct 11 (National Coming Out Day) 6:00 - Early Bird Special (Main Stage @ Arcade) 7:00 #TheBlackout (Upstairs @ Arcade) 7:30 Here To Pee (South Side Stage) 8:00 Mostly True (Main Stage @ Arcade) 9:00 Double Team’d (Upstairs @ Arcade) 9:30 Pitfalls & Punchlines (South Side Stage) 10:00 Perfect 10s (Main Stage @ Arcade) 11:00 Comedy Stripped (Upstairs @ Arcade) Sunday Oct 12 6:00 Comics Say the Darnedest Thing ( Upstairs @ Arcade) 7:00 B!tch Please (Main Stage @ Arcade) 7:30 The Local ( South Side Stage) 8:00 No Straight Answers (Upstairs @ Arcade) 9:00 MQCFest Presents: Helen Wildy (Main Stage @ Arcade)

It’s officially fall, and we’re nearing the end of Early Bird Pricing for the 2025 MQCFest. Do you have your tickets yet?!!! Oct 9-12, 2025 Pittsburgh 4 Nights 3 Stages 15 Shows 35 Comedians 1 Incredible Experience Early Bird Prices Available until September 30( Advanced Sales/ Price at Door) ✨⭐️🌟Link In Bio🌟⭐️✨ For tickets and details. Single Show Tickets Solo (Single ticket) $15 (17/20) Date Night (Two Tickets) $25 (27/30) Throuple (Three Tickets) $30 (34/40) Friday Night Pass Solo (1 pass) $35 (35/50) Date Night (2 passes) $55 (55/60) Throuple (3passes). $65 (65/70) Saturday Night Pass Solo (1 pass) $50 (50/55) Date Night (2 passes) $70 (70/75) Throuple (3passes). $90 (90/100) Full Festival Passes Solo (1 pass) $100 (120/125) Date Night (2 passes) $150 (175/180) Throuple (3passes). $200 (220/225) #pgh #queercomedyfestival #queercomedy #pittsburgh #pittsburghdowntownpartnership

Dear Pittsburgh, The 2025 MQCFest has ended and I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart! First thanks to everyone who came to a show this weekend! A big thank you to Head Yinzer Amanda Averell (@amandaaverell )for helping wrangle volunteers and running the South Side Stage. And thanks to Dave for managing tech and sound for the ring this weekend. Next a huge thanks to Arcade Comedy Theater (@arcadecomedy ), Katie (@ktarara ), Mary (@maryecue ), Aaron (@aarontarnow ) , and the rest of the staff who worked so hard to make this past weekend a success. Thank you for opening your theater to us. Thank you to 880 Wrestling - MV, Blizzy Blake @reallyitsblake , Brohemoth @brohemothtfb , Ramelo @mello_battle , Elijah Love @elijahlove_xoxo , and Adrian Kirsch- for providing a once in a lifetime experience. You let us into your space and gave a hell of a show. Thank you to Whitney (@soberrabbit ) for creating the logo and doing so much work on the graphics. Thanks Jenn, Seth, Kyle, James, and all the volunteers this weekend. You were everywhere I needed, and took so much off of my hands at all the right times. To all the performers this weekend would have been NOTHING without you. It was great working with you, and I look forward to watching your careers. Dwayne Duke #DoQueerShit

First time doing comedy at a wrestling show #standup #queercomedy #mqcfest #wrestling

Day 3 of @mqcfest tonight! I’m hosting the 6pm early bird show and doing the 10pm as well. Exploring Pittsburgh this morning. So many yellow bridges!

Saturday – Oct 11 National Coming Out Day Doors are 30 minutes before scheduled show time. Main Stage @ Arcade & Upstairs @ Arcade are both located at The Arcade Comedy Theater (943 Liberty Ave Pittsburgh PA, 15222) South Side Stage is located at 880 Wrestling (1010 Freyburg St Pittsburgh PA 15203 FKA One Up Skateshop) Scheduled line up may change 6:00 - Early Bird Special (Main Stage @ Arcade) 7:00 #TheBlackout (Upstairs @ Arcade) 7:30 Here To Pee (South Side Stage) 8:00 Mostly True (Main Stage @ Arcade) 9:00 Double Team’d (Upstairs @ Arcade) 9:30 Pitfalls & Punchlines (South Side Stage) 10:00 Perfect 10s (Main Stage @ Arcade) 11:00 Comedy Stripped (Upstairs @ Arcade)

Hey Pittsburgh! I’m doing @mqcfest tonight at 7pm for the Early Bird show and 2 shows tomorrow! Come join us! I love social media and posting social media it’s the most fun part of being an artist the constant thirst for endless content begging strangers to like me I was never popular in high school but maybe now that I’m 40 I can finally get validated by others and feel content I’m so thrilled to be doing social media! Gucci!

Tonight we’re set for a full night of fun. Friday - Oct 10 6:00 - Improv Mix Up ( Upstairs @ Arcade) 7:00 - Early Bird Special (Main Stage @ Arcade) 8:00 - Talking Points (Upstairs @ Arcade) 8:30 The Local (South Side Stage) 9:00 Here To Pee ( Main Stage @Arcade ) 10:00 Friday Night Filth ( Upstairs @Arcade )

I am SO excited to be apart of the @MQCFest this year! Get your passes for fun October 9-12. I will be there Saturday and Sunday-- check out their website for more details!!! Also--if you have tips for things to do in Pittsburgh please let me know!!!

🎉 Midwest Queer Comedy Fest 2025: Steel City Edition | coming to Arcade Oct 9–12 🎉 Arcade Comedy Theater proudly hosts MQCFest, a four-night celebration of queer comedy featuring over 60 performers from across the country. Founded by Dwayne Duke, MQCFest spotlights LGBTQIA+ voices in stand-up, improv, and variety. Join us in downtown Pittsburgh and at 880 Wrestling for a weekend of bold, hilarious, and unforgettable shows. Seating is first come, first served — grab tickets before they’re gone! 🎟 Tickets & Passes: /tickets THURSDAY (Arcade Main Stage) 7:30 PM – Opening Showcase – Kickoff with comics from across the fest 9:30 PM – Comedy Power Hour – 60 jokes in 60 minutes FRIDAY (Oct 10) Main Stage: 7 PM Early Bird Special | 9 PM Here to Pee Tour | 10 PM Friday Night Filth Upstairs: 6 PM Improv Mix Up | 8 PM Talking Points South Side: 8:30 PM The Local SATURDAY (Oct 11 – National Coming Out Day) Main Stage: 6 PM Early Bird Special | 8 PM Mostly True | 10 PM Perfect 10s Upstairs: 7 PM #TheBlackout | 9 PM Double Team’d | 11 PM Comedy Stripped South Side: 7:30 PM Here to Pee (Encore) | 9:30 PM Pitfalls & Punchlines SUNDAY (Oct 12) Main Stage: 7 PM B!tch Please | 9 PM Helen Wildy Upstairs: 6 PM Comics Say the Darnedest Things | 8 PM No Straight Answers South Side: 7:30 PM The Local 🎫 Single Tickets from $17 • Weekend & Night Passes Available 🌈 Don’t miss Pittsburgh’s biggest weekend of queer comedy!

Sunday Oct 12, 9:00 MQCFest Presents: Helen Wildy (Main Stage @ Arcade) Being Irish and gay, Helen Wildy loves rainbows and parades. NYC-based Helen was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Her first comedy album “Bomb Threat” can be heard on Sirius XM. Helen has been named “Best Of” in comedy in Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Raleigh and has performed all over the US and Europe. In 2024, Helen completed 3 tours with Armed Forces Entertainment to entertain our troops abroad. She worked with grad students at Duke University as a comedy advisor in their “Integrating Comedy into Science Communications” program. Helen has opened for some of her fave comedians including Dave Attell, Cameron Esposito, and Maria Bamford! Host Asher O’Briant Dawn Viola, Hunter Roberts, Javann Jones, Jo Crawford, Matt Laughery, Tooky Kavanagh and Helen Wildy! https://square.link/u/0Wy8jsJ6

🚨MQCFest posts have been getting hidden by the algorithm because we include words like Queer, LGBT, probably tickets, and definitely Trans. So I figured I’d give them a post to really hide - 🩷🤍💙Dwayne.🚨 HERE TO PEE @ THE 2025 MQCFEST A first-of-its-kind comedy tour is hitting all 50 states, using humor as a powerful form of protest. Led by trans comedian Ren Q. Dawe, the Here to Pee Tour features an all-trans lineup performing in all 50 states, with proceeds benefiting local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. The tour aims to uplift trans voices, foster community, and spark critical conversations about trans rights—all while delivering unforgettable comedy. A documentary crew is also capturing the journey. For interviews or coverage, visit ​ Friday Oct 10 9:00 Here To Pee ( Main Stage @Arcade ) Host - Ren Q. Dawe Asher O’Briant, Audrey Redding, Dawn Viola, Diana Graham, Jo Crawford, Kenny Rooster, Rey Tang Saturday Oct 11 7:30 Here To Pee (South Side Stage) Host Ren Q. Dawe Asher O’Briant, Dawn Viola, Diana Graham, Kenny Rooster, Rey Tang