PrestigeXP + Gas Station Arts Centre Presents: Rainbow Riot Pride and Punchlines Edition
Get ready to laugh loud and proud!
🌈 THE RIOT CONTINUES, WINNIPEG! 🎤✨
We're back and bringing the house down! Get ready for Rainbow Riot: Pride & Punchlines Edition hitting the Gas Station Arts Centre on June 19th.
Join us again for Rainbow Riot, a spectacular showcase of 2SLGBTQIA+ comedy that celebrates our community with unapologetic joy and hilarity. This event is more than just a comedy show—it’s a celebration of existence, resilience, and the power of laughter.
We are bringing together a lineup of the sharpest queer wit to create a space that is safe, inclusive, and absolutely riotous. Whether you are part of the community or a supportive ally, come grab a seat, share a drink, and enjoy a night where our stories take center stage.
We are also proud to announce that this event is a fundraiser. We believe in giving back to those who support us, which is why we have partnered with the Rainbow Resource Centre. By buying a ticket, you aren't just signing up for a great night out; you are directly supporting vital resources for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Manitoba.
🎙️ Unfiltered Queer Comedy: Experience a curated lineup of the best 2SLGBTQIA+ comedians sharing their unique perspectives and side-splitting stories.
🤝 Comedy for a Cause: We are donating a portion of every single ticket sold directly to the Rainbow Resource Centre. Our goal is to raise over $1,000 to support their essential advocacy and support services.
🏳️🌈 Celebrating 2SLGBTQIA+ Voices: We are dedicated to amplifying 2SLGBTQIA+ voices and creating a space of affirmation and celebration.
📚 Connect with Community: The Rainbow Resource Centre team will be on-site! Visit their table to chat, grab some swag, and learn more about the incredible work they do year-round.
The laughter doesn't stop here. Rainbow Riot will be returning for special seasonal editions:
Rainbow Riot: Kick Off April 3rd and 4th, 2026
Rainbow Riot: Pride and Punchline Edition June 19th, 2026
Rainbow Riot: Holiday Special (November or December 2026)
Don't miss out on the most colorful nights of comedy this year!
✨ FREE PRE-SHOW WORKSHOP & Q&A ✨ Curious about comedy? Join us before the main event for a free workshop and Q&A session! This is totally open to the public and gives you a chance to learn from and chat directly with the comedians.
🔥 NOW FEATURING OPEN MIC SLOTS! 🔥 Ever wanted to grab the mic? Here’s your chance! We’re including open mic time as part of the show. Stay tuned as a signup sheet will be available soon for anyone ready to step into the spotlight and share some laughs! 🌈🎤
Our June Lineup
Because one round wasn't enough to handle this much fabulousness. Welcome back to Rainbow Riot Pride and Punchlines Edition, featuring tonight’s maestros of the weird and the hilarious:
Les Kiesman: Best known to nightlife enthusiasts as DJ DoV, is a versatile entertainer who knows how to captivate a crowd in a multitude of ways. While he's renowned for his electrifying sets at local club happenings by bringing the dance floor to life with his high-energy mixes and intuitive crowd-reading, his talents extend far beyond the turntables. When he's not behind the decks, Les can be found on the standup stage cracking jokes and keeping audiences roaring with laughter, proving he can effortlessly command a room with either a heavy beat or a hilarious punchline.
Aahan Rajput: Aahan is one of Winnipeg’s newest comedians. He loves talking about being trans, his brown dysfunctional family and therapy. he has performed previous at shows like Gender Euphoria and the Asian Heritage Month Festival.
Danielle Kayahara: Producer and host of Wisecracks for Weirdos and one half of the musical comedy duo The Lady Lumps. She can be heard on CBC Radio’s Laugh Out Loud and shares a unique blend of storytelling and silliness.
Shane Thevenot: A Winnipeg-based comedian who has opened for Kristin Key and produces Queer Comedy Night. Their debut special Late-in-Life Lesbian received an honourable mention at the Montreal Fringe Festival.
Issa Kixen: Issa is an Anishinaabe Two Spirit comedian/journalist/Producer who is a band member of Couchiching First Nation, Ontario. They have travelled across Canada and the USA as a Comedian and improviser. They use comedy as a tool in dealing with racism, transphobia and ableism. They are the Co-founder/producer of WOKE Comedy Hour, performed at Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Winnipeg Comedy Showcase and was a contributor on APTN’s The Laughing Drum
Vōng Shō: As the "Official Spokesperson for Gay, Super Cute Asians," Vōng Shō is dedicated to spreading enlightenment through laughter. He is the founder of Comedy Cares, an initiative that partners comedians with charities to raise funds for worthy causes, and the creator of the hugely popular RICE: Asian Comedy Showcase. Vōng has previously served as Chair of the JUNO Comedy Album of the Year category and has made appearances on SiriusXM, MTV Logo Network, OutTV, CBC, and CTV.
Carole Cunningham: Carole is a Winnipeg-based comedian, originally from NWT. Carole made her debut on CBC's The Debaters in 2018 and has performed in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Toronto Festival of Clowns, and Edmonton Fringe Festival. She completed her first European comedy tour in 2025. Carole hosted the award-winning Winnipeg Fringe Festival production Neurohilarity and brings awareness of ADHD, demisexuality and silly animal facts to audiences that love to laugh while they learn.
Prepare for a night of observational, weird, and side-splitting humor featuring:
Dev Oza (Host): The voice you hear on the radio talking about your streets is now hosting this super gay show! An immigrant with a full Canadian experience—from Toronto to Winnipeg via Saskatoon and Thompson.
Willow Rosenberg: An award-winning comedian, writer, and storyteller from the UK (sort of) based in Treaty 1 territory. She explores the shenanigans of life as a late-in-life diagnosed disabled, neurospicy, Jewish, trans lesbian (the Jewish and lesbian bits were obvious from birth) alongside her black cat familiar, Miss Kitty Fantastico.
Veronica Gingles: A comedy veteran who started at age 52, a year after coming out as a trans woman—finally finding the courage she needed to try comedy. Known for her observational and dark humor, she hosts the queer shows at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and created Queerly Beloved.
J.D. Renaud: Despite all evidence to the contrary, a professional. A Winnipeg Fringe veteran who released his first comedy special earlier this year, I Ruin Things For A Living.
Danielle Kayahara: Producer and host of Wisecracks for Weirdos and one half of the musical comedy duo The Lady Lumps. She can be heard on CBC Radio’s Laugh Out Loud and shares a unique blend of storytelling and silliness.
Shane Thevenot: A Winnipeg-based comedian who has opened for Kristin Key and produces Queer Comedy Night. Their debut special Late-in-Life Lesbian received an honourable mention at the Montreal Fringe Festival.
Sarah Jane Martin: Voted “Winnipeg’s Favourite Comedian” by The Uniter. An aging punk exploring the chaotic world of motherhood, she has been featured in the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Improv Fest, and your nightmare blunt rotation.
Questions regarding this event?
Email Us events@prestigexp.ca or Message us on Instagram @PrestigeXPWPG