Knights Support Arcade

Knights of the Arcade will be hosting live online events during Arcade's closure due to COVID-19 to bring you laughs and support the theater!

A fundraising campaign for Arcade Comedy Theater
Make a Donation

$10

Suggested Donation to Support Arcade Comedy Theater

Enter a custom amount

Sadly but understandably, Pittsburgh's only non-profit comedy venue, Arcade Comedy Theater, has closed its doors for a while in response to the COVID-19 situation. During the closure, Knights of the Arcade has created this fundraising site and we'll be hosting live online events to bring you laughs and support the theater!

Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/knightsofthearcade for info about all of the Knights of Arcade online shows.

More information about Arcade Comedy Theater:

Arcade Comedy Theater was founded in 2013 as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to elevating and advancing the art of comedy in Pittsburgh. Arcade produces and presents comedy each and every week, including improv, sketch, standup, and family programming. In November 2017, Arcade moved from a 75-seat storefront style theater to a custom and accessible three-story, two-theater space in the heart of the Cultural District at 943 Liberty Avenue. Arcade has produced over 1,000 shows, greeted over 50,000 visitors, and taught comedy classes to over 2,000 students.

8.22.2020 UPDATE: Knights and Dorks: Online Multiversal Comedy Adventure



Thank you so much, everyone! 11 shows, 1,322 viewers, and $8,060 later and we're headed into a 2-night multiverse of epic proportions! We'll catch you tonight for Part 1 of Knights and Dorks: Online Multiversal Comedy Adventure with New England comedy group Dorks in Dungeons.

There has been a disturbance in the multiverse – and all of the Burgh will feel it on August 22. Another live action improv troupe centered around many geek fandoms has entered our plane of existence. New England based Dorks in Dungeons will be joining the Knights for a show unlike any other. Using their long form improv comedy skills, Dorks in Dungeons will traverse an entirely new quest with the Knights built from audience suggestions. With video projected dice and YOU cheering along every Critical Hit, it is a show guaranteed to go – well, wherever the hell your demented minds dream up!

Quest with us tonight for an adventure filled with warriors, monks, magic wands, giant sloths, and the ever fickle d20 - Knights meet Dorks. Dorks meet Knights. Things get ripped wide open... mostly the multiverse, but also probably our pants. Quest on! Thank you for joining us and for your kind support! 

Need more adventure? Check out recordings of previous shows on the Knights of the Arcade Twitch channel.

We're updating our goal (again!) to $9,000. As always, this show is helping support Arcade Comedy Theater, our non-profit comedy home. They're currently closed for indoor operations at their 943 Liberty Ave theater and are working hard to provide outdoor and online shows and classes at a reduced capacity, so any help big or small you can send their way is much appreciated so they can keep bringing Pittsburgh more laughs. Want your name read on the show? Donate $30 or more and we'll read your ridiculous display names for all the online multiverse to hear. Thank you for your overwhelming support over the last 5 months. Please continue to share and donate, and we'll see you online again soon!
6.13.2020 UPDATE: Pride Month Shows, Arcade's Diversity Scholarship, and New Total Goals for June!

Join us for TWO special Knights of the Arcade Online quests celebrating Pride month on June 13th and June 27th! In addition to the LGBTQIA+ members of our group, we'll also be welcoming a couple special guests from the queer community. We hope you'll join us to celebrate love as a community of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies! Pour your mead, sign onto your scrying device, and gather ‘round for our virtual quests on https://www.twitch.tv/knightsofthearcade/. 

June has always been an important month for Arcade Comedy Theater, showcasing great comedy by queer artists throughout Pride Month. But Pride cannot be celebrated if it is not intersectional. This year, 50% of all donations made to Arcade in June will be earmarked for the Diversity Scholarship fund, launched in December 2019 to fully-fund Arcade Academy educations for underrepresented voices in comedy, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Arcade awarded the first 4 of these scholarships in January, and wehope you will donate generously this month to support this critical initiative.

Our donation level prizes are still in effect for donations made May 16th through June 30th, 2020, and our Total Goal deadlines have been updated for the month of June to reflect our last show's focus on fundraising for Black Visions Collective. Check out all the cool prizes below!

New Total Goals for June:

        • If we reach $7000 by the end of the show on June 20th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on June 20th
        • But if we reach $7500 by the end of the show on June 20th: the Knights will play Jackbox Games on Twitch the following week and you can join the audience to vote! 
        • If we reach $8000 by the end of the show on June 27th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on June 27th
        • But if we reach $8500 by the end of the show on June 27th:  the Knights will hire a goat to make a guest appearance for an online July show

        The Individual Prizes for Donors are still in effect, as listed below in the 5.16.2020 update! Get your BARDIC INSPIRATION from Stone Cold or your WILD SHAPE from Jimmy the Wormslayer while supplies last.



        5.16.2020 UPDATE: NEW DONATION LEVEL PRIZES

        Thank you to everyone that’s donated so far--we’re so thrilled to have raised $5,370 for Arcade Comedy Theater since our first Online Adventure show back in March. We are ready for another quest tonight, and we are so excited to present some new donation levels for the Knights Support Arcade fundraiser. There are goals for the overall total and individual prizes for donors of certain levels. Check them out below!


        New Total Goals:

        • If we hit $6000 in total donations by the end of the show on May 16th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on May 16th

        • But if we hit $6500 by the end of the show on May 16th: the Knights will read fanfic written by Jesse LE (Bardley) during the post-show segment on May 16th 

        • If we reach $7000 by the end of the show on May 30th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on May 30th

        • But if we reach $7500 by the end of the show on May 30th: the Knights will play Jackbox Games on Twitch the following week and you can join the audience to vote! 

        Individual Prizes for Donors:

        • Donate $30 - ELDRITCH INVOCATION: On Air Thank You - We'll read your name in thank you list during the show! Donate this level up to an hour before the show to have your name read that night, or we'll announce it at the next show. (Don't worry, if you donated $30+ previously, we'll be reading these all out loud at the show on May 16th!) 

        • Donate $75 - DECK OF MANY THINGS: Knights Trading Cards - Receive some awesome digital trading cards of all the Knights, designed by Scott Nicklos. Featuring beautiful drawings of each of the Knights and their character stats, these collectible cards can be printed at home to add to your collection of trading cards, whether that’s Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Hearthstone, or Yu-Gi-Oh. We'll also read your name in the thank you list during the show! Cards will be emailed to donors at the end of June.

        • Donate $150 - SUGGESTION: Name a Featured NPC - Name a Featured Non-Player Character in the show and get a shout out in the show! Your Featured NPC will be played by Fred Betzner, and you will work together with Fred to create this character. You could even create the main villain of the episode! This donation must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the show to redeem, so if you give during the show, we'll schedule your character for a future online show! Scheduling subject to the mutual convenience of donor and cast.

        • Donate $200 - BARDIC INSPIRATION: Stone Cold Drive By - Stone Cold will drive by your house (or your friend's house) and yell a message. Only 6 available, must be 10 miles within downtown Pittsburgh and on a mutually agreed upon date and message. You'll also get a name shoutout during the show!

        • Donate $350 - WILD SHAPE: Custom D&D Character Sketch - Jimmy the Wormslayer (Mike Rubino) will sketch your Dungeons & Dragons character for you to use on your own D&D character sheet! Only 10 D&D character drawings available. (One color, line drawing, based on D&D character sheet and short description. No revisions. Artist has the right to decline inappropriate requests. 

        • Donate $500 - YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS: Be Our Guest - Get slain by the Knights on our virtual stage! You'll be a special guest on a Knights of the Arcade: Online Adventure show. You'll appear in the livestreamed show to deliver a key piece of information before being dramatically killed off by one (or several) of the main cast of Knights of the Arcade. You'll also join us in our virtual green room hangout 10 minutes prior to the show. This donation must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the show to redeem, so if you give during the show, we'll schedule you for a future online show! Scheduling subject to the mutual convenience of donor and cast. Stage time is limited to approximately 5 minutes.

        Prizes are applicable to donations made May 16th through June 30th, 2020. Prizes are not stackable, other than the name shout out on the show for donations $30 and above. If you donate at a higher level and prefer a lower level prize, you may request to swap. Please direct questions and prize set-up specifications to Arcade's Director of Development Beth ([email protected]). 


        8.22.20 UPDATE: Knights and Dorks: Online Multiversal Comedy Adventure

        August 22, 2020



        Thank you so much, everyone! 11 shows, 1,322 viewers, and $8,060 later and we're headed into a 2-night multiverse of epic proportions! We'll catch you tonight for Part 1 of Knights and Dorks: Online Multiversal Comedy Adventure with New England comedy group Dorks in Dungeons.

        There has been a disturbance in the multiverse – and all of the Burgh will feel it on August 22. Another live action improv troupe centered around many geek fandoms has entered our plane of existence. New England based Dorks in Dungeons will be joining the Knights for a show unlike any other. Using their long form improv comedy skills, Dorks in Dungeons will traverse an entirely new quest with the Knights built from audience suggestions. With video projected dice and YOU cheering along every Critical Hit, it is a show guaranteed to go – well, wherever the hell your demented minds dream up!

        Quest with us tonight for an adventure filled with warriors, monks, magic wands, giant sloths, and the ever fickle d20 - Knights meet Dorks. Dorks meet Knights. Things get ripped wide open... mostly the multiverse, but also probably our pants. Quest on! Thank you for joining us and for your kind support! 

        Need more adventure? Check out recordings of previous shows on the Knights of the Arcade Twitch channel.

        We're updating our goal (again!) to $9,000. As always, this show is helping support Arcade Comedy Theater, our non-profit comedy home. They're currently closed for indoor operations at their 943 Liberty Ave theater and are working hard to provide outdoor and online shows and classes at a reduced capacity, so any help big or small you can send their way is much appreciated so they can keep bringing Pittsburgh more laughs. Want your name read on the show? Donate $30 or more and we'll read your ridiculous display names for all the online multiverse to hear. Thank you for your overwhelming support over the last 5 months. Please continue to share and donate, and we'll see you online again soon!

        6.13.2020 UPDATE: Pride Month Shows, Arcade's Diversity Scholarship, and New Total Goals for June!

        June 13, 2020


        Join us for TWO special Knights of the Arcade Online quests celebrating Pride month on June 13th (that's tonight!) and June 27th! In addition to the LGBTQIA+ members of our group, we'll also be welcoming a couple special guests from the queer community. We hope you'll join us to celebrate love as a community of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies! Pour your mead, sign onto your scrying device, and gather ‘round for our virtual quests on https://www.twitch.tv/knightsofthearcade/. 

        June has always been an important month for Arcade Comedy Theater, showcasing great comedy by queer artists throughout Pride Month. But Pride cannot be celebrated if it is not intersectional. This year, 50% of all donations made to Arcade in June will be earmarked for the Diversity Scholarship fund, launched in December 2019 to fully-fund Arcade Academy educations for underrepresented voices in comedy, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Arcade awarded the first 4 of these scholarships in January, and wehope you will donate generously this month to support this critical initiative.

        Our donation level prizes are still in effect for donations made May 16th through June 30th, 2020, and our Total Goal deadlines have been updated for the month of June to reflect our last show's focus on fundraising for Black Visions Collective. Check out all the cool prizes below!

        New Total Goals for June:

              • If we reach $7000 by the end of the show on June 20th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on June 20th
              • But if we reach $7500 by the end of the show on June 20th: the Knights will play Jackbox Games on Twitch the following week and you can join the audience to vote! 
              • If we reach $8000 by the end of the show on June 27th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on June 27th
              • But if we reach $8500 by the end of the show on June 27th:  the Knights will hire a goat to make a guest appearance for an online July show

              The Individual Prizes for Donors are still in effect, as listed in the 5.16.2020 update! Get your BARDIC INSPIRATION from Stone Cold or your WILD SHAPE from Jimmy the Wormslayer while supplies last.

              5.16.2020 Knights Support Arcade Update: NEW DONATION LEVEL PRIZES

              May 16, 2020


              Thank you to everyone that’s donated so far--we’re so thrilled to have raised $5,370 for Arcade Comedy Theater since our first Online Adventure show back in March. We are ready for another quest tonight, and we are so excited to present some new donation levels for the Knights Support Arcade fundraiser. There are goals for the overall total and individual prizes for donors of certain levels. Check them out below!

              New Total Goals:

              • If we hit $6000 in total donations by the end of the show on May 16th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on May 16th

              • But if we hit $6500 by the end of the show on May 16th: the Knights will read fanfic written by Jesse LE (Bardley) during the post-show segment on May 16th 

              • If we reach $7000 by the end of the show on May 30th: the Knights will read a random fanfic during the post-show segment on May 30th

              • But if we reach $7500 by the end of the show on May 30th: the Knights will play Jackbox Games on Twitch the following week and you can join the audience to vote! 

              Individual Prizes for Donors:

              • Donate $30 - ELDRITCH INVOCATION: On Air Thank You - We'll read your name in thank you list during the show! Donate this level up to an hour before the show to have your name read that night, or we'll announce it at the next show. (Don't worry, if you donated $30+ previously, we'll be reading these all out loud at the show on May 16th!) 

              • Donate $75 - DECK OF MANY THINGS: Knights Trading Cards - Receive some awesome digital trading cards of all the Knights, designed by Scott Nicklos. Featuring beautiful drawings of each of the Knights and their character stats, these collectible cards can be printed at home to add to your collection of trading cards, whether that’s Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Hearthstone, or Yu-Gi-Oh. We'll also read your name in the thank you list during the show! Cards will be emailed to donors at the end of June.

              • Donate $150 - SUGGESTION: Name a Featured NPC - Name a Featured Non-Player Character in the show and get a shout out in the show! Your Featured NPC will be played by Fred Betzner, and you will work together with Fred to create this character. You could even create the main villain of the episode! This donation must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the show to redeem, so if you give during the show, we'll schedule your character for a future online show! Scheduling subject to the mutual convenience of donor and cast.

              • Donate $200 - BARDIC INSPIRATION: Stone Cold Drive By - Stone Cold will drive by your house (or your friend's house) and yell a message. Only 6 available, must be 10 miles within downtown Pittsburgh and on a mutually agreed upon date and message. You'll also get a name shoutout during the show!

              • Donate $350 - WILD SHAPE: Custom D&D Character Sketch - Jimmy the Wormslayer (Mike Rubino) will sketch your Dungeons & Dragons character for you to use on your own D&D character sheet! Only 10 D&D character drawings available. (One color, line drawing, based on D&D character sheet and short description. No revisions. Artist has the right to decline inappropriate requests. 

              • Donate $500 - YOUR ADVENTURE BEGINS: Be Our Guest - Get slain by the Knights on our virtual stage! You'll be a special guest on a Knights of the Arcade: Online Adventure show. You'll appear in the livestreamed show to deliver a key piece of information before being dramatically killed off by one (or several) of the main cast of Knights of the Arcade. You'll also join us in our virtual green room hangout 10 minutes prior to the show. This donation must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the show to redeem, so if you give during the show, we'll schedule you for a future online show! Scheduling subject to the mutual convenience of donor and cast. Stage time is limited to approximately 5 minutes.

              Prizes are applicable to donations made May 16th through June 30th, 2020. Prizes are not stackable, other than the name shout out on the show for donations $30 and above. If you donate at a higher level and prefer a lower level prize, you may request to swap. Please direct questions and prize set-up specifications to Arcade's Director of Development Beth ([email protected]). 


              4.22.2020 Knights Support Arcade Update

              April 22, 2020

                

              Thank you for tuning in to our Knights of the Arcade: Online Adventure last Saturday and the special Bardley's Piano Bar event on Thursday! And thank you so much for donating and sharing the Knights Support Arcade fundraiser. Last week's shows raised an additional $1,073 for Arcade Comedy Theater. At $4,275 total donations, we are so close to our $5,000 goal! 

              Recordings of the shows are available at the links below:

              Comedian and Amazon Prime comedy special star Aaron Kleiber and 233 Twitch viewers joined us as guests on our most recent online adventures. And speaking of guests, former guest of our live show, actor and producer Zack Ward, best known for his roles as bully Scut Farkus in the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” and Dave on the FOX show “Titus,” will be joining us for some more online D&D comedy on Saturday, May 2, at 9 PM EDT! We look forward to seeing you all on our next online adventure. 


              If you're interested in even more online comedy happenings, check out Arcade's Upcoming Shows page for other upcoming online shows. 

              4.8.2020 Knights Support Arcade Update

              April 8, 2020

              Thank you so much, everyone! 192 viewers tuned in on Saturday to the adventures of Stone Cold, Fisticuffs McGillicuddy, and the rest of the merry band for our second online show, Knights of the Arcade: Online Adventure. These generous viewers gave another $1,478 to Arcade through this fundraising page, bringing the grand total to an impressive $3,202. Thank you for joining us and for your kind support! 

              Ready for more adventure? Check out a recording of the show from last weekend online, and get ready for a third Knights of the Arcade: Online Adventure on Saturday, April 18th at 9pm. 

              We're updating our goal (again!) to $5,000 and keeping this page open for our next Twitch show on April 18th. Please continue to share and donate, and we'll see you online again soon!

              3.25.2020 Knights Support Arcade Update

              March 25, 2020


              Thank you viewers, donors, sharers, and commenters! We are so grateful to everyone who tuned in for the first Knights of the Arcade: Online Adventure and showed their overwhelming support to Arcade Comedy Theater during the COVID-19 shutdown. Over 200 viewers joined us on Twitch.tv last Saturday night and raised an impressive $1,724 for Arcade.

              Want to keep questing with us? You can relive the night by catching our recording of the show online AND there's another Knights of the Arcade: Online Adventure show scheduled for Saturday, April 4th at 9pm! You can also find our most recent podcast online by searching "Knights of the Arcade" wherever you get your podcasts. 

              We're updating our original goal of $1,000--which you slayed just like Wormslayer slays worms--to $3,000 and keeping this fundraising page up and running for our next Twitch show on April 4th. Please continue to share and donate, and we look forward to seeing you online soon! 

              Share this Campaign!

              Powered by Bonterra