Rumor’s offers ticket swap for Celebrations gift cards

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/09/2024 (446 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg comedy club aims to give local dinner theatre enthusiasts something to celebrate: free tickets.

Rumor’s Restaurant and Comedy Club is offering free access to select shows to former Celebrations Dinner Theatre customers who have not been reimbursed for purchased gift cards after that company shuttered last year.

“We thought, ‘These folks have paid good money, hard-earned money to have a night out,’” said Drew Mindell, a partner in Rumor’s.

He read a recent Free Press article spotlighting Celebrations customers who, a year after the dinner theatre’s closure, were still seeking answers about gift card repayment, and another article on Destination Dinner Stage opening soon but not accommodating Celebrations gift cards. (Celebrations was run by a different company.)

“We saw that these folks are missing out,” Mindell said Friday. “We believe that we have the best live entertainment in Winnipeg … this is just another way of reaching out to the Winnipeg community.”

A non-refunded Celebrations gift card can be swapped for four regular-priced show tickets to any Rumor’s show playing on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in October and November. It doesn’t matter how much money is on the Celebrations gift card, Mindell said.

Subscription packages that weren’t reimbursed can also be swapped, he later confirmed.

A typical Rumor’s ticket on a Tuesday through Thursday costs $14. The Celebrations deal doesn’t include Rumor’s concert series shows.

“Yes, there might be a bit of a short-term risk,” said Mindell. “But long-term, we feel that this is going to be a net benefit, getting more and more people through our doors, introducing them to standup comedy.”

Rumor’s has drawn some former Celebrations customers since the latter company closed. Still, anecdotally, it’s “not usually the same audience” shared between the two, Mindell explained.

People with Celebrations gift cards can call Rumor’s to reserve seats at 204-488-4520.

“That’s really nice of them,” said Hazel Clouston, a former Celebrations attendee. Her family didn’t receive a refund for a gift card used to reserve seats at a September 2023 show that was later cancelled, she said. Clouston said she plans on taking up Rumor’s on its offer.

Larry Skwarek, who says he wasn’t reimbursed for a Celebrations subscription package, called Rumor’s offering “a nice gesture.”

In October 2023, Celebrations parent company, Act Three Entertainment, said it had reimbursed all paid show tickets and was working on subscription packages. It made no mention of gift cards.

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca