Learn to Tell Captivating Stories from an International Wonder!

Join internationally acclaimed comedian and storyteller Jon Bennett for a unique 4-hour workshop that will transform the way you craft and share your stories.  With over 15 years as a professional touring performer and more than 150 festivals under his belt, Jon brings a wealth of knowledge, insight, and hilarity to the art of storytelling. He is a regular performer with The Moth Mainstage across the U.S. and internationally, with his stories featured on NPR, major podcasts, and radio programs worldwide. His expertise has also been included in two New York Times Best Sellers: Occasional Magic and How to Tell a Story.

What You’ll Learn:

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned performer, this workshop is designed to help you level up your storytelling and leave with a story of your own — with the optional opportunity to present it live!

What to Bring: A laptop or pen and paper A story or idea you'd like to work on (if you have one)No experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity and willingness to dive in.

INSTRUCTOR: Jon Bennett
DAY / TIME: Sunday, 6/29 1:00 - 5:00 PM
CLASS SHOW: Sun 6/29 7:00 PM *subject to change
LOCATION: 1006 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
PREREQUISITE: none

ABOUT JOHN BENNET
Jon Bennett is a world-renowned comedic storyteller and 7 X JUST FOR LAUGHS AWARD nominee.
Jon’s comedy career began in his homeland, Australia, and after 20 years in the business, he is now known as one of the most exciting and prolific storyteller-comedians touring the world.

With a total of 9 one-hour-long individual comedy shows (Pretending Things are a Cock, Fire in the Meth Lab, My Dad's Deaths, How I Learned to Hug, IT'S RABBIT NIGHT!!!, Playing With Men, Jon Bennett VS Jason Donovan, Jon Bennett: Jonbenet, Ameri-can’t) and appearing in over 135 festivals, Jon is constantly performing across the globe, making people laugh through exceptional comedic storytelling.
He has received countless 5-star reviews in reputable publications worldwide and won awards such as Funniest Show Award in the London Fringe, Critics' Choice Award for Best Solo Show at the Orlando Fringe, and a Golden Gibbo Award nomination at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

He has performed at a number of prestigious festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs, and multiple times for the illustrious Moth Main Stage Storytelling in the USA, as well as having his work published in print and
distributed worldwide, including being listed twice on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2019 for Occasional Magic and again in 2022 for How to Tell a Story.
Consistently noted as one of the hardest-working comedians around, Jon lives by the do every gig motto. He has performed at such prestigious venues such as; Paramount Theatre in Austin, The Palace Theatre in LA, Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide, The Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York and made his Off Broadway debut at Soho Theatre in 2020 (stages that he has shared with hugely famous bands and comedians to Presidents Lincoln and Obama). He has also entertained audiences in comedy clubs, on cruise ships, in jails, bars, swimming pools, rehab centres, parks, churches, schools, and nursing homes. After touring the world for the past 10 years, Jon now calls Portland, Oregon, home.

“Armed only with self-deprecating wit and memories, Bennett reminds us that ordinary people lead extraordinary lives. ★★★★★” – The Sunday Mail (AUS)
“Bennett is the patron saint of storytelling. ★★★★★” – Broadway Baby (UK)
"Stories as funny as they are heart-warmingly honest. You will laugh, but you will also tear up at the honesty he brings to the stage. ★★★★★" - National Post
“Hilarious. ★★★★★" – Edmonton Sun (CAN)
“ A tour de force who will make you laugh–to tears. ★★★★★” - Otakuno Culture
"Bennett is an elite comedian with a masterful delivery, sense of timing, and superlative writing skills. ★★★★★" – Theatre In London
“Bennett is a joy to watch. This is bold, honest, engaging and different to a lot of standard comedy on offer. ★★★★★” – Fringe Guru (UK)
“Energetic, engaging, heartfelt, hilarious. ★★★★★” - Winning at Failing (AUS)
“Incinerates your expectations of the solo confessional, this flammable Australian is in a league of his own. ★★★★1⁄2" – Edmonton Journal (CAN)
“Wonderfully funny with a hefty layer of emotion under the laughs.” - Los Angeles Times
“Bennett is scorchingly funny.” - New York Daily News

7 X JUST FOR LAUGHS AWARD nominee (Montreal Fringe, 2011/12/13/14/15/16/17)
12 X SELECTION - THE MOTH MAIN STAGE (NYC/London/Boston/LA/Austin)
SELECTED OFF BROADWAY SOHO THEATRE (New York, 2019)
2 X SELECTED NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST (The Moth Occasional Magic, 2019 and How to Tell a Story, 2022)
BEST STORYTELLING AWARD WINNER (Sydney Fringe, 2023)
NATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR WINNER (St. Louis Fringe, 2022)
5 X BEST COMEDY AWARD nominee (Perth Fringe, 2012/13/14/15/18)
2 X BEST COMEDY AWARD nominee (Sydney Fringe, 2023)
2 X SELECTION JUST FOR LAUGHS ZOOFEST (Montreal, 2013/2014)
OUTSTANDING STORYTELLING AWARD WINNER (London Fringe, 2018)
2 X THE MOTH STORY SLAM WINNER (New York, 2014/LA, 2019)
FUNNIEST SHOW AWARD WINNER (London Fringe, 2015)
INSPIRATION AWARD WINNER (Minnesota Fringe, 2022)
(These are just a few)

ALL SALES ARE FINAL, AND NO REFUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR CLASSES   

The policies below are essential to Kickstand's mission. Everyone must agree to uphold them while being part of the Kickstand community.  Please be familiar with our policies before beginning classes at Kickstand.  You can find these policies listed on our website. We have also linked  to them below.

Thanks again for your interest in classes at Kickstand! We cannot wait to meet you!