An introduction to the foundational principles of The Idiot Workshop—where performers learn to be present, physically alive, and deeply connected to the room without relying on standard improv rules, game formulas, or safe comedic bits. 

This one-day intensive uses the Idiot Workshop philosophy to focus on a core requirement of all clown work: listening to the audience. While improvisers often look to their partner and actors look to the script, the clown’s primary scene partner is the room. In this class, we break down the fourth wall to explore how live audience feedback directly shapes performance. You’ll practice shedding performance armor, reading the room's energy, and responding to what is actually happening rather than clinging to pre-planned ideas or trying to "be clever."

Through physical exploration, playful risk-taking, and live, transparent direction, you will learn to trust your instincts, leverage your limitations, and discover a freer, far more vulnerable state of funny.

INSTRUCTOR: John Gilkey and Kevin Krieger:

DAY / TIME:  Sat October 17th 10am-5pm (Lunch 1-2)

LOCATION:  1006 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 97214

PREREQUISITE:  Some clown experience - This is a great first clown class, but it is not a great class for first time performers.

ABOUT JOHN GILKEY
John Gilkey, he/him/his, has performed internationally for more than thirty-five years in circus, variety, comedy clubs, theater and television. Beginning in 1987, he spent four years as clown, acrobat and featured juggler with The Pickle Family Circus.  This troupe is widely recognized as a pioneer in the contemporary circus movement.

In 1996, John joined the popular French Canadian troupe, Cirque Du Soleil.  In his first production with Cirque, he created and played the lead character for the show entitled Quidam. His collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil continued to grow with the creation and performance of clown numbers for the shows Dralion, Varekai and Iris.  John also wrote for and appeared in the Cirque Du Soleil television program Solstrum.  With Cirque Du Soleil alone John has performed live for more than four million people.

In 2002 John was invited to Pixar Studios to consult on the physical comedy routines that were eventually included in the Oscar winning film Ratatouille.  John also consulted for Pixar on the character voices in the Pixar short film, La Luna.

Additionally John worked with acclaimed director Franco Dragone to create Le Reve, a water spectacle for the Wynn Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas. As “Comedy Concepteur,” John was in charge of casting a team of seven clowns and, with them, developing the comic material for the the show.  With a budget of over $135 million, this show stands as one of the most spectacular in the world.

John continues to create challenging and experimental theater in California, including shows like We Are Nudes which earned a Best of the Fringe award in the 2009 San Francisco Fringe Festival and Wet The Hippo which was nominated for Best Comedy in the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

John now spends most of his time leading The Idiot Workshop and various Wet The Hippo productions in Los Angeles.


ABOUT KEVIN GREGORY KRIEGER
Kevin Gregory Krieger “is a fixture of the LA clown scene (LA TIMES).” Combining clown, standup, sketch and improvisation, his live performances have taken him to stages across the region, including Pasadena’s Civic Center Auditorium where he was featured on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Under the tutelage and direction of John Gilkey (Cirque Du Soleil), Kevin performed in the critically-acclaimed improvisational clown ensemble The Murge, which LA Weekly dubbed, "Spontaneous theater of the absurd…LA’s craziest improv show.” Kevin would go on to train in the Idiot Workshop pedagogy and teach for the workshop for over a decade, cultivating his voice as a director and fostering the burgeoning clown community in Los Angeles. 

In 2022, Kevin opened Public Displays of Altadena with Claire Woolner, a tiny theater, which became an essential community space for artist development and good freaking times. It was a home for unknowns and haven for legends like Maria Bamford, Fred Armisen and John C. Reilly. Maria Bamford would go on to record her special “Local Act” at PDA. In 2023, Kevin directed Claire Woolner’s solo show "A Retrospection” which was called “captivating throughout” by The New York Times and went on to win Best of Hollywood Fringe. While everyone was writing solo shows, Kevin was improvising them. He has performed his award-winning, hour-long improvised solo show, Honest Work, over 100 times across North America, and has plans to do it until he is dead. 

In 2025, PDA burned in the LA fires. One day he will open a theater again. For now, he’s giving all he’s got to the place that showed him the way - The Idiot Workshop. 

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

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