Our Mission: The Nantucket Comedy Festival is a non-profit organization that uses comedy to empower, engage, and inspire through its annual festival and the year-round Stand Up & Learn workshops.
Our Vision is a community connected by laughter.
Our History: The Nantucket Comedy Festival began in 2007 when professional stand-up comedian Kevin Flynn was devastated to learn that a rash of teen suicides had shaken the Nantucket community. Kevin knew there was healing power in laughter, so he set his heart on applying it to the tragedy-stricken island. He envisioned creating classes for kids using stand up comedy techniques to teach confidence and self esteem. Like any big project, it would require funding. Kevin gathered a group of his nationally-recognized stand-up comic friends and asked if they would be willing to donate their time and talent at a Festival that would support the kids’ comedy program. The comics generously obliged. The following summer, Kevin and co-founder Bonnie Block staged the first Nantucket Comedy Festival, bringing laughter to a community that was in need of its restorative impact. The event was a huge hit, and attendees asked for another Festival the following summer. Best of all, Festival proceeds went to launching the beginning of Stand Up & Learn workshops for island children.
