Kevin Kling is an American
storyteller and a commentator for
National Public Radio
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...
.
Life and career
Kling grew up in
Osseo, Minnesota
Osseo is a small city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 2,688.
It is said that "Osseo" derives from the Ojibwe name ''waaseyaa'' meaning "there is light" (more commonly translated as "So ...
, and graduated from
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minnesota. It was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans led by Eric Norelius and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Gustavus gets its nam ...
in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. He began his career in the
Twin Cities
Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in statu ...
during the 1990s with two plays that wrote: ''21A'' and ''Fear and Loving in Minneapolis''.
His one-man show ''Home and Away'' premiered at the
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Seattle Repertory Theatre (familiarly known as "The Rep") is a major regional theatre located in Seattle, Washington, at the Seattle Center. It is a member of Theatre Puget Sound[Second Stage Theatre
Second Stage Theater is a theater company founded in 1979 by Robyn Goodman and Carole Rothman and located in Manhattan, New York City. It produces both new plays and revivals of contemporary American plays by new playwrights and established wri ...]
(NYC) under the direction of
David Esbjornson
David Esbjornson is a director and producer who has worked throughout the United States in regional theatres and on Broadway, and has established strong and productive relationships with some of the profession's top playwrights, actors, and compan ...
, also a Gustavus Adolphus College alumnus.
Kling and Minneapolis-based accordionist and singer Simone Perrin have collaborated on two works, ''How? How? Why? Why?'' and ''Breakin' Hearts and Takin' Names''.
In 1993, Kling won the
Whiting Award for drama. In 2009, he won the A. P. Anderson Award for Outstanding Contributions to Literature and the Arts in Minnesota.
Kling has also made regular storytelling contributions to
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
’s ''
All Things Considered
''All Things Considered'' (''ATC'') is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio (NPR). It was the first news program on NPR, premiering on May 3, 1971. It is broadcast live on NPR affiliated stations in the United ...
''. He has released several CD collections, including a boxed set, ''Collected Stories''. His first published book of short stories was ''The Dog Says How'' followed by four more titles.
Kling has not been slowed in his work by a birth defect that shriveled his left arm and a motorcycle accident that completely paralyzed his right arm.
Plays
* ''21A''
* ''Fear and Loving in Minneapolis''
* ''Home and Away''
* ''Lloyd's Prayer''
* ''The Education of Walter Kauffman''
* ''The Seven Dwarfs''
* ''Hammer, Anvil and Stirrup''
* ''Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse''
Books
* ''The Dog Says How,'' Borealis Books, 2007
* ''Kevin Kling's Holiday Inn,'' Borealis Books, 2009
* ''Big Little Brother,'' Borealis Books, 2011
* ''Big Little Mother,'' Borealis Books, 2013
* ''On Stage with Kevin Kling,'' Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2013
Recordings
* 1994 ''Home and Away''
* 2001 ''Stories Off the Shallow End''
* 2003 ''Wonderlure''
* 2004 ''A Fool's Paradise''
* 2004 ''Collected Stories''
* 2007 ''Alive''
* 2012 ''State Fair''
* 2014 ''Come & Get It''
Awards
* 1986 Heideman Best Short Play Award for ''21A''
* 1993
Whiting Award
* 2009 A.P. Anderson Award
* 2010 Storytelling World Storytelling Collection, for "The Dog Says How"
* 2012 National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence Award
References
External links
Official website- All Things Considered
The Losses and the Laughter We Grow Into with Kevin Kling - On BeingPopmatters: Stories off the Shallow EndKevin Kling answers 9 questions, and, yes, Don Knotts would play him
- Interview with the Twin Cities Pioneer Press newspaper