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DISCOVER! | FEBRUARY 18, 2017
Arts | 7
KATE HARLOW | STAFF WRITER
Power of storytelling
Kevin Kling to perform and offer a workshop in Orange City
Stories have the power to offer
lessons. They have the power to
make you laugh to make your
cry, and Kevin Kling believes they also
have the power to heal.
“Kevin Kling is known for his storytelling.
He’s an actor/playwright/
storyteller, actually,” said Janine Calsbeek,
the executive director of Orange
City Arts. “So we really wanted him
to tell his poignant and profound
stories. He makes me laugh and cry…
maybe not at the same time, but almost.
He’s wise.”
Kling oftens offers up commentaries
on his own life on National Public
Radio’s “All Things Considered.”
Some of his autobiographical stories
have included hopping freight trains,
getting hit by lightning and skiing
with his brother.
He will be coming to speak in Orange
City on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30
p.m. at Trinity Reformed Church.
He’ll also be offering up a storytelling
workshop on Saturday, Feb. 25 at
10 a.m. at Old Factory Coffee Shop.
His workshop will be two hours long
and is entitled, “Chicken Soup for the
Chicken, The Healing Power of Story.”
“People have always used stories to
cope with this unpredictable world
and our challenging experiences often
make the most meaningful stories.
When dealing with loss, we need to
recognize each other as family and
learn to see the universal in our personal
experience,” Kling said. “In this
workshop, we will explore how to
develop our healing stories in ways
that are evocative, engaging and often
humorous. The workshop includes a
series of exercises to learn how to find
story ideas and how to craft a story.
Some participants will tell their own
stories at the end of the session.”
Kling grew up in Osseo, MN, was
born with a misshapen left arm and
then in 2001, he was nearly killed in
a motorcycle accident and completely
lost the use of his right arm.
Storyteller Jim Schaap of Alton is
the one who inspired Orange City
Arts to bring Kling to town.
“Kevin Kling is hilarious” said
Schaap, “But his storytelling rises
from unusual sources for a comedian
— a tough life and a whopper of a
soul.”
Calsbeek is also excited about being
able to bring Kling to the area.
“I’m excited to hear his stories — to
laugh and to be touched emotionally
on Friday night. I’m excited, and a
little nervous, to attend his Saturday
workshop: ‘Chicken Soup for
the Chicken, The Healing Power of
Story,’” Calbeek said. “I’m excited to
learn from this master about storytelling.
I’m excited to see the response of
community members. I’m excited for
all of that!” F
At a Glance:
WHAT: Kevin Kling performance
WHERE: Trinity Reformed Church,
Orange City, IA
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
COST: $15 adult and $10 student
in advance. At the door, tickets
are $18 and $12. Admission to the
Feb. 25 Kling workshop is $10 prior
to Feb. 21 and $20 after Feb. 21.
CONTACT: 712 707 4885
ONLINE: orangecityarts.net
More:
Kevin Kling describes his zodiac
sign as “Minnesota with Iowa
rising…” He grew up in Brooklyn
Park and Maple Grove, Minneapolis
suburbs, and graduated
from Gustavus Adolphus College
in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in theater. His storytelling
started when a friend from the
now defunct Brass Tacks Theatre
asked him to perform his stories.
Since then, he has been awarded
numerous arts grants and fellowships.
The National Endowment
for the Arts, The McKnight Foundation,
The Minnesota State Arts
Board, The Bush Foundation, The
Jerome Foundation and others
have recognized Kling’s artistry.
In 2014 Mayor RT Rybak named
Kevin “Minneapolis Story Laureate”.
Kevin was born with a congenital
birth defect — his left arm is
about three-quarters the size of
his right arm, and his left hand has
no wrist or thumb. In 2001 Kevin
was in a motorcycle accident and
suffered brachial plexus injury
(BPI). The brachial plexus nerves
in his right arm were pulled completely
out of their sockets. Currently,
he has partial use of his left
arm and cannot use his right arm
at all.
Orange City | Iowa