Kling and friends to tell stories around the 'charred underbelly' of the Yule log

If you’re from Minnesota or have just lived here for a while, you know that there are a lot of tales to be told around this state. There’s Paul Bunyan and Babe, his Blue Ox. There’s the big fish that got away.

Coming soon to Saint John’s University is someone well known for telling these kinds of stories.

Kevin Kling is a native Minnesotan playwright and storyteller who has won acclaim for his appearances on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” program. He also performs in live shows across the country.

“Kevin Kling and Friends: Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log” is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater on the SJU campus as part of the Fine Arts Series at SJU and the College of Saint Benedict.

SJU alumnus Dan Chouinard ’84 and Simone Perrin will also be taking the stage with Kling, along with other surprise guests.

You can expect to hear Kling and friends tell holiday Minnesota and Midwest stories collected and presented in a fun and entertaining way. Think sitting around the fireplace with family and friends and soaking in happenings new and old.

Kling described his unique philosophy on performing in an interview with “Minnesota Original” on TPT.

“When you laugh at something together, all of a sudden we connect somehow,” Kling said. “People say, what’s the difference between a stand-up comedian and what you do? I say, a stand-up comedian closes the door with a joke, they’re aiming for the joke. But if you’re a storyteller, you’re opening a door with a joke. That’s how you get in, and now that you’re in, it seems a terrible waste to not dig around a little bit, you know, and get to something more important.”

Chouinard is well known in the Twin Cities radio and music scene as a performer and writer. He’s made appearances on A Prairie Home Companion and has also produced his own shows for Minnesota Public Radio and the Minnesota Historical Society over his three decades-long career.

Perrin is a noted singer, musician and actress who has performed at the Guthrie Theater and for TPT’s “Minnesota Original” show.

This show has something for everyone, as Kling’s sincere and spontaneous presentation style draws you into the stories.

As Mpls.St. Paul Magazine reports on Kling, “Each story was interwoven with about a dozen other stories, a million specific details, and the most endearing and familiar delivery. The stage was set for A Christmas Carol, and the holiday spirit was not lost on the audience. With the lights turned off, and a little encouragement from those on stage, the two-song sing-a-long was just another highlight in the impeccable line-up for the evening.”

“Although Kling’s Minnesota childhood makes his stories just that more relatable, it’s clear that his loyal following doesn’t come solely from shared roots. And even more impressive was the fact that none of the stories were memorized; they were told as you might share a memory with a loved one,” said Mpls.St. Paul Magazine.

Kling and Chouinard will be in residence in central Minnesota, making a stop at the St. Cloud Veterans Affairs System.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $23 for CSB/SJU faculty and staff. Youth and students (with ID) get in for $15, and CSB/SJU student tickets are $10.

For tickets, call the Benedicta Arts Center Box Office at 320-363-5777 or order online.

This performance is sponsored in part by D.J. Bitzan, Wolters Kluwer, and the SJU Student Scholarship Fund.