As a storyteller, Kirk Henning has shared the world of stories with audiences at schools, libraries, bookstores, campouts, guest ranches, and festivals throughout California for the past 25 years. With his lively style, Kirk’s collection of personal stories, folktales, and songs catalyze the imaginations of young and old alike, and characters such as Jack, Brer Rabbit, Petit Jean, and the Phantom Duck rise up and enter the landscape of our minds.
Kirk began his storytelling career by telling stories to preschoolers during “Story Hour” at a local bookstore. Word got around about Kirk’s storytelling skills, and now Kirk is requested to perform at a great variety of events and functions.
Along with his many storytelling performances, Kirk and his family also produced “Stories ‘Round The Fire”, a popular summer storytelling series at Cayucos Beach on the central coast of California, which ended after 16 seasons. Approximately 100 to 150 people of all ages attended each summer performance, all of which included a campfire on the beach, stories and songs by Kirk and guest storytellers, and an old-fashioned marshmallow roast at the end of each performance.
Along with his family, Kirk also co-produced the “Pacific Storytelling Festival” at Montana de Oro State Park in Los Osos, California from 1995 to 2000. The festival included performances by nationally renowned storytellers in a beautiful coastal setting.
Kirk also produced SLOlio from 2011 to 2019. SLOlio events were held monthly at Linnaea’s Cafe in San Luis Obispo where anyone was invited to share a true story based on a theme.
Kirk has conducted storytelling workshops for elementary and middle school age children throughout the central coast of California, and has taught storytelling classes for adults and teachers at Cal Poly State University at San Luis Obispo.
Kirk has also been a theater director for high school and community theater productions. He was the Drama Coach at Coast Union High School in Cambria, California for nine years where he directed such productions as “Anything Goes”, “Oklahoma!”, “Crazy For You”, and “The Music Man”.
Originally from Thousand Oaks, California, Kirk now makes his home, on the central coast of California.
