Kirk's Biography
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 fifteen 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 is also the producer of “Stories ‘Round The Fire”, a popular summer storytelling series at Cayucos Beach on the central coast of California, now in its fourteenth season. Approximately 100 to 150 people of all ages attend each summer performance, all of which include 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. Over the past fourteen years of "Stories 'Round The Fire", thousands have come to see Kirk because it seems that no one can get enough of a good story that is well told.
Along with his wife Patty, 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 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 is also a theater director for high school and community theater productions. He has been the Drama Coach at Coast Union High School in Cambria, California for the past four years where he has directed such productions as "Anything Goes", "Oklahoma!", "Crazy For You", and "The Music Man".
Originally from Thousand Oaks, California, Kirk now makes his home, along with Patty and their two daughters, in Cayucos, California.