By Unsie Zuege

How frequently does someone like popular Twin Cities storyteller and author Kevin Kling appear in our own community for free? Maybe once in a blue moon.

But that’s exactly what the state’s The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment was intended to do, said Leanne Brown, director of development for the Library Foundation of Carver County. Bring the arts to communities outside the Twin Cities. The foundation collaborated with the Friends of the Chaska Library and the Friends of the Chanhassen Library to organize the event, then applied for and received Legacy funding.

In 2008, Minnesota voters approved the amendment, in which a percentage of funds from the state’s tax would be used to protect wildlife and the environment, and support parks and trails, and the state’s arts and culture.

Kling will appear at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the Chaska Community Center theater. Kling will tell stories, read from his new book, “Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn,” and sign books. Legacy funds enabled the county’s libraries to offer the tickets for free to the public. To date, all available tickets have been distributed, but names are being taken for a waiting list in case anyone with tickets cannot attend.

“The biggest thing, how often does a Kevin Kling comes to Chaska?” Brown said. “He’s done free events at the Central Library in Minneapolis,” Brown said. “But to be able to see him in your own backyard? That’s the point of the legacy money, to bring more events to your own community, to make the arts much more accessible.

“I got an e-mail from a woman who had lost her job,” Brown said. “She said that she’s had to cut back on things. ‘I could never go to something like this otherwise,’ the woman wrote, ‘without having to pay for a ticket or parking downtown.’”

A simple plan

In the beginning, Chaska librarian Brenda Youngdahl envisioned Kling speaking at the Chaska Library on a Saturday morning, as is typical with most library author appearances. According to Barbara Colhapp, president of the Friends of the Chaska Library, Youngdahl did a good job selling the idea to the Friends, who agreed to sponsor the event.

“Brenda came up with the idea, contacted and scheduled him,” said Colhapp. “It originated as a regular author reading (through the Friends) and it was exciting to get Kevin Kling before his new book was out.”

But as word got out, there was a sense the event could be much bigger.

Colhapp is also a board member of the Library Foundation, and when she described the Chaska Friends’ plan to host Kling, the news caused a stir.

“Kevin Kling isn’t a Saturday morning event,” the foundation board agreed, and then wondered if the Chaska Friends, even the Chanhassen Friends, would agree to a collaboration to make the event something bigger, something in the evening, something in a theater. Chaska Friends agreed, and the Chanhassen Friends came onboard, too.

Still, there was some reservations as to how many people the event might actually draw.

Kevin who?

Colhapp admitted that she’d never heard of Kevin Kling before he was brought up before the Chaska Friends.

“I didn’t know he existed,” Colhapp said, “…and then I read his book last summer. I brought it to the doctor’s office, and when my doctor saw it, she said, ‘Oh, I just paid $40 to hear him!’

“But it [attendance] was still a real concern for the group and for me and I voiced it. It was unbelievable that the Foundation, the Chanhassen Friends helped, that the community has rallied to this opportunity to see comedy and humor.

“I think it will be a memorable event, fast-paced night with him,” Colhapp said. “Storytelling is a lost art today. Families don’t sit around and tell stories anymore; they watch television.

“His humor makes me jealous,” Colhapp said. “You wish his family would be your family with the pranks, the humor, the way he sees life. Maybe the same events happened to us but he makes them memorable.”

Music

Doors to the Chaska Community Center Theater will open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is general admission with no assigned seating. A local music group will provide live music before the program. Kling’s performance and reading will be about 45 minutes followed by a short questions and answers session. Kling will sign books afterward.

“What is fun about his shows is that he both reads from his books and he does some storytelling,” Brown said. “He also talks about the differences between the written word and then also from the actor’s perspective. Not all authors are performers like Kevin. His background is theater and he’s spent a lot of time on stage, and he is also a storyteller.

Organizers recommend that audience members arrive early to find parking; the League of Women Voters of Eastern Carver County is hosting a mayoral candidates’ forum on the same evening at the Chaska Community Center. Brown advises looking for posted signs near the Community Center indicating overflow parking.

The community center’s theater seats 240.

“The response was stronger than we would have initially guessed,” Brown said. “Even the children’s programs don’t draw as many people.”

Though tickets were free, Brown pointed out that “this is still a ticketed event and there is no rush line. You either have a ticket or you don’t.”

Brown urges anyone with a ticket who is unable to attend that evening to contact her so the ticket may be given to a person on the waiting list. Contact Brown to turn in a ticket or sign up for a ticket by e-mailing her at lbrown@co.carver.mn.us or calling (952) 227-7604.

If you go

What: Reading and storytelling by Kevin Kling

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12

Where: Chaska Community Center Theater, 1660 Park Ridge Dr. (952) 448-5633.

Tickets: Sold out; to put name on waiting list or to return tickets, contact Leanne Brown at lbrown@co.carver.mn.us, or call (952) 227-7604.

Three questions for Kevin Kling

Kevin Kling grew up in Osseo and Maple Grove and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1979. He’s a nationally known playwright, storyteller, humorist and author. He is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio’s “This American Life” program. He has written many plays and written two books; the second, “Kevin Kling’s Holiday Inn,” was recently published and released. Learn more about Kevin Kling by going to www.kevinkling.com.

Kling responded to a few questions:

Q: Did you visit your public library or your school library much as a kid?

A: Love, love, love the library. Always did, still do. I fell in love with every librarian I ever knew. How can you not? Mrs. Keller was my third-grade teacher. Anything she liked had to be cool and she liked to read. She was right.

Q: What did you like to read as a kid; what or who do you read now?

A: As a kid, the Little Golden Books — “Little Engine That Could” kind of stuff. Jack London as a young adult. “White Fang” just sent me. I read a lot, everything from classics — I love Twain — I  also really think Louise Erdrich and Patricia Hampl, both Minnesotans, are incredible. I like to read literature that was a story told before read; for example, the “Odyssey,” or “Beowulf,” “Gilgamesh.” The author William Goyen writes “with a voice” and I find that exciting as well.

Q: Your humor is gentle and loving; it would be so easy to go the cynical, edgier route (in light of your disability and your motorcycle accident), but you don't. How much of an impact did church and religion have on your childhood and outlook on the world?

A: My faith plays a large role in my life.  Our church couldn't have been better; it confused and intrigued me. It was OK to ask questions in my church and to challenge my faith. Humor was accepted and encouraged. I always loved the quote “The roots of your faith should be able to withstand the winds of laughter.” We were given humor. Use it.