MPR Presents Back Home: A Kevin Kling & Mason Jennings Collaboration

Sep 20, 2012

Storyteller Kevin Kling and singer/songwriter Mason Jennings have joined forces to create Back Home, a one-of-a-kind show presented by Minnesota Public Radio about the ups and downs of Thanksgiving homecomings. Through a beautiful, funny, heartwarming - and sometimes surprising - collection of songs and stories, Minnesota artists Kling and Jennings create a show that portrays the notion of "coming home" -replete with all the love and anxiety that goes along with it.

Directed by Acclaim Award winner Jason Ballweber, this holiday production weaves together songs and stories that are sure to entertain family members ages 9 to 99. The program also will be recorded and broadcast on 89.3 The Current and on MPR News (91.1 in the Twin Cities and additional frequencies statewide) over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Back Home has been commissioned by MPR as part of Kevin Kling's three-year-original-works-residency. As part of the residency, Kling presents original works exclusively on the Fitzgerald Theater stage, conducts storytelling workshops and provides commentaries for Minnesota Public Radio.

TICKETS: Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 25 at noon to MPR members only for $33. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 28 at noon for $35. A family discount of $5 per ticket is available with purchase of 5 or more tickets. Obstructed view tickets are $29. Tickets can be purchased by calling the MPR box office at 651-290-1221 during business hours (noon - 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday).

WHERE: The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul

WHEN: Friday, November 23, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 24, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 25, 2:00 p.m.

About the Performers

Kevin Kling is a well-known playwright and storyteller. His plays and adaptations have been performed around the world. Kling's autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are.

Mason Jennings is an American singer-songwriter. He is well known for his simple yet catchy melodies, intimate lyrics, literary and historical themes, and distinctive voice. His latest album is titled Minnesota.

Director Jason Ballweber received a B.A. in Theater from the University of Minnesota. While there he started his work with Four Humors Theater and is now the Artistic Director. Jason recently directed Sideways Stories from Wayside School at Know Theatre in 2009 for which he won an Acclaim Award for Direction. Ballweber has also worked with companies such as Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Open Eye Figure Theatre, Three Sticks, Jon Ferguson Theatre, Live Action Set, The Bedlam Theatre and the Minnesota Orchestra.