Kirk's career as a performer began in Chicago, Il in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath with Steppenwolf Theatre Co, alongside Gary Sinise, Kathryn Erbe, and Lois Smith.
More recently, some of his projects include the book for a new musical based on the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and The Transport Group's The Audience which was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2005.
Kirk also worked with Frank Wildhorn to mine the original historic texts which became the African American narratives in the Broadway production of The Civil War.
Ensemble Studio Theatre recently produced his one act play PARABLE which is based on the relationship singer Marvin Gaye had with his father.
Kirk joined the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in fall of 2017, where he continues to serve as director of graduate studies for the Theatre Department.