Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller - entertains, enchants, educates
Jonathan Kruk has a way with the spoken word, the telling gesture, the sprinkling of
humor, and the appropriate costume for a smorgasbord of stories. The New York Times
Interactive Storytelling for Schools, Libraries,
Historic Sites, Scouts, Camps, Seniors, and Festivals
M.A. Educational Theater -BOCES Artist Educator
Solo Shows -
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" &
"A Christmas Carol"
Featured on ...
The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning,
ABC Good Morning America,
BBC - Great American Railway Journeys,
National Geographic Channel,
Travel Channel Mysteries at The Museum"
A Second Grader Tells All About Jonatha
"A Christmas Carol"-A Live Solo Show
Click the images above for excerpts of Jonathan's
"A Christmas Carol "
Muppets to Bill Murray "A Christmas Carol" has been told in countless movies, plays, and musicals, but rarely by a storyteller. Jonathan Kruk, with thirty years of experience, is a master of the art. Transforming into Scrooge, Cratchet and two dozen characters he enchants with a dramatic retelling of Dickens' classic.
Go from Humbug to Hope. Come See!
DECEMBER 2021 SHOWS
“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”
@ The Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow
live music by Jim Keyes
DEC 11, 12, 18, & 19 @ 5 pm & 7pm
fifty seats per show! $40.
Click here for a quick look...
~ Dec. 3rd Holiday Festival "A Christmas Carol"
-- Bush Holley House - 47 Strickland Rd, Cos Cob, CT live music by Tom McCoy
Shows. 4:45 & 6 pm https://greenwichhistory.org/event/holiday-festival/
~ Dec 4th - SINTERKLAAS FESTVAL
“Santa-on-the-Hudson”
(the story of how a dour old bishop became a right jolly old Elf!)
Noon @ The Beekman Arms, Rhinebeck, NY https://sinterklaashudsonvalley.com/
~ Dec. 5th - “A Christmas Carol”
Hope Lodge, Moosup, CT 5pm https://www.thehopelodgevenue.com/
~ Dec. 10th “A Christmas Carol” Reformed Church of Claverack, Hudson NY music by Tom McCoy https://claverackreformedchurch.org/upcoming-events/ 7:30-8:30pm
~ Dec 11 & 18 “SANTA on the HUDSON” BOSCOBEL
11 am & 1pm
https://boscobel.org/events/storyteller-kruk-holiday/
~ Dec 12th “A Christmas Carol” Pied Piper Theater, Stormville, NY www.piedpipertheater.org
~ Dec. 17th “A Christmas Carol” 7-8pm Blauvelt Free Public Library https://www.facebook.com/BlauveltFreeLibrary.
Live Music by Tom McCoy
"We were very happily inundated with praise for your show! "
Christie Chumney, Librarian New Canaan Library.
"Everyone who attended absolutely loved your performance!"
Cynthia Gwiazda, Community Services Librarian
Hagaman Memorial Library
You and Jim outdid yourselves with the show. You captured the hearts and imaginations of all in attendance yesterday.
I believe the true spirit of Christmas was alive, well and overflowing and I thank you very much.
I felt pure joy when the kids shared in singing Silent Night with Jim. Please let him know.
Lisa Avigliano, St. Vincent Martyr School, Madison NJ
Charles Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol"
A Live Singular Performance,
by Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller
The New York Times describes Jonathan Kruk as having
"a way with the spoken word, the telling gesture, the sprinkling of humor, and the appropriate costume for a smorgasbord of stories."
Celebrating thirty years of experience, as a Master Storyteller, he is renowned for his performances of " A Christmas Carol."
Using a treasure trove of voices and gestures he creates two dozen characters, to inhabit Dickens' classic. The result is a singular show, intimate, and imaginative. Performing in Dickensian garb, the storyteller creates gripping vignettes with dynamic dialogue. "He's like Vincent Prive meets Robin Williams!" Kruk employs his legendary eloquence, and wit, quickly transforming into Scrooge, Cratchit, Marley, Tiny Tim, and all the spirits.
Jim Keyes opens the show with a rollicking sing-along. His original score blends traditional Christmas carols noted in the story with ambient motifs. Further, he delivers an amazing range of sound effects gleaned from a pipe organ, violin, harp, bells, and a rattling chain.
It is filled with quotes from Dickens’ original but alive with spontaneity. Look forward to experiencing hope and redemption for the holidays in this animated performance.
"And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Everyone!"
Contact Jonathan directly - 845.216.9087 or jonathankruk.com
VIRTUAL "A Christmas Carol" SHOWS
Ask for a professionally filmed broadcast made exclusively for your company, school library, or organization for your online platform viewable until January. $900
or
Ask for a high-quality film version of the show to post on your FB or Youtube site.
$290.
Creating a Storytelling Solo Show of
"A Christmas Carol" by Jonathan Kruk
How could I top a smash run of my solo show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?” Do another one! “A Christmas Carol!” My first reaction to this suggestion made by my accompanist Jim Keyes? Bah, Humbug!
Dickens’ December masterpiece, I explained, runs over twice as long as Irving’s October classic. Dare I reduce Scrooge, Cratchit, and Tiny Tim to cartoon caricatures? A fan then reminded me. “ A Christmas Carol” is the perfect tale of hope and redemption. I could transform this ghostly tale into a unique dramatic retelling. Thus, my solo show of “A Christmas Carol” began in 2011 at the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow.
Every year a run of twenty shows for Historic Hudson Valley sells out. Jim Keyes has accompanied me at many venues including; the Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway, NJ, Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, and at the Tompkins Corner Cultural Center, Putnam Valley, NY, The show has filled libraries in Glens Falls, NY, New Canaan and East Haven, CT. It enchants many school audiences too. This year, students in Birmingham Michigan will enjoy this unique performance.
The show runs one animated hour. Using a treasure trove of voices to create over thirty characters, this version of “A Christmas Carol” is immediate, intimate, and imaginative. Some have said I'm “an elegant Robin Williams.” This show brims with Dickens’ original quotes and is alive with spontaneity humor and pathos.
Children find all the character voices and movements especially compelling. The performance meets common core calls for listening skills, reacting to literature, and understanding. Please ask for a school guide.
Jim Keyes provides far more than background music. He blends traditional Christmas carols noted in the story with original ambient motifs. Further, he provides an amazing range of sound effects gleaned from a pipe organ, violin, harp, bells, and a rusty chain. Jim also sets the stage with a spirited sing-along.
