Resume / CV
Photo by: Rudolf Von Dommele
Photo by Alex Kruk
Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller, jonathankruk@gmail.com
11 Maple Lane, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Known for solo shows of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “A Christmas Carol,” Jonathan Kruk, an award-winning storyteller, engages children with interactive tales at schools, libraries, and summer camps.
Education/ Training
B.A. English - Holy Cross College / M.A. Educational Theater - New York University
Urban Ritual Theater - “Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors”
H.B. Studios with Bill Hickey
Select Storytelling Experiences
Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, NYC - Storyteller in Residence - 2012 to 2019
"The Misadventures of Ichabod Crane" - a short feature film by Historic Hudson Valley and Cruz-Dann Productions. 2020
Teaching Artist, Early Stages, Inc New York City, 2000-2013
Created, developed and conducted with teachers a fourth- grade social studies residency on New York Native, Colonial and Revolutionary designed to meet curricular goals and arts in education standards. Presented teacher workshops at conferences for in service training.
Full Time Professional Storyteller 1989 to Present
Enchants children into listening, learning and imagining. Developed over a half dozen
storytelling programs to help teachers meet curricular requirements, common core standards.
BOCES Teaching-Artist -
Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Albany, Catskills, Madison, Sullivan, Verona, NYC
Artist Educator, Westchester Arts Council — 1985 -1992
School and mental health center residences, “Imagination Celebration” Grant
Storyteller in Residence, Freeport Schools, Long Island — 1982-1992
Engaged six first and second grade classes weekly, with interactive fables and fairy tales from
around the world. Officials found improved listening skills and vocabulary.
Featured Performances
Solo Shows -The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, A Christmas Carol” Historic Hudson Valley 2010 Featured on: The TODAY Show 10/19, Museum Mysteries - The Travel Channel 5/2019
United Solo Artist Festival, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Theater Row, NYC, 11/2015
Al-Jazeera America Artist Spotlight Interview, NYC, October 2014
“CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood” NYC Sept 2012
Master Storyteller - Historic Hudson Valley, Sleepy Hollow, NY 1989 to Present
Troubadour - Huntington Renaissance Faire, Huntington Unitarian Church, L.I.1 987 -2004
EMCEE Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn L.I., NY 1998-2006
“Fairy-Teller” Guide - Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River, NY 1981 to present
Keynote Performances & Workshops
NYS PTA Conference Keynote Performance 11/3/2019
Greater Hudson Heritage Network Conference, Keynote Performance 10/28/16
SLMSSENY Conference Keynote Performance April 2015
New England Storytellers – “Sharing the Fire” Conference 2012
Archdiocese of New York Annual Teacher’s Conferences, Somers, NY, 2004, & 2005
National Native Plants Gathering, Altoona, PA 2003
New York State Reading Council Conference, workshops keynote Rye & Saratoga NY 2001, 2002 ,2007
Nassau BOCES “Making Connections” Conference Keynote show & workshop “On the Hudson” 1999
Greenburgh School District Superintendent’s Conferences 1998, 1999
Parents as Reading Partners Conference, Albany, NY 1996
Westchester Early Childhood Educator’s Councils 1990-96
Notable Performances
St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, A Christmas Carol 2015 - 18
Hamilton Theater, Rahway, NJ - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 2014
Mark Twain House, Hartford CT - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 2011
Quadricentennial of the Hudson River - celebratory shows with Rich Bala, NYC to Albany
Building the Dams in Story & Song, for kids from Queens & Catskills, A Watershed Corp. Grant, 2007 with Rich Bala
Pete Seeger’s Great Hudson River Revival Clearwater Festival 2004, 2009, 2018
Hamilton - Burr Duel - New-York Historical Society, with Rich Bala, 2003-5
200th Anniversary of the Statue of the Amiable Child, Riverside Park, NYC, 1996
Opened for Raffi, Yonkers Hudson River Festival, 1992
Earthday Celebrations Bear Mountain Bridge, NY, 1990, Battery Park NYC 2000
Sample of Performance Venues
Adirondack Museum, Arkell Museum, New York State Museum, Albany Institute, SUNY Potsdam, Litchfield Historical Society, Fort Crailo, Fort Stanwix, Stony Point Battlefield, Washington’s Headquarters, White Plains & Newburgh, New Windsor Cantonment, Knox’s Headquarters, Clermont State Historic Site, Morse Mansion, Mount Gulian, Scenic Hudson’s West Point Foundry Site, Teatown Reservation, Croton Point Park, Philipse Manor Hall, Yonkers, John Jay Homestead, Fraunces Tavern, Coe Hall, WCBS, WHUD, WAMC, WBlJ, History, & Travel Channel, Food Network, German TV 1, Cablevision, World Cup Nursery
Awards
2017 Best Satire “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” United Solo Theater Artists Festival NYC
2009,2011 - Three Parents Choice Awards for spoken word recordings
2008 - Selected “Best Storyteller in the Hudson Valley” Hudson Valley Magazine
2008 National Association for Parenting Publications Honors Award CD-
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
2001 CD Revolution on the River with Rich Bala "Best of the Valley" Hudson Valley Mag.
2000 Bronze Citizenship Medal, Sons of the American Revolution
1998 Citation from NYS Assembly for arts in education work at the Greenburgh Schools.
Many citations from scouting organizations
Publications & Films
2020 The Misadventures of Ichabod Crane" Historic Hudson Valley -Dann-Cruz, Prod.
2019 “Legends and Lore of the Hudson Highlands” The History Press, Charleston SC
2018 - Jonathan's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow solo show film, Fox & Crow, Prod.
2011 “Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley” The History Press,
2004 "Parables of Jesus" Silver Burnett Ginn Religious CD series
About Jonathan
Serves on the Board of the Desmond/Fish Library, Philipstown Democratic Committee, Eagle Scout Review Boards, Past President Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce,
Swims, Yoga, Hikes Bikes, Bricks