Jonathan's Own Story
The Tale of Jonathan
Born in El Paso, Texas, but raised in Westchester County, Jonathan Kruk grew up on tall tales and daydreams. He began telling tales to calm his rambunctious kid brother at bedtime. Later, friends got him a gig entertaining at Abingdon Square Park in the middle of New York City. When kids abandoned the monkey bars, cyclone sprinkler and ice cream truck to listen to Jonathan, he found his career calling. Now, Jonathan considers it a blessing to give almost 300 performances and workshops each year.
Jonathan hosting the Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce's Summer Music Series
People go for Jonathan’s interactive children's fairy tales, lively Hudson River Lore, and curricular-based school programs. Using varied voices, creative dramatics, and language of the senses, his performances feature heroes on the Hudson, finger fables, rainbow dragons, and witches who knot their noses to stop them from running.
Recently, Jonathan was selected "Best Storyteller in the Hudson Valley" by Hudson Valley Magazine. The New York Times, noting his far ranging work described him as "Westchester’s intrepid storyteller". Kids love his CDs The Rainbow Dragon and Barkface & Rootnose. Plus, his Berger Platters/ Historic Hudson Valley produced recording of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (with musical effects by Matt Noble), earned a National Association of Parenting Publication Honors Award.