Jonathan Kruk, Storyteller

Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley

2011-07-24T14:19:00.004-05:00

The ghastly heat wave delivered a treasure, my book. Other authors warned the feeling, the sight of your own work in hand, published (by The History Press) would overwhelm. Indeed! I saw images of the old decapitated Hessian, trying to again escape with his secrets while hurling into your head his ghostly presence. Now, I felt my book caught up with him, to reveal his origins in German lore, Dutch-American custom, and a revolutionary war General's journal.
The work collects many tales from the region, including the back stories of the ghosts noted but neglected by Irving, in his classic. There's the "tragical" tale of Major John Andre, Benedict Arnold's co-conspirator. I unearth several layers of spirits while uncovering the "White Lady of Raven Rock." Plus, what haunted the region in the first place dates back to the First Nation peoples here and of course Henry Hudson.
The book has scholarship, but the publisher had me streamline the writing by folding all my footnotes into the text, letting my strength, storytelling deliver the origins of the Headless Horseman. I wrote the book for precocious children keen on the galloping goblin of Sleepy Hollow, ghost hunters, local historians, and people just curious about the region's heritage. No other book collects horseman sources, Sleepy Hollow spirits, and the lore of the lower Hudson Valley together with scholarship and storytelling. Now, to cool off in a lake in the Hudson Highlands for autumn soon will haunt us!

Pete Seeger

2011-05-08T08:07:00.004-05:00

Last night, something new and old brought inspiration - a rare ingredient during harried days! Spring abounding moved me to crave peanut butter and chocolate. I indulged. Later, I worried, I'd treated myself before earning it as promised, by preparing something for the "No Fracking Way" concert in Beacon NY that evening. At the event, good old Pete Seeger showed me the way. I realized, seeing him calming sitting and occasionally singing along there, at age ninety-two, he was conserving his energy to help conserve our land along the Hudson River. I could do the same, just by turning the practice of hydro-fracturing for natural gas (fracking) into a fable.
I made up on the spot, a fable of "Elephants and Peanuts."
These pachyderms crave more from their pond than sun, wind in the banana trees, and the berry bushes. They decide to force deep hidden peanuts out of the underground. Scooping up berries with their trunks, mixing them with water from their pond, they stick snpouts in the ground to force up those precious peanuts, as butter. A big government monkey questioning their practice. They bribe him off with a bunch of bananas.
The elephants blast the berry mix into the ground. Up comes peanutbutter! They decide to go "Elvis" by frying bananas with their new found peanut butter. They go to light the mix, and Whoosh! their pond goes up in flames!
They elephant learn, watch out for your waters when fracking for peanuts!

HUDSON RIVER RAMBLERS

2010-02-03T23:19:00.005-05:00

An arm of the sea, a drowned river, a fjord, are all ways scientists describe this river. The Native peoples, as your students will learn, called it “the river that flows both ways.” It is America’s first river.
The Hudson River Ramblers will sing and tell stories right from the people who farmed, fished and fought along the Hudson. Taking inspiration from Pete Seeger and Washington Irving, Rich & Jonathan use primary sources, audience participation to engage all with the river’s traditions. They’ll perform interactive folk songs and local lore.

We've performed for the river's 400th, the 350th anniversary of the Bartow-Pell Manor, the 225th anniversary of the American Revolution, the 200th anniversary of the Hamilton-Burr Duel, and many more for the last 2o years.

Venues have included; The New-York Historical Society, Washington's Headquarters, The Governors Island Grand Opening, School for the Deaf in Rome, NY, Mamaroneck Harbor Fest, The New York State Museum, Nassau BOCES Educators Conference, River Day Van Cortlandt Manor, Teaching the Hudson River Conference, and countless schools, festivals and one 19th century circus.

We'll sing and tell...
+Why the Hudson flows both ways
+ Who put the Yankee in "Yankee Doodle"
+ Where Imps sink ships on the river
+ What pirates once marauded the region
+ Why the Hudson River was the "Key" to American liberty.
+ Who were Sybil Ludington, "Toots" Fulton, Rueben Ranzo and more.

And why you'll like listening to and singing along with us.

www.hudsonriverramblers.com

Homeschooling on Hudson: A Great Storyteller!

2009-02-14T14:03:00.000-05:00

Homeschooling on Hudson: A Great Storyteller!

BEST OF Storyteller, Jonathan Kruk

2008-08-27T13:48:00.003-05:00

Once upon time I tried to blog. I left booking info and a brief bio. But did you read it? eeerrr? Were you moved? Wellll! Alas!
Now, again you arrived here news and entertainment! I am honored, humbled, I am yours happily ever after! Thanks. Understand, I hold off on blogging as a leaping loquacious luddite. Plus, I cringe each time I think of the concept of "blog". The word has a billowy slug-like mouth feel. If the Ruling Nerds consulted me, we'd be Soulocasting! 'Drat and Dread!" Goes my mind! Instead when my Blog enters. People want info injections, invectives, or worse, or else they won't bother to read your blog. All this deters me and I apologize. Now, I will overcome, and give you some storied news...

Best Storyteller of the Hudson Valley! That's what Hudson Valley Magazine, a venerable publication and known influence in my beloved locale is announcing at their bash October 16th! I am thrilled, honored and tickled. Granted few compete with me here as full time tale tellers. Yet, following years of drawing tales out of these majestic places from Donderbergs Imps to the chain once upon a time crossing the river, I feel worthy f this accolade! Further, I've traversed the road ways to schools libraries historic sites festivals and even a performance high above the river on the Poughkeepsie rail bridge. Plus, I've shaped my career to become The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Storyteller. This is a real honor I will drink in like a draught from Henry Hudson's "Little Men's" tankard! I'll not sleep like Rip, rather rise up to better reach people with the peculiar moving history and mystery of the Hudson Valley.

There's more storied news to come. Barkface and Rootnose will soon be on the loose at my gigs. Historic Hudson Valley and their favorite storyteller will soon release a dramatic reading of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. There's my fantasy to do a one man play as Robert Fulton for the big 400th Anniversary Celebration of Hudson-Fulton-Champlian next year. Plus, I have funny moments to share from my revised and revived Medieval Manors and Manners progrmas with sixth graders. Still, you won't read too much in one post. Forgive me for rattling on here and let's rest to ready for a future post! Thank you for coming this far. Please send me an e mail so I know you've got through this happily ever after! I'll send you a prize!
Jonathan