Community Corner

Legendary Storyteller Performs Tonight

The secrets behind the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" book will be revealed by legendary storyteller Jonathan Kruk.

If you live in the Croton-Ossining area, then you surely know who Jonathan Kruk is. The prolific storyteller is known for his “” performance during Halloween, at the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow during the holidays and, of course, he’s the ringmaster at at Philipsburg Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

Now, Kruk has a new performance that you simply must head to after work today. In his “Legends of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow” performance, Kruk will unveil the secret sources and haunted history of Washington Irving’s 1820 story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

“Years of performing 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' lead to many questions about the ghost from my audiences and myself,” said Kruk. “What are the origins of this first and still most famous American ghost? The sources range from a Revolutionary War general’s journal at White Plains to old Dutch courting customs.”

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"Legends of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow” will be held at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Nature Center. The performance is part of Croton’s environmental sailing organization’s member meeting.

For those who don’t know, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is about a superstitious schoolmaster who’s competing for the hand of a wealthy farmer’s daughter. The story takes places in the 1790 glen of Sleepy Hollow. Kruk says that he loves giving context to the classic story, which was based on a German folktale.

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“I most enjoy mixing tale telling with story source sharing,” said Kruk. “I also love showing the power of the lasting wonder found in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” 

Kruk, who is known as the best storyteller in the Hudson Valley, doesn’t just partake in the spoken word. He is also the author of the book “Legends and Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley.” The Katonah native, who currently resides in Cold Spring, published the book in 2011.

Kruk’s performances create lifelong memories for audience members. And the published author says is eager to make some memories this evening.

”It surprises people to learn storytelling is not only a living, lively art, but an art where just one voice, most often without a microphone, can be wonderfully entertaining,” said Kruk. “People are amazed to learn I am a career professional storyteller. Finally, they will be thrilled to learn the secrets behind the galloping headless Hessian of Sleepy Hollow.”


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