Ken Kruper
Ken Kruper, a recent graduate of the St. John's School of Education class of 2012, is no stranger to the arts. Whether he's at work as the Executive Director of BIG Theatre Company or writing book, music, and lyrics, for student created musicals such as GRIMM: A New Musical, Ken is never to far from the stage. Returning to St. John's to musically direct the Cabaret for Charity for the second year in a row, Ken has taken the time to give us a little glimpse into his life and everything that's happened to him once he left The Little Theatre.
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Who are you and what significant contributions have you made to the organization?
I'm a graduate of St. John’s School of Education 2012. I am a composer/lyricist who’s worked in contemporary music, theater, and film. I am also Executive Director of BIG Theatre Company, which is run entirely by St. John’s Alum, including Olivia Hartle and Sarah Goncalves. At St. John’s I performed in several shows, including the 2007 production of Seussical: The Musical and “The First Ever Cabaret” and also choreographed for the APO Dance Concert. My proudest contribution to the Chappell Players was in 2009 when I co-created GRIMM: A New Musical with Jon Randhawa, which I wrote book, music and lyrics for. It was the first musical ever produced by Chappell Players to be fully written by a student and they put a lot of faith in us to pull the whole thing together. Since, GRIMM has played sold-out venues at the NYC International Fringe Festival in 2012. After graduating, I returned last year (and am returning this year) as Musical Director of the Cabaret for Charity shows. |
Ken creating music at home
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How was the transition from college to the real world? How was life after graduation?
My time at St. John’s was such a formative experience both socially and artistically that I found myself very prepared for life post-college. (cont. in question 3)
Did being involved in the Chappell Players prepare you for life after college? How so?
The Chappell Players were such a large part of preparing me for everything that would come after. Being involved in St. John’s theater gave me the encouragement to take on new roles and the opportunities to try out ideas that were completely out of the box. When I wanted to choreograph a dance, they allowed me to create a completely acapella tap piece in 7/8 time with a group of 8 tap dancers. When I wanted to write a show, I was given the freedom to write a completely new musical with generally no restrictions. Some of these experiments were complete failures and some of them were great successes, but to me they were all worth the experience because they allowed me to indulge in old interests, discover new ones, and find my artistic voice in the process. Whether it’s within the college environment or beyond, life is all about taking risks and putting yourself out there and being involved with the Chappell Players definitely taught me that valuable lesson.
My time at St. John’s was such a formative experience both socially and artistically that I found myself very prepared for life post-college. (cont. in question 3)
Did being involved in the Chappell Players prepare you for life after college? How so?
The Chappell Players were such a large part of preparing me for everything that would come after. Being involved in St. John’s theater gave me the encouragement to take on new roles and the opportunities to try out ideas that were completely out of the box. When I wanted to choreograph a dance, they allowed me to create a completely acapella tap piece in 7/8 time with a group of 8 tap dancers. When I wanted to write a show, I was given the freedom to write a completely new musical with generally no restrictions. Some of these experiments were complete failures and some of them were great successes, but to me they were all worth the experience because they allowed me to indulge in old interests, discover new ones, and find my artistic voice in the process. Whether it’s within the college environment or beyond, life is all about taking risks and putting yourself out there and being involved with the Chappell Players definitely taught me that valuable lesson.
"The moment the lights went down and the audience got quiet and i got to experience a show that i'd spent at least a month on....is one of my favorite moments in the Little theater"
What is your favorite CPTG memory or performance?
During my first year at St. John’s, I very slowly accepted but very quickly learned that my place in the theater was off-stage! Because of this, I was often in the house (either working the show or watching the show) for most of the performances watching something that I helped make. The moment the lights went down and the audience got quiet and I got to experience a show that I’d spent at least a month, if not several, on for the first time all over again with that audience is one of my favorite moments in the Little Theater. I loved hearing the reactions of the people watching the show and their comments after and getting a true sense how the show affected them.
During my first year at St. John’s, I very slowly accepted but very quickly learned that my place in the theater was off-stage! Because of this, I was often in the house (either working the show or watching the show) for most of the performances watching something that I helped make. The moment the lights went down and the audience got quiet and I got to experience a show that I’d spent at least a month, if not several, on for the first time all over again with that audience is one of my favorite moments in the Little Theater. I loved hearing the reactions of the people watching the show and their comments after and getting a true sense how the show affected them.
Kenny center in red sweater with other Seussical cast members
Have you been able to remain involved with theatre as much as you hoped/wanted?
No matter how hard I may try to run away from the sometimes crazy-making world of theater, I always come back to it and have been involved in creating theater probably even more than when I was a Chappell Player. In addition to being a director of BIG Theatre Company, I have worked on 2 shows in the NYC Fringe, opened a new musical in the Midtown International Theater Festival, composed material for NYMF and musically directed many productions during all this.
No matter how hard I may try to run away from the sometimes crazy-making world of theater, I always come back to it and have been involved in creating theater probably even more than when I was a Chappell Player. In addition to being a director of BIG Theatre Company, I have worked on 2 shows in the NYC Fringe, opened a new musical in the Midtown International Theater Festival, composed material for NYMF and musically directed many productions during all this.
On the set of Grimm at the NYC Fringe 2012 with CPTG alum Olivia Hartle
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What is professional theatre like compared to what you did with the Chappell Players? Working with the Chappell Players is just a microcosm of what the professional theater world is like. You will always be running against the clock. You will always wish for a larger budget and pool of resources. You’re musical director will invariably be furious that the cast still doesn’t know the lyrics two nights before opening night. The first tech rehearsal will be a nightmare, without fail. You will always work with people that you do not see eye to eye with and have to learn to compromise and adapt your original ideas. These ideas will always be better for having been a collaboration between you and the person you initially didn’t see eye to eye with. All of these characters and situations will reappear for as long as you are working in theater. But then again, isn’t that kind of why we all do it in the first place? |
Do you have any advice for Chappell Players going through college or those who have already graduated?
My advice to both current students and those who have graduated is to come back to St. John’s and get involved. Remember the alumni who returned while you were a student and what they added to those productions and become one of those people. I didn’t take advantage of this until last year when I worked on the Cabaret for Charity and it was a great experience that I can’t wait to have again on this upcoming cabaret.
My advice to both current students and those who have graduated is to come back to St. John’s and get involved. Remember the alumni who returned while you were a student and what they added to those productions and become one of those people. I didn’t take advantage of this until last year when I worked on the Cabaret for Charity and it was a great experience that I can’t wait to have again on this upcoming cabaret.
