The Stage Beckons Jonah Kramer
Broadway actors come from all over the country, from typically American small towns and cities. A future one might be walking the halls of Huntington High School right now. Senior Jonah Kramer has his sights set on a musical theatre career. Is the Great White Way beckoning?
Mr. Kramer has participated in the high school drama club for the past four years, working closely with faculty advisor Michael Schwendemann. The teenager is president of the club after serving as secretary last year and is a dance captain for the club's musicals.
Next fall, Mr. Kramer intends to begin studies for a bachelor of fine arts in musical theatre. He is in the process of applying to the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, Boston Conservatory, University of the Arts, Emerson College, Syracuse University, New York University, Carnegie Mellon and the Hartt School of Music at University of Hartford.
"My top schools are the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and Boston Conservatory, because their students have a history of being very successful in musical theatre," Mr. Kramer said. "It is very competitive to get into college as a musical theatre major and the top programs will only accept two to fifteen percent of applicants. However, I have been preparing for my college auditions, which assess my singing, acting and dancing capabilities, since last year."
The senior has always challenged himself academically. "My favorite classes are always honors or AP classes because the students learn about interesting topics, in depth," Mr. Kramer said. "Although the classes can be stressful at times, I do not regret taking these courses at all, and I have been able to maintain a high honor roll or honor roll status throughout my years in high school."
Embraced High School
Mr. Kramer has embraced high school life in all its fullness. He's been actively involved in the student government and is currently serving as the Class of 2011's recording secretary. He's also the secretary and historian of Grandfriends and AWOD (A World of Difference) and a member of the English honor society.
The senior is the chamber choir's secretary and is a member of the mixed acapella group known as choral fixation. "Chamber choir and choral fixation are both audition only groups that perform high-level pieces," Mr. Kramer explained. "Ms. [Victoria] Mainville has helped me to grow tremendously as a musician and I look forward to her class everyday. Working with Ms. Mainville has been so enriching and so much fun and I thank her for bringing such beautiful music into my life."
Huntington High School's drama club and its productions have played a central role in Mr. Kramer's experience over the past four years. "Through drama club I have grown and I have seen so many talented people flourish under the care of the dysfunctional family that we have formed," he said. "Drama club has been the best part of my high school experience. After high school, I will always remember each production and the friends that I have made with the fondest memories."
Schwendemann a Mentor
With Mr. Schwendemann as his mentor, Mr. Kramer entered the Nassau Community College Twelfth Annual Arts & Sciences Fair and captured third place in the monologue competition. This year the senior is interning in a theatre arts class under the guidance of Mr. Schwendemann, who teaches high school English. "Mr. Schwendemann is a teacher, a mentor and a friend to me and I thank him for all that he has helped me accomplish," the teenager said.
The past two summers have been especially busy ones for Mr. Kramer. He attended a six-week pre-college program at Wesleyan University for creative youth, majoring in musical theatre and taking intensive classes in improvisation and ballroom and tap dance. "It was an experience of a lifetime to be surrounded by young people who all have the same interests and I would recommend it to everyone," he said.
He has also studied at the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts as a musical theatre major for three consecutive summers, performing with the audition-only Music Repertory Company.
OOMPAH Summer Arts
This past summer, Mr. Kramer was a teacher's assistant in the OOMPAH summer arts enrichment program, working with students in musical theatre, vocal technique and acapella. "It was a blast teaching younger students and working with my school peers and teachers," he said. "Seeing the children dazzle the audience in the performances at the end of the summer was the payoff for all the hard work.
Mr. Kramer has also spent time during the summer months taking acting lessons in the city, vocal coaching, and dance training in his free time to prepare for college auditions.
Outside of school hours, Mr. Kramer has participated in regional theatre productions. He's worked at BayWay Arts Center in East Islip, Cultural Arts Playhouse in Plainview, and Studio Theatre in Lindenhurst. "I have been in professional productions, teen productions, and children's theatre," he said. "All have been rewarding in their own way."
He's also a member of Huntington Cabaret, which raising money for charity through its performances. "Through Huntington Cabaret, I have performed in the Metropolitan Room in New York City and other venues," Mr. Kramer said. "Together we have raised enough money for Habitat for Humanity to build an entire house and we have raised money for Huntington Hopsice." He's also attended classes in tap dance and ballet at various studios around town.
Traced Back to Woodhull
How did the Class of 2011 member get started down his present path? Mr. Kramer traces it back to Woodhull Intermediate School. "In grades 4-6, children are very impressionable and I believe that the wonderful teachers at Woodhull helped to make me the person that I am today," he said. "I had three great teachers: Ms. [Dina] Zerbo, Ms. [Susan] Curtain, and Ms. [Diane] Grassi, all of whom urged me to pursue my interests and embrace the person that I am. I credit the Woodhull theatre arts club for really inspiring me to continue my dreams of having a career in theatre. Mr. Hiscocx and Ms. Parrett created an amazing program that motivated children to take part in the arts. All of the teachers at Woodhull left the greatest impression on me; to be myself - and I will always stay true to that."
Nearing End of Amazing Journey
As the days go by and the senior class nears graduation day, there is plenty of reflecting and reminiscing going on. Students are evaluating how they have used the last four years and which opportunities they seized.
"I entered high school as a shy kid with glasses and was almost a foot smaller," Mr. Kramer said. "I have made so many friends and watched them move onto success, but I never prepared myself for what it would be like to be a senior and to imagine being anywhere else except the high school. Other than the fact that I have senior privileges, it still hasn't hit me that I won't be coming here on the first day of school [next fall.] I have grown so much as a person and I have the students and the faculty of Huntington High School to thank for that. I know that wherever life takes me, that I will always remember the amazing journey that I have been on and the part that Huntington High School has played in it."