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The Pillowman
Given a golden opportunity to stretch his all creative muscles, John was immensely grateful to sink his teeth so deep into the lead role of one of his all-time favorite plays: Martin McDonagh’s dark, twisted, and unnervingly hilarious “The Pillowman.” Produced by LTV Studios in conjunction with The Playwright’s Theater of East Hampton, directed by Stephen Hamilton.
“John Kroft does some serious heavy lifting with his amazing talent. Playing the role of “Katurian,” he pilots huge scenes of intense descriptive dialogue with choirboy charm that towers on stage. Mr. Kroft is the real thing; he has all the qualities of a budding star with a very bright future.”
Maestro
After casting, re-casting, cuts and rewrites, John was over-the-moon excited to get to spend a day on set in a supporting role acting opposite one of his all-time heroes, Bradley Cooper, in this unique and masterful film.
Love All
After a year of fruitful workshops, John followed Anna Deavere Smith’s brave new Billie Jean King bio-play to La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego to play Larry King; husband, friend, promoter and advocate to the timeless, feminist tennis legend.
The Weak and the Strong
Getting more experimental, John returned to the NYC stage at La Mama in December 2022 to play ‘Tullis’: a heartbreaking, depressive, rodeo clown fatalistically following in the stumbled, spiritual footsteps of his rough-riding alcoholic father-figure. Loosely based on St. Paul’s Letters to the Romans, Erik Ehn shares with us a potently written, cowboy prose poem.
“John Kroft as Tullis, the teenage orphan taken in by Jasper and Karen, is a find. Charming and gentle, he is desperately trying to become a man in a world he can’t begin to understand. Still, he tries. Like many of us who have suddenly discovered that the culture we are living in is entirely different than we had thought, he still looks forward with hope, captivating the audience every time he appears, particularly in his scenes with Karen. We look forward to seeing more of Mr. Kroft down the road.”
The Tempest
John was overjoyed to be a part of The Guthrie’s first season back from lock-down (Jan 2022). Set in an abandoned theater, this spectacular celebration of Shakespeare’s ‘final’ work, directed by Joe Dowling, reminded us all—cast, crew and audience—of the true ‘Magick’ power in live theater.
The Andy Warhol Diaries
In August 2021, John Kroft had the unique opportunity to portray ‘Jon Gould’ in the reenactments filmed for this 6 part, Ryan Murphy-produced, NETFLIX Docu-Series about the titular, iconic and prolific ‘pop’ artist. Gould was Warhol’s last and arguably most significant lover. They touched each other’s lives in a way that was both beautiful and tragic.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
In July 2021, John saddled up with Kate Mueth and the ‘Neo-Political Cowgirls’ for a raucous, Shakespearean romp in East Hampton’s Herrick Park. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, follows 3 actors who hubristically set out on the task of performing all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in one 90 minute show. Needless to say, it does not go as planned. John played ‘Adam,’ a track in which he sought to play every Shakespearean heroine that 15 quick-changes would allow, as seen here as a buxom ‘Juliet.’
MASTER
Originally shot just before lockdown, to be re-shot a year later, John played a supporting role in this twisted and haunting AMAZON Original feature.
Dutch Masters
In September of 2020, John participated in one of the first Equity productions authorized post-lockdown: a SAG/AFTRA + AEA hybrid contract of the two-hander “Dutch Masters,” by Greg Keller. Filmed for online streaming at Northern Stage in Vermont.
“...A jangle of long limbs and pure nerves.... Kroft plays Steve as boyish and impulsive....A two-character play is a partnership, and Hazzard and Kroft maintain a stunning connection from start to finish.”
“As Steve, John Kroft presented hilariously as the wanting-to-be-hip White boy as he joined Eric’s play, and was quite touching as he faces reality.”
The Lifespan of a Fact
In November 2019, John went to Red Rock country to perform THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, directed by Wes Grantom at Pioneer Theater Company. Check out the local news story on the play.
“John Kroft as Fingal properly exuded naivety as well as anger when passionately defending his agenda. He also had a great comedic presence.”
“Kroft is the cast’s standout, conveying both the gung-ho demeanor of a high achiever and the self-satisfied certainty of someone who grew up with privilege, and his scenes with Cherry’s D’Agata crackle with the fundamentally opposed world-views of the two men.”
“Kroft is a talented actor who keeps Jim completely authentic, so much so I hope I never have to work with someone that detailed!”
Everything that rises must converge
In September 2019, John joined the sensational “Compagnia de Colombari” to play Julian in their touring production of EVERYTHING THAT RISES MUST CONVERGE. From a story by Flannery O'Connor, created for the stage by Karin Coonrod, this is a tragic-comic interracial seat-shifting dance by whites and blacks on a bus in America's deep South.
The Great Gatsby
In Fall of 2018, John went home to Sag Harbor where he got the opportunity to play on of his favorite literary protagonists: Nick Carraway in a theatrical adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY at Bay Street Theater as part of their fantastic ‘Literature Live’ series.
“...Nick, Daisy’s cousin portrayed charmingly by John Kroft...”
“Told in chapters, not acts, each is broken up by Nick Carraway’s thoughtful monologues, delivered expertly by John Kroft......Kroft’s captivating performance grips you from minute one to ninety-five.”
Dan Cody’s Yacht
Summer of 2018, John made is NYC debut at Manhattan Theater Club in ‘Dan Cody’s Yacht,’ a razor sharp play by Anthony Giardina about ambition, money, and how these ‘evils’ inform our primary education and the college admissions process in our country.
