Derek Gregor News

New York City’s Institute for American Musical Theatre is moving forward with plans for its unique 2-year “Creators” program. Built and run by award winning lyricist-librettist Sam Carner (Island Song, Unlock’d), the new intensive and highly collaborative training will be guided by a faculty of New York theater professionals working at the highest levels of the business.

TRIPLE THREAT, Stacey Maltina??s first feature film as a director, is a beautifully crafted and finely acted ode to theatre and the dreams and realities that imbue it with energy and vitality. Scheduled for screening at BelAire Diner Drive-In (31-91 21st Street, Astoria, New York) on October 11th.

New York Citya??s Institute for American Musical Theatre a?oeCreatorsa?? program has announced a diverse array of online courses in musical theater writing for the 2020-21 season.

“PIECE OF ME,” an original song by Sam Carner and Derek Gregor (Off-Broadway’s Unlock’d, Island Song) from the new musical film Triple Threat, is now available to stream on Spotify or for digital download on iTunes.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) is inviting all songwriters to submit their original songs for consideration for one of MAC's two songwriting awards: the Dottie Berman Award and the John Wallowitch Award. Submitters do not need to be MAC members.

New York Theatre Barn will continue to host weekly free live streams of its New Works Series through June 10th, 2020. Upcoming installments of the series include the new musicals Mary and Max, Second Line, Newton's Cradle, Salaam Medina: Tales of a Halfghan, Teeth and Māyā.

The Times Square Alliance announced today the first ever Songs for Our City, a songwriting challenge commissioning new original music from Broadway actors and composers in response to the current COVID-19 crisis, in order to both support artists during this time and provide a unique and interactive way for audiences to enjoy new music.

New York Theatre Barn will host a free live stream of its New Works Series on Wednesday, May 20th.

Honeck-Moss Productions will present 'In The Works.' This exciting series is an opportunity for composers to try out new work in front of an audience and see how it plays in a supportive environment. It is also an opportunity to create community among the composers and their performers.

Audiences are invited to attend a special talkback with award-winning musical theater writer Sam Carner on Friday, March 13 at the Sunrise Civic Center. The talkback will take place following an 8 p.m. performance of his musical Island Song, staged by Measure for Measure Theatre. This talkback is an ideal opportunity for playwrights, songwriters and performers to learn about working in New York theater. He and fellow songwriter Derek Gregor form the songwriting team of Carner and Gregor. As collaborators, Carner and Gregor are best known for the musicals Island Song and Unlock'd, Measure for Measure Theatre's production of Island Song is the musical's Southeastern Regional Premiere. Island Song will run from Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 29.

The Nazareth College Theatre and Dance Department will present a staged reading of the musical Modern. Written by Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor, directed by Ian Patterson, with music direction by Sarah Pool Wilhelm. The presentation will take place Saturday, February 29 at 2:00 pm in Studio Theatre A48 on the Nazareth College campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

This poignant, off-beat dramedy follows five 20- and 30-somethings as they take on New York City over the course of a year. These young hopefuls must work through their own complex relationships with ambition, distraction and the desire to connect.

LiveRead@SDA will launch its 2020 season with CARRY ME, a new musical written by Kira Stone (The Light Rail, Salem) and Matthew Greene (Thousand Pines, Gregorian). LiveRead@SDA, a developmental series at The USC School of Dramatic Arts, was created to cultivate and provide critical support for the creation of innovative and contemporary new works for the American theatre.

The San Diego State University MFA Musical Theatre Program, under the supervision of Robert Meffe and Stephen Brotebeck, will present a staged reading of the musical Modern. Written by Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor, directed by Shayne Mims, with music direction by Richard Morrison. The presentation will take place Friday, January 31 at 3:30 pm in the Experimental Theatre on the SDSU campus. Admission is free and open to the public.  

New York City's Institute for American Musical Theatre has announced plans for a unique 2-year 'Creators' program. Built and run by award winning lyricist-librettist Sam Carner (Island Song, Unlock'd), the new intensive and highly collaborative training will be guided by a faculty including composer-lyricist Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days, Scotland PA, String), composer-lyricist Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop, Teeth, White Girl in Danger), composer Anna K. Jacobs (Pop, Teeth), director Lonny Price (A Class Act, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened, Company, Sweeney Todd), composer Derek Gregor (Island Song, Unlock'd), music supervisor Brad Haak (Mary Poppins, Daddy Long Legs), director Marlo Hunter (American Reject, Saved By the Bell: the Musical), musical director Andy Collopy (Lightning Thief), and other Broadway professionals still being confirmed.

A Little New Music will once again introduce a sparkling array of artists singing brand new musical theatre songs in a classic cabaret setting at Hollywood's historic Catalina Jazz Club on Wednesday, November 20th at 8:30pm. Audiences of A Little New Music's concert series will discover firsthand the new songs that could become future classics of the American musical theatre landscape.

The USC School of Dramatic Arts announces the call for submission for the fourth season of LiveRead@SDA, a developmental series created to cultivate and provide critical support for the creation of innovative and contemporary new works for the American theatre.

The Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska has announced their fourth biennial GROW A SHOW, a development program for new musical theatre. The workshop, although it is ticketed, is free to the public. Tickets are available online at www.liedcenter.org. This is an incredible free event for theatre doers and goers.

It's that time of year again. One of my favorite times of year. That time when I get to spend the weekend at Village Theatre checking out the shows brought together by the folks at Village, spotlighting new works around the country. Some amazing, some needing work, but all showing promise. Now, of course, I can't review any of these. They're all still works in progress and not fully staged. But I can share what went on over the weekend as a potential coming attraction of musicals to come to a theater near you.

Tickets for Measure for Measure Theatre's 2019-2020 season are available for purchase. Measure for Measure recently announced its move to the Sunrise Civic Center, where it will present three contemporary musicals-In the Heights (Oct. 24-Nov. 10), the regional premiere of Island Song (Mar. 12-29) and Pippin (Apr. 23-May 10).