Derek Gregor and collaborator win prestigious award for musical theater

NEW YORK - Derek Adam Gregor has been named by the American Academy of Arts and Letters as a winner of the annual Richard Rodgers Award competition for musical theater. He collaborated with Sam Carner in a work titled "Unlocked," an adaptation of Alexander Pope's mock-epic poem, "The Rape of the Lock," set in 18th century England.

Mr. Gregor composed the music, while Mr. Carner, a graduate of the Yale theater program, wrote the book and lyrics. The musical will be performed as a staged reading several times later this year in non-profit theaters in New York City. Messrs. Carner and Gregor received their awards at the Academy's Ceremonial in New York City on May 19.

Messrs. Gregor and Carner attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, and received masters' degrees in musical theater writing last May. Unlocked was the subject of their masters thesis at graduation.

Mr. Gregor graduated from Skidmore College, with a degree in music, and has worked as a composer both within his scholastic career and in outside endeavors. He has composed music for the MCC Youth Theater Company, a musical revue at Skidmore, several short films, and a production of "The Laramie Project" in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. At the Tisch School he composed several pieces for the dance program. In 2001, he founded the rock band M-LAB, a dramatic quintet led by piano and electric violin, with which he continues to perform.

"Unlocked" tells the story of Belinda, a young, beautiful and vacuous 18th century lady of the court adored by all the gentlemen. When Belinda's favorite lock of hair is stolen, she discovers the world outside her sheltered existence; meanwhile, her jealous step-sister Clarissa, the love-besotted Baron Windsorloch and his bookish brother Edwin begin to forge their own identities. Around them, a triumvirate of air spirits sworn to protect Belinda's purity battle a grubby trio of earth spirits who delight in stirring up as much mischief as possible.

Since 1980, the Richard Rodgers Awards competition has provided financial support for full productions, studio productions, or staged readings by non-profit theaters in New York City. To date, 59 awards have been given.

Richard Rodgers, the first musical theater composer elected to the 106-year old academy, endowed these awards with a $1 million gift in 1978, to encourage new talent in the field of musical theater.

The winning musicals were chosen by a jury composed of the academy, Stephen Sondheim (chairman), Jack Beeson, John Guare, Francis Thorne, and advisers Lynn Ahrens, Sheldon Harnick, Richard Maltby and Janine Tesori.

Mr. Gregor is the grandson of Mykola Hrehorovich, past branch secretary of the Ukrainian National Association Branch. He is also a member of UNA Branch 489.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 20, 2004, No. 25, Vol. LXXII

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