WITH GLEE (Book, Music and Lyrics)
“musical numbers with surprise after surprise… And throughout there is humor that is slipped in slyly rather than announced with a pratfall or scream. Real artistry is going on amid the antics.”
– Neil Genzlinger, THE NEW YORK TIMES
“...a refreshing, unpretentiously smart and endearing little musical”
– Linda Winer, NEWSDAY
“Self-awareness, charm and tremendous wit…Mr. Gregor’s songs are what makes it all work. The opening number, “Bad Kid School,” efficiently sets up the characters and premise in a tuneful few minutes”
–Jesse Oxfeld, THE NEW YORK OBSERVER
“one of the cleanest, clearest, and most innately honest musicals New York has seen in a while…delivering one of the most shocking coups de théâtre outside of David Cromer’s Our Town merely by having one character walk onstage…As for the score, it's as sumptuous as they come in today's light musical comedies. “
– Matthew Murray, TALKIN’ BROADWAY
“Charming… With Glee will make you remember the days when you were trying to figure out your own identity, and have you laughing and reminiscing about your own school days… this show is one that deserves an extended run.”
– Amy E. Witting, NYTHEATRE.COM
“a charmer from start to finish...Eschewing the current rock-influenced teen-angst trend, Gregor relies on a tried-and-true musical-theatre model, mixing ballads with lively up-tempo numbers.”
-Nancy Ellen Shore, BACKSTAGE
Pinkalicious The Musical (Music and Lyrics)
“Gregor’s music, performed here by a wonderful three-piece band, is not only peppy and upbeat but offers opportunities for every member of the ensemble to shine”
-Terry Byrne, The Boston Globe
"Pinkalicious" was turned into quite a witty, melodic and peppy hourlong kids' musical by the original authors, along with composer John Gregor (whose score is really very witty and artful).
-Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune
"(The authors) have adapted their most popular book and collaborated with a wonderfully savvy theater-music composer-lyricist named John Gregor to produce an enjoyable show... Composer-lyricist John Gregor provided a solid score for the children’s musical Pinkalicious"
-Peter Filichia, Theatermania.com
“…adapted by the authors, with music and lyrics by John Gregor, is a winner…The quality of the songs and choreography far exceed the usual fare for young children.”
-Audrey Liebross, BroadwayWorld.com (Washington, DC)
“The musical numbers composed by John Gregor, with lyrics by Gregor and the book authors, sparkle with variety and cleverness”
-Holly Johnson, The Oregonian
The Genesis Project (Music and Lyrics), Matthew Freeman (Book)
“Some breathtakingly smart and provocative songs by John Gregor serve as interludes between the scenes, providing subtle non-sequitur commentary on the play's themes. I would love to hear them again.”
-Martin Denton, indietheaternow.com
The Overcoat (Book and Lyrics)
"An airtight musical treatment that can't be faulted" -curtainup.com (New York)
"The piece makes its point in a subtle and poignant way." -What's On in London
"A lightly melodic score by Robert Rival is matched by John Gregor's clever lyrics in the clerk's pathetic paean to the letters of the alphabet he most likes writing and in a patter song for co-workers...influence of Sondheim, with musical echoes of Sweeney Todd." -Gerald Berkowitz, Stage Newspaper (London)
THE BULLY (Music and Lyrics)
With a peppy score and lyrics by John Gregor and an insightful book by David L. Williams, "The Bully" recognizes that bullies and bullying take many forms. "The Bully," like the best kind of teacher, nudges children toward the truth and then lets them discover it on their own.
-The New York Times Review by Laurel Graeber
"in the case of this new children's musical, phrases like "utterly charming" and "totally adorable" really do apply, in the best possible way…Brisk, clever, and sunny"
- Peikert, Back Stage
“…David L. Williams and John Gregor's peppy musical confection originally added to Vital Theatre Company's repertoire in 2005 tells the endearing story of Lenny and Steve, a nerd and a bully who must learn to work together…”
-Brandon Voss, Advocate.com
“…this is a super-high-voltage show with upbeat musical numbers featuring a lot of choreography tapping into cheerleading and gym activities.
-Griffin Miller NYmetro Parents
The Bully's music and lyrics (John Gregor) are clever and engaging, with one or two songs audiences are sure to be humming when they leave the theatre.
Byrne Harrison, The Off Off Broadway Review
THE CHANGELING Music By John Gregor, Lyrics Co-Written by John Gregor
‘…Composer Gregor does a terrific job with the music. Some of the melodies are quite haunting, and much of the underscoring and transitional phrases are quite beautiful."
-Dawn Saliba, The Off Off Broadway Review