1998 Gregg OPelka 

Gregg is a number one paranamour, and a composer-lyricist- arranger- pianist. He showed the attendees why he is the POTY. He and three members of his troop gave us a few renditions of his renderings, as they sang and punned from his original musicals.

His first offering was a singing satire that was called, 'That's Puntertainment.' The list of Gregg's work is a real mirthful, and here is just a small taste:

·        Monkey Business. A monastery tale that has  been performed in 25 states, beginning in Galveston TX in 1995.

·        Monkey Business II: Back in the Sandals Again (first showing in Cornwell, MI on March 28, 1998.)

·        Soup du Jour, (first appeared on the venues  in Chicago in April 1997)

·        Hotel d'Amour, filled the rooms in Buffalo in 1993, and in 1997 in Magadan Russia.

·        The Three Musketeers showed up in 1992 at the Omsk Musical Theatre. And again in Yekaterinburg (Academic Theater of Musical Comedy),   Russia, November, 1993, and it's still runnung there.

·        Charlie's Oasis had its beginning at the New Tuner's Theatre, Chicago in 1990. It can be found by anyone thirsting for entertainment in many productions around the USA.

·        Sugar (orchestrations for Khabarovsk Musical Theater,  Russia,  in June 1994; Gregg arranged for and conducted the orchestra of 30)

·        The Sum of Us (wrote, arranged, and recorded original incidental music for 1992 Pegasus

·        Original songs; Cicada Lover, Iron Mike, Me and My H.P., heard on national radio.

·        English lyrics for 3 foreign operettas at Light Opera Works: The Chocolate Soldier (1987, remounted 1998), A Waltz bream (1991), The Duchess of Chicago (1998). His version of Soldier has had many productions by opera/operetta companies since 1987.

·        Music direction and teaching

Apple Tree Theater, Briar Street Theater, Different Drummer Theater, Khabarovsk Music Theater (Russia), Music Theater of Omsk (Russia), National Jewish Theater, New Tuners Theater, Tommy Gunn's Garage. Part-time faculty, Roosevelt University, Performing Arts Department

(l991--l997).

·        Music Director/Pianist, Tommy Gunn's Garage, Chicago

·        BA, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI, MA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Jazz improvisation and theory at the wain Studio, Evanston IL. Gregg is fluent in Russian.

Gregg is the third of nine  children (five boys, four girls); his proud parents are Duckie and Greg. He was born and bred in Chicago; he lived on the south side until  he was seven years old and then they all moved  to the  north suburb of Glenview.

Gregg worked for three years in the savings & loan with his father and then he decided it would be best for the economy if he left the banking business. He met his wife, a former folk dancer, Tatiana Chaika while working in Omsk, Siberia in 1992. They were married on  December. 17, 1993 and have one stepdaughter (Lena), one stepson (Alexandr); and two step grandkids (Katya and Sasha).

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