The Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC has awarded a 2025 Winter Music Grant to Greta Gertler Gold for her concept album “Picnic at Hanging Rock”.

Composer, lyricist, and performer Greta Gertler Gold is a dual citizen of multiple worlds: New York City and Australia, indie rock and musical theater, irreverent comedy and political feminism. Her current projects include a stage musical adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” with playwright Hilary Bell, “Gilda Stone” (book, lyrics and music by Greta), the original musical “Anna Hit” (with Tony Award-winner Stew), “Triplight” (with playwright Ally Collier) and a forthcoming album from her band The Universal Thump, co-produced with her husband, the drummer Adam Gold.  

She is a Yaddo Fellow and a finalist for both the Jonathan Larson Grant and the NY Women's Fund. Greta composed the music for the psychedelic rock musical "The Red Tree," based on Shaun Tan's book, collaborating with Hilary Bell for performances at the Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne, and National Theatre of Parramatta.

As a performer, Greta has released several albums both as a solo artist and with her bands The Universal Thump and Peccadillo. She has toured the USA, Australia, and Europe, and made her Lincoln Center debut in early 2023 with her show "Characters," which blends an orchestral pop ensemble with musical theater guests. Greta's work has been featured multiple times on NPR, and she received an Australia Council for the Arts Grant to tour in support of her theatrical concept album "Edible Restaurant."

Greta also co-wrote the multi-platinum pop songs "Blow Up the Pokies" and "Charlie #3," performed by The Whitlams. And she composed music for iconic Dr. Seuss characters, including the Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, and The Grinch, for Tonies toy company in collaboration with LA-based actor-producer Bill Kates. She is a member of ASCAP, The Dramatists Guild, and Maestra.

Greta is currently collaborating with Hilary Bell (Book & Lyrics) and Tony & Grammy Award-winning orchestrator Todd Sickafoose ("Hadestown") on songs, orchestrations and vocal arrangements for a 7-piece ensemble and 13 vocalists (from the pop, jazz and musical theater worlds) for the stage musical adaptation of Joan Lindsay's novel "Picnic at Hanging Rock", which became most famous as a film by director Peter Weir (Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show) celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2025. Lincoln Center will be debuting these songs, orchestrations and vocal arrangements on May 15, 2025. Following this concert, musicians and vocalists will record the songs in preparation for the world premiere production of the fully staged musical in London in early 2026.

"Picnic at Hanging Rock" To Be Released in September 2025

Please visit Greta’s website, for more information.