Participants have been given the prompt to write a musical set during the 2013 mayoral race. They have been placed into nine groups, each with a composer, a lyricist, a book-writer and a singer, and given 10 days to a plot a synopsis with song titles and at least one complete song (with music and lyrics) in response to the prompt.

Throughout the summer, Lincoln Center has posted a prompt from a musical theatre professional every two weeks, and participants were invited to respond with music or lyrics, or to write music for lyrics or lyrics for music that had already been posted. Performers were invited to perform songs they found in the comments on YouTube. 

The entries will be evaluated by a panel of musical theatre professionals, including Thomas Meehan, Joshua Schmidt, Lisa Lambert and Susan Birkenhead, who will give feedback and advice.

More information can be found by visiting acrossacrowdedroom.nypl.org. 

Participants can register by visiting nypl.org/blog/2013/09/03/across-crowded-room-meetup.