Participants were asked 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 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 prompts from musical theatre professionals, 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 first celebrity challenge was submitted May 29 by Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years). A new prompt was posted every two weeks.
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.
