Weidman Participates in NYPL's ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM

By: Aug. 15, 2013
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Theatrical notable and multi-Emmy Award-winning writer John Weidman has submitted the newest entry for the unique ongoing interactive songwriting challenge ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM, sponsored by the New York Public Library.

Weidman's songwriting prompt - that is, his cue for a thrifty songwriter to use as basis for a new tune - is as follows: "Ho Chi Minh, a busboy at the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1919, has applied for credentials to represent the Vietnamese people at the Paris Peace Conference. Waiting in an anti-chamber at Versailles, he rehearses how best to present himself before the committee which will rule on his request."

ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM - the title taken from the famous SOUTH PACIFIC lyric in "Some Enchanted Evening" by Oscar Hammerstein, natch - provides aspiring composers, lyricists and performers the opportunity to create a performance piece based on a one-sentence jumping-off point provided by an industry professional.

Check out the first songwriting prompt, provided by Jason Robert Brown, in a previous article, available here.

The official synopsis of goals and intent for ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM is as follows:

"ARE YOU...

  • a composer longing for lyrics?
  • a lyricist looking for a composer?
  • a singer searching for new songs?

This summer, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts wants to help you find your artistic soul mate and bring beautiful new musicals into the world!

Every two weeks, we will post a prompt from a musical theater professional. Responses to the prompt and to the work of others can be posted as comments to the prompt on this blog. Post either lyrics OR music in direct response to the prompt, or else write music for lyrics or lyrics for music as a "reply" to another "comment." If you are a performer, find a song you like and perform it on YouTube! [More details...]

At the end of the project, some of the songs may be performed in a concert on the stage at the Bruno Walter stage at Lincoln Center (where they announce the Tony Award Nominations!).

Now, start collaborating. To paraphrase Stephen Sondheim, "You have always belonged together...give us more to see!"

For more information, visit the official NYPL ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM website here.


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