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New York is home to some truly stunning displays of athletic excellence, from the New York Marathon to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (a sport in and of itself). And next month sees the return of an annual sporty favorite: Bryant Park's annual game of musical chairs.
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If you don't think that sounds particularly strenuous, you haven't seen just how full-contact the park's version of the classic party game can be. Now in its 11th year, the large-scale game will take place on Monday, June 2 at 6:30pm, with hundreds of participants proving their speed and dexterity as they battle through round after round of high-stakes musical chairs.
With comedian Ophira Eisenberg and DJ Flip Bundlez guiding the game and directing the tunes, 30 players will compete in a circle at a time, with the winners of each circle advancing to a final round. The last one standing, er, sitting in one of the park's iconic green bistro chairs will take home not only party-game glory but also a grand prize. (Details haven't been revealed yet but previous prizes have spanned airline tickets, your very own park plaque and even one of those signature green Bryant Park lawn chairs to take home and, I don't know, put on your fire escape? Who has the apartment space?!)
If you think you have what it takes, you can sign up to participate here—note, registration is not only recommended but also first-come, first-served. Speaking of, the first 450 attendees to check in will receive a ticket for a limited-edition Musical Chairs t-shirt, redeemable at the end of the game. Fair warning: Folks are known to adopt a take-no-prisoners attitude at the annual affair (these are New Yorkers, after all), which you can very much see on display in this throwback Time Out New York video from the 2012 event.