for his first stage project, leight teamed with composer-lyricist charles strouse on the musical "mayor", inspired by ed koch and his dealings with leona helmsley and bess myerson. it ran for 185 performances at the top of the gate in greenwich village starting on may 13, 1985. the musical transferred uptown to the latin quarter on october 23, 1985, running to january 5, 1986 for another 70 performances. he received a 1986 drama desk award nomination for outstanding book.