Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast in an open invitation into the puzzle-loving, game-designing mind of Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim. Based on the acclaimed book by Barry Joseph, each episode uncovers the hidden world of Sondheim’s lifelong passion for treasure hunts, cryptic crosswords, parlor games, and more... Read More
From the show: Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast
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Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Podcast in an open invitation into the puzzle-loving, game-designing mind of Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim. Based on the acclaimed book by Barry Joseph, each episode uncovers the hidden world of Sondheim’s lifelong passion for treasure hunts, cryptic crosswords, parlor games, and more. Join Barry and his guests—puzzle-makers, game designers, and Sondheim aficionados—as they explore how Sondheim's playful designs delivered moments of clarity and connection for friends, colleagues, and anyone who's ever been captivated by his genius. Whether you’re a musical theater fan, a puzzlehead, or just Sondheim-curious, this series invites you to match minds with Sondheim. Make sure to get the book everywhere books are found, or click here.
Transcript
Matching Minds with Sondheim. Stream it in your ears. It's your new favorite podcast 'bout a theater god casting off your fears. From parlor games to treasure hunts. You needn't feel a dunce 'cause Barry's here to hold your hand. Matching Minds with Sondheim...
Welcome to Matching Minds with Sondheim, the Podcast.
I am your host, Barry Joseph. As usual, we will be joined by some amazing people to respond to audio clips from over 60 hours of my original interviews for the book.
We were there...
Oh, it's so much fun.
There's no better way to represent his brilliance than through puzzles.
I feel like he was probably more obsessed with puzzles than musicals. Maybe that's heresy...
He was a brilliant puzzle solver and a great mind...
It was quite amazing when you walked into his apartment because it was full of games and puzzles...
When Sondheim started to build the cryptic crosswords for New York Magazine...
His treasure hunts were legendary.
Everybody was just running around screaming and laughing and having...
It's almost ridiculous to be like: Yeah, I went on a scavenger hunt created by Stephen Sondheim...
You know, in some ways you could almost consider him like the sort of inventor of the very form of escape rooms because he....
Stephen Sondheim blurted out when the final exit door opened: "But I wanna stay..."
How cool that we're sitting here trying to figure this game out again...
I have to say, I'm so grateful to be invited to participate in this. I can't tell you. It's just such a gift, you know? And he's here, you know? He's here...
Matching Minds with Sondheim.
Tell a friend and quiz him. Test him on his anagram. He's pure hedonism. His songs and his shows. Mary Flynn. Mama Rose. Everybody already knows they're superbly designed, but where would we be without a puzzle to bring us glee? Even someone in a tree would believe we need Steve and his mind...
note: Theme song written and performed by Colm Molloy
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