MATCHING MINDS WITH SONDHEIM

Name: MATCHING MINDS WITH SONDHEIM
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (3 reviews)
ISBN: 9781493085

by many of his friends. His Murder Game inspired the song “Finishing the Hat.” In the 1960s he’d occasionally appear on TV game shows like The Match Game and Password, always anxious to win. He was also New York magazine’s puzzle editor. Joseph goes into great detail outlining the musician’s treasure hunts. “Tackling one of Sondheim’s puzzles can feel like being lost in the face of an unknown language,” the author writes, but the 2013 City Center Treasure Hunt offers insights, as it was “thoroughly documented” by Maria Seremetis, whom Sondheim hired as an assistant. Joseph even gathers together a group of friends over Zoom to reenact the hunt so that they could all experience the fun of matching minds with Sondheim. Joseph discusses the composer’s movie board game, Stardom, designed when he was in his early 20s. The Great Conductor Hunt was designed for his friend Leonard Bernstein. Sondheim was also a word puzzle designer, especially crosswords and challenging cryptics. Stephen Sondheim’s Crossword Puzzles was published in 1980. He was even passionate about elaborate jigsaw puzzles, giving them as gifts to performers in his musicals. Late in life, he got into escape rooms. Joseph estimates that nearly 2,000 of the composer’s possessions, which were auctioned off, were related to puzzles and games."

Book Details

Publisher:In the

Published:1960-01-01

Pages:280

Format:paperback

Language:English

ISBN:9781493085

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

Our Review

This innovative puzzle book challenges young minds with clever word games and lyrical brainteasers inspired by the intricate patterns of musical theater. Each page presents fresh linguistic challenges that build vocabulary and pattern recognition skills through playful engagement with language. The activities range from anagram adventures to rhyme scheme puzzles, all designed to stimulate creative thinking while introducing musical concepts.

What sets this collection apart is how it transforms complex linguistic patterns into accessible, entertaining challenges that feel more like play than work. Middle grade readers who enjoy wordplay and musical theater will find endless entertainment, while parents will appreciate the subtle development of critical thinking and verbal reasoning skills. The puzzles grow progressively more sophisticated, ensuring lasting engagement for budding wordsmiths and theater enthusiasts alike.

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