Sondheim, Sold Out, and So Much Fun

What a week! My book tour for Matching Minds with Sondheim kicked off at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and I’m still buzzing. Not one, not two, but THREE events in just a few days—two hands-on workshops and one big stage presentation. One workshop sold out, and the Friday night launch event was sold out a full month in advance.

Adam Wassilchalk, their Theatre Program and Outreach Coordinator, shared this feedback with me after: “Barry offered us at the library a whole exciting week of programming related to Sondheim and his obsession with puzzles and games and we couldn’t be more grateful to have had him here. This was one of our first times branching out into more intimate, experiential programming in the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab and he knocked it out of the park, creating an experience where everyone got to participate and engage with the ideas he was presenting on, and also making use of our own space at the library in ways we had never seen before. Barry was a rockstar in the big book launch presentation in our Bruno Walter Auditorium, and it was nice to collaborate with someone with the range of skills to offer both intimate and participatory workshops and big, dynamic presentations for large audiences! Getting to work with him all week was such a pleasure, and it’s clear how passionate and knowledgeable he is about the topic.”

Designing Like Sondheim (with Treasure Hunts!)

We started with treasure hunts. In true Sondheim style, I handed everyone puzzle pieces when they walked in, so before the workshop even began, strangers were swapping cardboard shapes, making connections, and forming teams. Together we prototyped mini hunts about and around the Library, channeling Sondheim’s “Three Principles of Play”—Generosity, Playfulness, and Mentorship. Watching groups laugh, scribble, and test ideas reminded me why Sondheim loved these games so much: they’re as much about people as they are about puzzles.

Throwing a Games Night (the Sondheim Way)

Two nights later, we shifted gears from hidden clues to parlor games. Think Bartlett’s (with plenty of fake quotes), Running Charades (yes, we had two teams competing at the same time), and even a taste of Sondheim’s infamous Murder Game. Some came for the Sondheim stories, others for the chance to play—but by the end, everyone left grinning and plotting their own Sondheimian “games nights.”

Seeking Sondheim in the Stacks

And then came Friday. The Bruno Walter Auditorium filled to capacity— ~150 people ready to spend an evening not just listening to me talk about Sondheim’s puzzles and games, but have a chance to connect with other. Early on, I asked the audience to look under their chairs, where each person discovered a card with a unique phrase. Suddenly the room lit up with people turning to neighbors, sharing stories sparked by these little prompts. It was a simple mechanic, but it captured exactly what I love about Sondheim’s play: moments of connection hidden in unexpected places.

We unearthed gems like The Great Conductor Hunt, The Game of Murder, and A Little Jurassic Treasure Hunt. And we didn’t just talk about them—we played. The audience waved their arms in timer signals, puzzled through rules, and laughed their way through the mysteries. I was also honored to welcome two incredible guests to the stage: Richard Maltby Jr., Tony Award–winning lyricist, director, and longtime friend of Sondheim, who talked about playing Sondheim’s games with him over 50 years ago; and Daria Begley, correspondent for the Stephen Sondheim Society who once competed in Sondheim’s A Little Jurassic Treasure Hunt at the Museum of Natural History (and won!). Their stories added warmth, wit, and personal texture that made the night unforgettable.

And then—one of my favorite parts—my first books signing, with hands shaken and stories shared.

A Dream Start

Three nights, three packed events, countless smiles, and the joy of watching strangers bond over Sondheim’s playful genius. This was just the first stop on the journey, and if it’s any indication, the tour ahead will be filled with the same spirit: a little bit of mystery, a lot of laughter, and a whole lot of play.

I really couldn’t have asked for a better host than the NYPL and its staff for this week nor a better crowd than last week’s to “release” my book to. As I said at the end, “It’s yours now… and I can’t wait to see what you do with it.”

Stay tuned—more adventures (and games!) to come.