#26-Researching Sondheim--A Repod of Matching Minds on the Dr. Broadway Podcast

A conversation about Matching Minds from the Dr. Broadway podcast with Dr. Tracey Brent-Chessum and Dr. Kristin Stultz Pressley, focusing on researching Sondheim’s lifelong puzzle-and-game design—from cryptic crosswords and treasure hunts to Atari sessions with John Weidman, escape rooms, puzzle boxes, and antique board-game collecting—and on Joseph’s methods, interviews, archival work, publishing journey with Applause/Bloomsbury, and ongoing efforts to place materials in institutions like NYPL, the Library of Congress, and the Strong Museum. Make sure to get the book everywhere books are found, ⁠⁠or click here⁠⁠. 00:00 Podcast Welcome  03:01 Introducing Dr Broadway 06:14 Barry’s Sondheim Journey 07:25 Games For Change Background 09:35 Atari And Game Mechanics 11:36 Sondheim Designed Games 13:18 Walls Of Antique Boards 15:03 Research Methods Archives 16:18 Pandemic Timeline Interviews 16:43 Tracking Memories Ephemera 17:04 Unlocking Interviews 18:06 Honoring Emotional Memories 18:53 Documenting And Archiving 20:49 Publishing Puzzle Theater Hybrid 23:18 New York Times Breakthrough 25:27 Research Rigor And Impact 26:52 Biggest Sondheim Revelation 28:12 Questions For Sondheim 31:21 Ongoing Projects And Farewell Special Links: Dr. Broadway Podcast Colm Molloy Ann Morrison Mateo Chavez Lewis Thanks to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to this episode: the Musical Stingers composed by Mateo Chavez Lewis, our line producer Dennis Caouki, and the theme song to our podcast with lyrics and music by Colm Molloy and sung by the one only Anne Morrison, currently on the road starring in Kimberly Akimbo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices