Sondheim, a self-professed puzzle lover, who is known to create treasure hunts and game nights with personal friends, devised the evening that will take participants on a mysterious trek through the Museum of Natural History. It is described as a "magical and brain teasing team competition."
Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick and Golden Globe Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker will co-host the evening that celebrates the 20th anniversary of Friends in Deed, which provides resources and care to individuals with life-threatening illnesses.
The evening will include cocktails, the treasure hunt and a seated dinner. Single tickets for the one-of-a-kind event begin at $1,500.
Best known for his work as a composer-lyricist of Sweeney Todd, Follies, Sunday in the Park With George and Into the Woods (among many others), Sondheim also co-authored the screenplay to the 1973 thriller "The Last of Sheila" with Anthony Perkins, which centered around a mystery game played by guests on a luxurious yacht. Sondheim also co-authored the 1996 Broadway comedy thriller Getting Away With Murder, with his Company collaborator George Furth.
Friends in Deed also provides a bit of history into Sondheim's infamous game nights: "In the late 1960's Sondheim started having Game Nights with his friends. They gradually grew in size and complexity. In one of his famed Halloween Hunts, created with Anthony Perkins, the participants arrived at an old brownstone, rang the bell and were invited in by an unknown white-haired lady who is was sworn to answer no questions. Tensely, they waited for their next message as she served coffee and cake in silence. Film star Lee Remick was hungry and ate her portion. 'Stop!' shouts the group-leader--too late. Rearranged, the icing on the cake would have revealed the map reference of their next rendezvous. Join us for what is sure to be an unforgettable evening." For tickets visit FriendsinDeed.org.