Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy

svenugop@lohud.com

New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz knew early on what he wanted to do when he grew up.

As an eighth grader in Indiana, he wrote about wanting to be a “puzzlemaker” for a school assignment. In college, he fashioned his own major in enigmatology, the study of riddles, as part of Indiana University's individualized study program in 1974. He remains the only one with the degree.

While his mom, a writer, was supportive of his course of study, his father, he once told me, “looked down his nose on it.”

Shortz came up with a “fallback” solution: a law degree from the University of Virginia.

After graduating, Shortz joined the Penny Press Magazines and worked for Games Magazine for 15 years before joining the Times in 1993.

A “Puzzle Master” on National Public Radio since 1978, Shortz today is one of the most celebrated figures in the field.

There’s even a movie about him.

The movie, Word Play, with appearances by many celebrity fans of the Times puzzle, including Bill Clinton, Jon Stewart and Ken Burns, will be screened as part of the Lohud Influencer Speaker Series with Will Shortz this Wednesday, May 4, at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Yonkers. The puzzle master will also play interactive games with the audience.

Proceeds from the evening will go to a nonprofit chosen by Shortz, White Plains-based MVP Basketball Camp.

If you go:

What: The Lohud Influencers Speaker Series and Alamo Drafthouse present a screening of the documentary “Word Play” and a one-hour personal appearance by Will Shortz

Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 2548 Central Park Ave, Yonkers NY 10710

When: 6 p.m., May 4. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m; in-theater dining and beverage service available)

Tickets: $10 in advance online (https://tickets.lohud.com/); $15 (cash-only) at the door.