JAMES COREY KAUFMAN: BOOK AND LYRICS
James Corey Kaufman’s plays have been performed at theaters, colleges, and high schools across the world. An evening of his short work played at the American Theater of Actors (Off-Bway). His play “My Very Elegant Mother” has played at the Riant Theatre as part of the Strawberry One-Act Festival, at the Fritz Theater (San Diego), and was adapted into an audiobook. His other plays have been produced at the Kairos Theater (NYC), Drama West Production (Los Angeles), the New England Actor's Theater, the Heartlande Theatre Company (Michigan) and as part of the Melbourne (Australia) Fringe Festival and the New Haven International Festival of Arts and Ideas. His musical Discovering Magenta (music by Michael Bitterman) was selected for Oklahoma City University's New Musicals Series and has been given readings at Yale University, University of Southern California, and the California State University at San Bernardino.
When not writing plays, Kaufman is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut best known for his research on creativity. Previously, he taught at the California State University, San Bernardino, where he directed the Learning Research Institute. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in Cognitive Psychology, where he worked with Robert J. Sternberg. Born in Great Neck, New York, he attended the University of Southern California as an undergraduate, where he worked with both John L. Horn and famed novelist T. Coraghessan Boyle. His parents are psychologists Alan S. Kaufman and Nadeen L. Kaufman.
He is a prolific researcher and editor who is best known for his theoretical contributions to the study of creativity.[1] With Sternberg and Jean Pretz, he developed the propulsion model of creative contributions, outlined in The Creativity Conundrum (Psychology Press, 2002),[2] and with John Baer developed the Amusement Park Theoretical (APT) Model of Creativity.[3] His latest theoretical work, with Ron Beghetto, is the Four-C Model of Creativity. This model explores the idea of expanding traditional conceptions of eminent creativity ("Big-C") and everyday creativity ("little-c") to include "mini-c"—creativity that is inherent in the learning process—and "Pro-c"—creativity at a professional level that has not yet had a historical impact.[4]
Kaufman's empirical work has focused on a few different key areas. Most media attention has focused on his research on creativity and mental illness. He coined “the Sylvia Plath Effect,” after finding that female poets were more likely to be mentally ill than other writers, in a paper in the Journal of Creative Behavior[5]; the effect has been the namesake for several indie rock songs and countless angry blogs. His work on poets dying young has been featured in the New York Times,[6] NPR, BBC, CNN, and newspapers and magazines across the world. He has recently focused on issues of creativity and fairness, arguing that creativity should be a supplemental part of college admissions [7]
Kaufman has written and edited more than 30 books, including Creativity 101 (Springer, 2016), the Cambridge Handbook of Creativity (with Sternberg; Cambridge, 2010), Essentials of Creativity Assessment (with Jonathan A. Plucker and John Baer; Wiley, 2008), The International Handbook of Creativity (with Sternberg; Cambridge, 2006), and The Psychology of Creative Writing (with Scott Barry Kaufman, Cambridge, 2009). He is the Series Editor of the Psych 101 series from Springer and the Explorations in Creativity Research Series for Academic Press.
Kaufman was the founding co-editor of two American Psychological Association journals: Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts and Psychology of Popular Media Culture. He received the 2003 Daniel E. Berlyne Award from Division 10 of the American Psychological Association for outstanding research by a junior scholar; the National Association of Gifted Children's 2008E. Paul Torrance Award for creativity research; the 2009 Western Psychological Association Early Career in Research Award; the 2011 Paul Farnworth Award, also from Division 10 of the American Psychological Association, for service to the division; the 2011-2012 Mensa Award for Research Excellence [1]; and a 2015 Choice Outstanding Academic Title from the American Library Association. He is a past president of the American Psychological Association's Division 10.
MICHAEL BITTERMAN: COMPOSER
Michael Bitterman was writing musicals and Twilight Zone scripts when he was 11-that was back in '61. Although Rod Serling sent him letters of encouragement nothing materialized on TV but they lived in his dreams. Starting one of the first bands in Great Neck-The Long Island Sounds-in '65 as a rhythm guitarist, the band was one of the premier bands on Long Island. Being an outcast for being the first kid in school to have long hair, he found solace in Greenwich Village in the mid 60s eventually writing songs and performing at the Gaslight Cafe on MacDougal St in '68.
Signing an exclusive songwriting contract with Albert Grossman in '69 (manager for Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Janis Joplin, The Band) he had many almosts as a songwriter-Karen Carpenter (The Carpenters), Mary Travers (Peter, Paul & Mary), Mary Hopkin, Procol Harum, were all set to record his songs when one day Michael went into Albert's office with a copy of the Great White Wonder...
Starting the band MIDNIGHT in 1970 and playing concerts with David Peel & the Lower East Side, MIDNIGHT was very close to being signed by John Hammond at Columbia. MIDNIGHT has a CD recorded in 1970 avail on CD BABY.
As one of the first Arp 2600 Synthesizer musicians/programmers in NYC, he has played on records of Barry Manilow, Janis Ian, and many others. In 1971 he worked as a rehearsal pianist for Alan Klein at Apple Records.
His love for musicals turned to writing when he produced and wrote the music and lyrics for FIVE AFTER EIGHT which played at the Cubiculo Theatre in New York in 1979 breaking all existing house records for that theater. Original Cast Records released the cast LP & CD. Then, in '84, he wrote the autobiographical album, WHOSE FANTASY IS THIS?-released on LP & CD.
Since 1971 he has been the owner and chief engineer for MIDNIGHT MOD recording. One of the first studios in the Woodstock/Saugerties area in 1973. He has produced many albums for singer/songwriters as well as the legendary Woodstock Moods & Moments album recorded in his living room in ’75 which ESP-DISK re-released in the 90s. Among the artists who have recorded at Midnight Mod are The Band, Graham Parker, The Dave Matthews Band, John Sebastian, NRBQ, The Fugs, Jules Shear, Tom Pacheco, Jean Redpath and Priscilla Herdman.
Other musicals include: We're Not Who We Think We Are 1977 (book, music & lyrics) Kleinert Gallery (Woodstock, NY, SUNY New Paltz); Demigod of E.78th St 1983 (music) book & lyrics-Dennis Drogseth Woodstock Playhouse;
DISCOVERING MAGENTA, (music) with book & lyrics by James Corey Kaufman was selected for Oklahoma City University's New Musical series in 2007
The Cellar 1997 (book,music/lyrics) and his most recent FORLORN HOPE: The Donner Party Musical (music & lyrics) book TG Harpster. His current CD-The Theatre's Never Dark -released by Original Cast Records features songs from all his musicals
James Corey Kaufman’s plays have been performed at theaters, colleges, and high schools across the world. An evening of his short work played at the American Theater of Actors (Off-Bway). His play “My Very Elegant Mother” has played at the Riant Theatre as part of the Strawberry One-Act Festival, at the Fritz Theater (San Diego), and was adapted into an audiobook. His other plays have been produced at the Kairos Theater (NYC), Drama West Production (Los Angeles), the New England Actor's Theater, the Heartlande Theatre Company (Michigan) and as part of the Melbourne (Australia) Fringe Festival and the New Haven International Festival of Arts and Ideas. His musical Discovering Magenta (music by Michael Bitterman) was selected for Oklahoma City University's New Musicals Series and has been given readings at Yale University, University of Southern California, and the California State University at San Bernardino.
When not writing plays, Kaufman is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut best known for his research on creativity. Previously, he taught at the California State University, San Bernardino, where he directed the Learning Research Institute. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in Cognitive Psychology, where he worked with Robert J. Sternberg. Born in Great Neck, New York, he attended the University of Southern California as an undergraduate, where he worked with both John L. Horn and famed novelist T. Coraghessan Boyle. His parents are psychologists Alan S. Kaufman and Nadeen L. Kaufman.
He is a prolific researcher and editor who is best known for his theoretical contributions to the study of creativity.[1] With Sternberg and Jean Pretz, he developed the propulsion model of creative contributions, outlined in The Creativity Conundrum (Psychology Press, 2002),[2] and with John Baer developed the Amusement Park Theoretical (APT) Model of Creativity.[3] His latest theoretical work, with Ron Beghetto, is the Four-C Model of Creativity. This model explores the idea of expanding traditional conceptions of eminent creativity ("Big-C") and everyday creativity ("little-c") to include "mini-c"—creativity that is inherent in the learning process—and "Pro-c"—creativity at a professional level that has not yet had a historical impact.[4]
Kaufman's empirical work has focused on a few different key areas. Most media attention has focused on his research on creativity and mental illness. He coined “the Sylvia Plath Effect,” after finding that female poets were more likely to be mentally ill than other writers, in a paper in the Journal of Creative Behavior[5]; the effect has been the namesake for several indie rock songs and countless angry blogs. His work on poets dying young has been featured in the New York Times,[6] NPR, BBC, CNN, and newspapers and magazines across the world. He has recently focused on issues of creativity and fairness, arguing that creativity should be a supplemental part of college admissions [7]
Kaufman has written and edited more than 30 books, including Creativity 101 (Springer, 2016), the Cambridge Handbook of Creativity (with Sternberg; Cambridge, 2010), Essentials of Creativity Assessment (with Jonathan A. Plucker and John Baer; Wiley, 2008), The International Handbook of Creativity (with Sternberg; Cambridge, 2006), and The Psychology of Creative Writing (with Scott Barry Kaufman, Cambridge, 2009). He is the Series Editor of the Psych 101 series from Springer and the Explorations in Creativity Research Series for Academic Press.
Kaufman was the founding co-editor of two American Psychological Association journals: Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts and Psychology of Popular Media Culture. He received the 2003 Daniel E. Berlyne Award from Division 10 of the American Psychological Association for outstanding research by a junior scholar; the National Association of Gifted Children's 2008E. Paul Torrance Award for creativity research; the 2009 Western Psychological Association Early Career in Research Award; the 2011 Paul Farnworth Award, also from Division 10 of the American Psychological Association, for service to the division; the 2011-2012 Mensa Award for Research Excellence [1]; and a 2015 Choice Outstanding Academic Title from the American Library Association. He is a past president of the American Psychological Association's Division 10.
MICHAEL BITTERMAN: COMPOSER
Michael Bitterman was writing musicals and Twilight Zone scripts when he was 11-that was back in '61. Although Rod Serling sent him letters of encouragement nothing materialized on TV but they lived in his dreams. Starting one of the first bands in Great Neck-The Long Island Sounds-in '65 as a rhythm guitarist, the band was one of the premier bands on Long Island. Being an outcast for being the first kid in school to have long hair, he found solace in Greenwich Village in the mid 60s eventually writing songs and performing at the Gaslight Cafe on MacDougal St in '68.
Signing an exclusive songwriting contract with Albert Grossman in '69 (manager for Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Janis Joplin, The Band) he had many almosts as a songwriter-Karen Carpenter (The Carpenters), Mary Travers (Peter, Paul & Mary), Mary Hopkin, Procol Harum, were all set to record his songs when one day Michael went into Albert's office with a copy of the Great White Wonder...
Starting the band MIDNIGHT in 1970 and playing concerts with David Peel & the Lower East Side, MIDNIGHT was very close to being signed by John Hammond at Columbia. MIDNIGHT has a CD recorded in 1970 avail on CD BABY.
As one of the first Arp 2600 Synthesizer musicians/programmers in NYC, he has played on records of Barry Manilow, Janis Ian, and many others. In 1971 he worked as a rehearsal pianist for Alan Klein at Apple Records.
His love for musicals turned to writing when he produced and wrote the music and lyrics for FIVE AFTER EIGHT which played at the Cubiculo Theatre in New York in 1979 breaking all existing house records for that theater. Original Cast Records released the cast LP & CD. Then, in '84, he wrote the autobiographical album, WHOSE FANTASY IS THIS?-released on LP & CD.
Since 1971 he has been the owner and chief engineer for MIDNIGHT MOD recording. One of the first studios in the Woodstock/Saugerties area in 1973. He has produced many albums for singer/songwriters as well as the legendary Woodstock Moods & Moments album recorded in his living room in ’75 which ESP-DISK re-released in the 90s. Among the artists who have recorded at Midnight Mod are The Band, Graham Parker, The Dave Matthews Band, John Sebastian, NRBQ, The Fugs, Jules Shear, Tom Pacheco, Jean Redpath and Priscilla Herdman.
Other musicals include: We're Not Who We Think We Are 1977 (book, music & lyrics) Kleinert Gallery (Woodstock, NY, SUNY New Paltz); Demigod of E.78th St 1983 (music) book & lyrics-Dennis Drogseth Woodstock Playhouse;
DISCOVERING MAGENTA, (music) with book & lyrics by James Corey Kaufman was selected for Oklahoma City University's New Musical series in 2007
The Cellar 1997 (book,music/lyrics) and his most recent FORLORN HOPE: The Donner Party Musical (music & lyrics) book TG Harpster. His current CD-The Theatre's Never Dark -released by Original Cast Records features songs from all his musicals
