In this special episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood, Dr. Cyndi Burnett, guests Dr. James Kaufman, and musical theater composer Dana Rowe delve deep into the intersection of theater, creativity, and education. Matthew opens up about his personal journey and how embracing his true self has enhanced his ability to foster creativity in others. Dana shares invaluable tips for educators to rekindle the spark of creativity within their classrooms, including creating a safe environment for emotional exploration and integrating musical theater exercises to help students experiment with various identities. The hosts also emphasize the collaborative essence of theater, exemplified by stories of on-stage mishaps and improvisational adaptability, which not only entertain but also underscore the importance of skills like active listening and quick thinking.

James shares his wide-ranging insights on creativity, touching on how theater intersects with domains such as music, storytelling, science, and technology. Dana and James discuss their collaborative effort on a book that draws inspiration from musical theater characters. The hosts and guests share personal anecdotes about the profound impact of theater on their own lives, careers, and family experiences. This heartwarming episode fosters a deeper understanding of how creativity and collaboration in theater can enrich educational experiences, empowering educators to unlock their students' unique gifts and strengths.

Lessons in Creativity from Musical Theatre Characters book

Teacher Round Table Documentary

About Our Guests:

Dr. James Kaufman is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut. He is one of the leading researchers in the field of creativity, authoring, and editing over 50 books. He has published more than 300 papers, and three well-known theories of creativity, including the Four-C Model of Creativity. He has co-authored several books for educators including Teaching for Creativity in the Common Core Classroom, Nurturing Creativity in the Classroom, and Being Creative Inside and Outside of the Classroom. Recently he published the book lessons in creativity from musical theatre characters with Dana Rowe.

Dana P. Rowe is a New York-based American composer and musical director whose works have been performed in NYC, the West End and around the world. His off-Broadway musical, Zombie Prom, has reached cult status and was filmed starring RuPaul and Katy Mixon. There have been more than 3,500 different productions around the world. Dana is also a certified professional development coach who specializes in working with creative professionals!

Eager to bring more creativity into your school district?

Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.com

What to learn more about Design Thinking in Education?

Do you want to build a sustained culture of innovation and creativity at your school? Visit WorwoodClassroom.com to understand how Design Thinking can promote teacher creativity and support professional growth in the classroom.

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