Psych prof goes into actors' heads

Psychology Professor Henry Gleitman, an institution at Penn for more than 35 years, is doubling as a director this semester. Gleitman is overseeing his fifth professional play, Men of Stone, at the The Adrienne Theatre through this Sunday. The author of one of the country's most respected introductory psychology textbooks sounds humble as he explains why he takes on the inner drama of psychology and public performance. Gleitman chose to direct the play for several reasons. For one, Men of Stone is written by the son of Gleitman's colleague and close friend, Psychology Professor Paul Rozin. Gleitman says he considers 1986 College graduate Seth Rozin "as a kind of de facto nephew." He also said he "was attracted to the play -- it is very funny." And Gleitman just needs to be behind the scenes. Since he was an undergraduate, the psychologist has been dabbling in drama. Men of Stone follows Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses as he comes to life in what Seth Rozin describes as a "cerebral comedy." While the play has garnered top-notch reviews, a somewhat more interesting story lingers behind the curtain. Seth Rozin, like Gleitman, feels a familial connection. "He is sort of like an uncle," Seth Rozin explains. Theater actually helped build the foundation for the pair's quasi-kinship. Gleitman directed an eight-year-old Seth Rozin in his debut performance -- a suburban Philadelphia production of H.M.S. Pinafore. Gleitman remembers that Seth Rozin was not exactly talented, "but he was dedicated... and tremendously interested." Seth Rozin recalls Gleitman as his "first theater mentor." Today, Seth Rozin's and Gleitman's roles have switched. "Henry came to me a few years back and asked me if I could fulfill a life-long dream of his -- to direct a professional play," Seth Rozin says. After more than 105 semesters teaching, Gleitman needed to try his hand at something new. "At the age of 76, I could finally do what I wanted to do," Gleitman says now. He embarked on professional directing after coaching actors and technical staff in more than 45 community productions -- many here at Penn. One might assume Gleitman's psychology background gives him all the tools he needs for character development. Yet, he says that he brings in more casual backstage humor than psychoanalysis. Gleitman describes his "X-rated" laughs with actors. Nevertheless, he says, "Do I shed [my background]? Absolutely not. I've been a psychologist more than 50 years." Gleitman can't fully abandon his mental health hat. "I like working with actors who knew how to cry," he says. And he adores working with Seth Rozin. "I would not call Seth talented anymore. I would call him accomplished," Gleitman says proudly. He laughs thinking about his daughters and Paul Rozin's children playing together forty years ago, when the two families were neighbors. Paul Rozin "is one of the most imaginative and creative psychologists I know," says Gleitman. And his son is also "very creative, but disciplined." But Gleitman's pride in the younger Rozin is most evident when he calls him a "poly-man" -- bragging of his numerous awards in theater and visual arts. Both Gleitman and Seth Rozin have the knack for combining stage and psyche. Furthering his double duty, Gleitman just wrapped up a semester teaching Psychology 270 -- "The Psychology of Drama."