Our summer intensive is a month-long program that takes place on Drew’s campus. High school students have the opportunity to participate in a full theatre production, getting firsthand experiences in acting, dance, design, technology and stage management, according to their interests. The plays are commissioned by professional, award-winning playwrights and are written specifically for our students, reflecting their interests and concerns.
Select students receive college credit for their participation and receive scholarships for tuition and room and board. They work closely with their mentors, who provide academic support throughout the program. Use the waiver code “DREWART23” when applying to waive the registration fee.Apply here.
Other students are eligible to participate in the program as part o Newark Works.
Safety and supervision
Drew University is a small, safe suburban campus located about 30 miles from New York City, in Madison NJ. The campus is easily accessible by NJ Transit train from Newark Broad Street and New York Penn Stations; the train stops in town about 5 minutes from campus.
We have many ways to ensure that all students are being supervised and are safe and happy while staying with us. Learn more about specifics below.
Our staff: it takes a village!
In addition to dedicated faculty and administrators from both Drew University and the city of Newark, the program includes a staff of mentors. Mentors are either current Drew juniors and seniors. graduates of Drew University or current graduate students, all of whom have been selected for their academic credentials, extensive involvement in the AdvantageArts program and commitment to the educational goals of the program. The mentor to student ratio will be 1:2 or better throughout the program. We pride ourselves on knowing our participants in an individual capacity and helping them reach their full potential.
Residence halls
- Security: Students will be staying in a campus residence hall with electronic fob secure entry and individually keyed rooms. The students and their mentors will be the primary residents of the building. There is an adult resident director who supervises the complex.
- Supervision: Mentors reside on the residence hall floors with the students. They will be in the residence hall with the students every evening from the end of the evening activity through lights out and will do a bed check at lights out.
- Campus security: The Public Safety Office on campus is a 24-hour office with officers on call at all times and trained to respond to all emergencies.
- Food: Students will be eating with the mentors in the campus dining hall.
Supervision on campus
- Campus escort: Students will never be alone on campus. They will be escorted by mentors to all activities, meals, classes etc. There is very little unstructured time in the program and during the open time in the late afternoon, mentors will join students if they want to play tennis or frisbee, swim or work out in the gym, or if they want to go to the library or the computer lab.
- Attendance: Attendance will be taken by mentors at the beginning of every meal, class and activity – so basically at hour and 15 minute intervals throughout the day. Should a student not be present the mentor responsible for the attendance will immediately notify the program office and go to find the student.
Medical emergencies and non-urgent illness
- Emergency: The program has clearly outlined emergency protocols which conform to campus protocols. In an emergency, the Campus Public Safety Office would be called and they would respond to the emergency and call an ambulance if necessary. At the same time, the director would also be called. Drew is 10 minutes from an excellent hospital, Morristown Memorial, where students would be taken in an emergency. The parent would also be contacted immediately.
- Non-urgent medical treatment: If a student is sick or has other non-urgent health concerns, we would contact the parent and consult about treatment. There is an Omnimed Walk-in Clinic within 10 minutes drive of campus where non-urgent treatment would be available for the students. Parents would also have the option of coming to get the student and taking him/her to a family doctor.
The college credit program
AdvantageArts is able to award a select number of students college credit for participating in this program. They are enrolled in the course: Thea 386: Theatre in the Community. They will have homework assignments in addition to participating in our production. The students will be given a grade for the course. Their mentors will give them academic support throughout the program.
- Schedule: Students are occupied during the entire program from 8:00 a.m., when they go to breakfast, until approximately 9 p.m., when they return to the residence halls with the mentors after the evening’s activity. As stated earlier, the only unstructured time during the day is an hour and a half break in the late afternoon when they will have an opportunity for recreational activities with the mentors. They also have homework and activities over the weekends and are expected to remain on campus rather than return home.
- Location:The AdvantageArts summer program will be conducted on the university campus. Student participants will not be allowed to leave campus at any time except for a planned activity with their mentors and faculty members.