Tisch Summer High School Dramatic Writing Program

Hone your creative writing talents to produce dramatic works, learning what it takes to be a professional writer for the stage or screen.

Learn the fundamentals of dramatic structure, develop plays and screenplays in writing workshops, and present your playwriting work in the department’s Rita and Burton Goldberg Theatre.

Program Overview

The Rita and Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing offers a highly focused academic and professional writing program for students who have the talent and the will to write for theatre, film, and television.
The combination of screenwriting and playwriting will give you an exciting introduction to the world of dramatized storytelling. The lectures in this program will help you explore the nature and principles of dramatic action, the relationship between character and circumstance, and how dramatic structure arises from these foundations.

In the workshop sessions, you’ll present work, which is then reviewed, critiqued, and rewritten. In screenwriting, this process results in an outline and the partial scripting of a full-length screenplay; in playwriting, it culminates in a ten-minute play where you’ll work together as a repertory company to rehearse, critique, and rewrite your plays. On the last day of classes you will have the opportunity to perform them.

In addition to the performance of the ten-minute plays, your monologues are directed and acted by professional actors and directors who work with the department on a regular basis. Readings of classic plays and screenplays along with screenings of movies and tapes of important theatrical productions complement the course work.

Note: The Tisch Summer High School Program is not a leisure camp. While the average program runs daily, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm, including academic classes, professional training, and/or studio and production time, students will often be just as busy in the evenings and weekends which also include curricular events and opportunities to work individually or collaborate with peers on assigned projects

The classes I took were so thought compelling and encouraged me even more to continue my passion for writing. My peers and I grew to find an inseparable bond and learned to work together and learn from one another The culture we saw and experienced inspired me entirely and I will never forget the incredible summer experience I embarked on.”
— Jessica Jacobs

CORE CURRICULUM

Students take the following courses for a combined total of 6 units.

(Within New York University, 6 units count towards elective credit in the Department of Dramatic Writing at Tisch School of the Arts.)

Courses

Summer Screenwriting

DWPG-UT 15 | 3 units

The lectures given in this program explore the nature and principles of dramatic action, the relationship between character and circumstance, and how dramatic structure arises from these foundations. In the workshop sessions, students present their work, which is then reviewed, critiqued, and rewritten. In screenwriting, this process results in an outline and the partial scripting of a full-length screenplay. Readings of screenplays and screenings of movies complement the course work. Students will also have guest lecturers in TV writing and several film story analysis sessions.

Summer Playwriting

DWPG-UT 16 | 3 units

The lectures given in this program explore the nature and principles of dramatic action, the relationship between character and circumstance, and how dramatic structure arises from these foundations. In the workshop sessions, students present their work, which is then reviewed, critiqued, and rewritten. In playwriting, it culminates in a 10-minute play. Students work together as a repertory company to rehearse, critique, and rewrite their plays, and on the last day of classes, they perform their plays. In addition to the performance of the 10-minute plays, student monologues are directed and acted by professional actors and directors who work with the department on a regular basis. Readings of classic plays and tapes of important theatrical productions complement the course work.

Sample Schedule for Summer High School Dramatic Writing Program

Classes take place Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each weekend includes time for assignments and writing. There will also be time for rehearsals in advance of the final showcase, which will take place on the last Friday.
This sample schedule is based on previous summers to give prospective students an understanding of the highly structured and rigorous training offered in the Tisch Summer High School Dramatic Writing Program. This sample schedule is an overview of one of the four weeks in the program. Students accepted and confirmed for the program will be given their actual schedule on orientation day.

Monday
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Playwriting Section 1/Screenwriting Section 1

12:30-2:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30-5:30 p.m. Screenwriting Section 2/Playwriting Section 2
Free Night
11 p.m. Curfew

Tuesday
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Playwriting Section 1/Screenwriting Section 1

12:30-2:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00-5:00 p.m. Screenwriting Section 2/Playwriting Section 2
5:00-6:00 p.m. Dinner
6:00-7:00 p.m. Meet with PAs to travel to theater
7:00-10:00 p.m. Theater night (weeks 1, 2, 3) / Rehearsal night (week 4)
11 p.m. Curfew

Wednesday
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Playwriting Section 1/Screenwriting Section 1

12:30-2:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30-5:30 p.m. Screenwriting Section 2/Playwriting Section 2
Free Night
11 p.m. Curfew

Thursday
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Playwriting Section 1/Screenwriting Section 1

12:30-2:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00-5:00 p.m. Screenwriting Section 2/Playwriting Section 2
5:00-6:00 p.m. Dinner
6:00-7:00 p.m. Meet with PAs to travel to theater
7:00-10:00 p.m. Theater night (weeks 1, 2, 3) / Rehearsal night (week 4)
11 p.m. Curfew

Friday
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Playwriting Section 1/Screenwriting Section 1

12:30-2:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30-5:30 p.m. Screenwriting Section 2/Playwriting Section 2
Free Night
11:00 p.m. Curfew

Dramatic Writing student writing in a notebook with an open laptop in the background

Photo by Dylan Kenseth

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Program Dates

Summer 2025

Sunday, July 6 - Saturday, August 2, 2025

Additional important dates are available on the Tisch Admissions Calendar.

Tuition and Fees

Summer 2025

Total Estimated Program Cost*: $14,575

Breakdown of costs:

  • Tuition for 6 units (credits): $11,496

Additional Fees Include:

  • Program Fee (activities facilitated by Residential Life & Housing): $200

  • Housing for 4 weeks: $1,764

  • 10 meals* a week for 4 weeks: $768

*Estimated, based on summer 2024 rates. As this is a residential program, students are automatically enrolled in the 10 meals a week plan for the length of the program. Students have the option of increasing their meal plan if they wish.

Program-specific fees*:

  • Dramatic Writing Ticket Fee: $347

Please review the Tisch Special Programs cancellation policy.

Housing

Students accepted to the Tisch Summer High School program live in NYU housing. Per NYU policy, students must to be at least 15 to reside in housing for this program. 

Scholarships

Tisch has a limited number of scholarships for high school students to attend the Tisch summer programs. Scholarships are given to students who demonstrate the most financial need.

Review the Tisch Summer High School Scholarships page for more information.

Admissions

Summer 2025

Application Deadline: Monday, December 2, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Open to high school sophomores and juniors.

  • Online application fee: $75

Please read through the Summer High School Application Requirements page before starting your application.

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Still image from the Tisch Summer High School Dramatic Writing video