FAQs

What is required for acceptance into the Summer Program?

A minimum age of 16 and a personal interview, usually done by phone, are required. Fluency and literacy in English are also required.

Do I have to audition to get into the Summer Program?

Acceptance into the summer program does not require an audition. Acceptance is based on recommendation and a personal interview usually conducted by phone. Applicants seeking scholarships must audition. Auditions are held regularly in New York and throughout the country - see "events" for the next scheduled date in your area. You will need to prepare a contemporary 1-2 minute monologue for the scholarship audition.

How is my level determined?

If you audition, your level may be recommended by your auditor. On orientation evening students will do their monologues for a faculty panel. That plus experience makes the final placement decision. All students must perform a placement audition at orientation, which should be a single 1 to 2 minute contemporary monologue.

Where will I live during my four weeks in New York?

Students live at the St. George Student Residence which is located in historic Brooklyn Heights. The residence is only a short subway ride away from the school's studios.

What are these accommodations like?

They are mostly double rooms, some singles. Each has a private bath. They are air-conditioned, have cable TV, a refrigerator, unlimited local phone usage and high-speed internet access. Students provide linens, dishes, coffee makers and any other simple cooking implements. Students should plan an adequate food budget for their stay.

What kind of security does the dormitory have?

There is a 24-hour security desk that monitors all entries. No one can go up to a living floor without proper identification and/or an okay from the person in the room. The living floors are patrolled by uniformed security guards during the overnight hours.

Does the School provide chaperones?

The School provides dorm parents who live at the student residence with the students. They enforce curfews, answer questions and solve problems. They also oversee weekend whereabouts. Students are not chaperoned to and from class or during lunch and evening hours.

Curfews?

Students under the age of 18 have an 11PM curfew on Sunday through Friday and a 1 AM curfew on Saturday night.

Is New York City Safe?

We put safety concerns at the top of our priority list. New York has never been safer. Crime is dramatically down, the city is clean and the open spaces have never been more beautifully kept. The School is located in an historic section of New York called Chelsea. Within its borders are the historic Ladies Mile, Gramercy Park and lots of great shopping and eating. It is adjacent to the beautiful West Village and a short bus or subway ride from the theater district. On Orientation Evening we provide students with instructions and information about how to stay safe in any urban environment.

What age are most of your students?

We have a range of ages in our Summer Program, about 1/2 are between 16 and 18 and an additional 1/2 between 18 and 21.

How many students are in the program?

Classes are divided into study sections of 14 to 16. Within each section, maximum attention is spent on the individual development of each actor.

How can I pay for the summer program?

NYCDA accepts most major credit cards, checks and cash, and has payment schedule.

How much free time will there be? Are there any activities planned?

In the Summer Program, evenings and weekends are opportunities to rehearse and practice for your classes; there is quite a lot of preparation work to do in your off-hours. However, professional seminars are planned. We will also be giving you information about free low-cost performances taking place. On the final Friday of the session a celebratory completion cruise is planned.

Do I need experience to take classes?

The Summer Program offers two levels, one for beginners and another for those with prior training.

Are there any special events or activities?

Yes. Students participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities that only New York can offer. In apition to a double-decker bus tour of the city and a graduation cruise around the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan, there will also be a guest lecture series exploring the realities of the business of acting.

Will I meet any industry professionals while in New York?

During the four-week sessions, students will be invited to attend "evening talks" given by New York agents and casting directors, and working actors about the reality of the business of the business.