(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Drew University has announced its 2024-2025 Drew Forum series at Mayo Performing Arts Center with three events being held in collaboration with MPAC. From past and future presidents and vice presidents, to comedians, journalists, and Pulitzer Prize-winning historians, each year the Drew Forum cedes the stage to unique perspectives, thought leaders, and changemakers.

The 2024-2025 series features:

Bob Costas: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 7:30pm - Bob Costas has won 29 Emmy awards – more than any sports broadcaster. His versatility has been recognized with awards and nominations in the categories of hosting, play-by-play, writing, journalism, interviewing, news and entertainment. Bob’s peers have named him the “National Sportscaster of the Year” a record eight times.  He has been elected to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and the broadcasters’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Al Franken: Monday, February 3, 2025 at 7:30pm - Former Senator and comedian Al Franken delves into the critical issues of the country with humor and insight, emphasizing the need for collective action to safeguard the nation's foundation. Through a blend of personal experience, satire, and sharp analysis, he urges all Americans to recognize their power for positive change. The message is clear, and often funny,: it's time to speak up and shape the future of democracy.

Andy Borowitz: Monday, April 28, 2025 at 7:30pm - Andy Borowitz is an award-winning comedian and New York Times bestselling author. He is the creator of The Borowitz Report, a news satire site with millions of readers around the world. He has contributed humor to The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, for which he has written over a thousand pieces. He is the first-ever winner of the National Press Club’s humor award.

Tickets range from $39-$79 and are available for purchase online starting Friday, July 26 at 10:00am. Tickets are also available by calling the MPAC Box Office at 973-539-8008.

The Drew Forum lecture series is generously sponsored by the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.

"We are excited to bring a prestigious group of speakers to the Drew University and local communities this season, and are very pleased to have a venue like MPAC hosting each event,” said Hilary L. Link, PhD, President of Drew University.

“MPAC is thrilled to be partnering again with Drew University to host these three world-renowned speakers who will share fascinating, timely and interesting stories about the worlds of sports, politics and culture,” said Allison Larena, President and CEO, MPAC.

Drew University, a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts university, includes the College of Liberal Arts, the Drew Theological School, and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Drew is located on a beautiful, wooded campus in Madison, New Jersey, a thriving small town close to New York City. It has a total enrollment of more than 2,200 students and has 143 full-time faculty members, 98 percent of whom hold the terminal degree in their field. The Theological and Caspersen schools offer master’s and doctoral degrees, and the College confers BA and BS degrees in 40 disciplines, and offers 64 minors, 18 Dual-Degree programs, and seven New York Semesters.

Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2024-2025 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine.