The Usdan Weekly #4
On Wednesday, we honored two distinguished staff members in our Community Day Festival: David Schecher Sr. (pictured far right), Faculty Award Recipient, and Samantha Mason (pictured left-center), Young Alumni Award Recipient. Through these inaugural awards, we celebrate Dave and Sam's leadership, creativity, and outsized impact on Usdan.
As we wrap up session 4A, we hope Dave and Sam's stories inspire all members of our community to "contribute creatively to the world now and for the rest of their lives" (Usdan's Mission).
Keep reading for little bits of magic that Week 4 brought.
Lauren Brandt Schloss
Executive Director
P.S. Don't forget to get your tickets for the Hip-Hop Pool Party on Saturday, August 8! Tickets are selling quickly.
ant update
Some of our closest observers of the natural world can be found in the Art Department, finding inspiration in Usdan's landscape, chipmunks, weather patterns, and little insects. Pictured above is four students' interpretation of this summer's insect, ANT. Artwork by (top-bottom, left-right): Arielle, Willow, Sabrina, Abigail.
Scenes from character day
theater spotlight
Written by Usdan Musical Director Ben Boecker with former Senior Theater Chair Jim Incorvaia, this summer's first New Work, "Sleepy Hollow Awakens: A Washington Irving Remix," premiered on Thursday, July 24.
Musical Theater Seniors reflect on the process of bringing an original musical to life in just four weeks:
Director's Note:
"When Jim [Incorvaia] approached me to create a Sleepy Hollow musical last summer, I read the source material and quickly fell in love with these classic American Tales, written long before anyone here was alive.
We decided to combine three Irving tales in one: 'Sleepy Hollow,' 'Rip van Winkle,' and 'The Devil and Tom Walker,' all of which preserve a time in our nation's history of great change and tumult: the post-revolutionary period.
What better parallel for today, a time in which technology and economic change are rewriting the rules of how we live our lives. This theme of reinvention is central to the life of these works, as it is central to the children performed the roles. As the play says: 'Rewrite your story, rewrite your life!'"
— Ben Boecker, Musical Director
‼️ CALLS TO ACTION ‼️
⭐ We are looking to partner with friends and alumni of Usdan who oversee organizations that have interest and space for a family concert by The Knights featuring work by Usdan Classical Composition students. Email director@usdan.org if you are interested in working with Usdan on this project!
⭐ Add 1-week of Recreational Camp! Our flexible one-week sessions let students experience the fun, friendships, and creativity of Usdan for just one week. Perfect for busy schedules, these sessions fit neatly into open summer weeks.
⭐ Know someone who would join Usdan if they could experience just one day with us? Join TryU, our new one day arts program for grades 2–12.
⭐ Donate! Usdan has been a nonprofit arts organization since 1968. Please consider donating to support scholarships, campus stewardship, and more.
⭐ Volunteer! Email volunteers@usdan.org if you are interested in contributing to the transformative power of the arts on campus this summer!
What's coming up at usdan
🌞 RSVP for our 2026 Community Gatherings — some of the best days to visit Usdan!
- 2026 Hip-Hop Pool Party: Sat, Aug 8 from 12:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
- Tickets for all ages are live! Grab your bathing suit, shake off your dance moves, and join us for what promises to be a party for the history books!
- August Community Day: Wed, Aug 19 from 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.
- Join us for a day filled with art, performances, raffles, and the magic of Usdan. Thanks to our generous sponsors, this is a free event. Registration is required, and donations are strongly encouraged.
Did you know? Tuition includes free access to phenomenal Festival shows for family members and friends. Festival performances, unless otherwise noted, will also be livestreamed, as well as recorded and posted, to our YouTube Channel.
💥 Upcoming performances
- Upcoming Performances & Exhibitions
- 🌈 Monday, July 27
- 12:10 p.m. | Festival: The Red Trouser Show
- 12:35 p.m. | Festival: The Red Trouser Show
- 🎷 Tuesday, July 28
- 12:10 p.m. | Festival: Tribute to Ralph Peterson Jr. by Mr. Nekrutman + Brand New Past
- 12:35 p.m. | Festival: Tribute to Ralph Peterson Jr. by Mr. Nekrutman + Brand New Past
- 🩰 Wednesday, July 29
- 12:10 p.m. | Festival: Nai-Ni Chen Dance
- 12:35 p.m. | Festival: Nai-Ni Chen Dance
- 🎻 Thursday, July 30
- 12:10 p.m. | Festival: The Knights
- 12:35 p.m. | Festival: The Knights
- 🎤 Friday, July 31
- 12:10 p.m. | Festival: Docacapella + Adam Cordero + Kara DeBruin
- 12:10 p.m. | Festival: Docacapella + Adam Cordero + Kara DeBruin
- 💼 Dress for the job you want... next Friday, July 31 for Dream Job Day!
Partners in the arts corner
Our Partners in the Arts are our second and third grade students transitioning into a more independent camp experience with the support of mature high school-aged students in our Leadership program. We started this column to share a little bit more about this special department on campus.
"As we prepare to say goodbye to some friends and welcome new ones on Monday, our Partners students have spent the week dancing in Festivals, showing off their artwork in Open Studios, performing their hearts out on the stage, and winning Chess tournaments.
As a first time Usdan parent and staff member, I can share that my daughter’s experience has been nothing short of wonderful — from supportive staff members to new friends cheering her on from day one — I look forward to our drive home and her daily recap of all of the things that happened.
I love that our students — the young ones and the older ones — get to experience inspiring performances daily to draw from in their own creativity. I hope as the next few weeks unveil themselves you join us for a performance in person or tune in on our YouTube livestream."
— Laura Gravino, Partners in the Arts parent & Interim Senior Manager of Marketing
RETURN2U is now open
Return2U is an early enrollment program for returning students and their siblings that locks in the best possible tuition rate and first choice of classes. More than that, it's an opportunity to promise your child another inspiring summer full of boundless creativity, play, and friendship amidst the wonder of 140-acres of natural beauty.
Thanks for reading!
Have a great weekend, and enjoy our quote of the week:
"Sometimes you'll say something and no one will be listening. But keep saying what is in your heart... and you may be surprised to find the whole world listening."
— Peter H. Reynolds
"Say Something," performed by 4A Discovery students on Thu, Jul 23
Do you have any Usdan news we should know about? Write to us at media@usdan.org or tag us on Instagram @usdanarts, and we may feature it in our next newsletter or on our social channels!
