Our Faculty & Staff

Stephanie Abrams joined Usdan in Fall of 2023 as Senior Director of Student Affairs. Since she was a child going to camp at the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds next to Usdan, Stephanie has wanted to be a camp director. She comes to Usdan having spent the past eight years working at the Friedberg JCC in Oceanside, NY where she was most recently the Senior Program Officer of Camping & Youth Services. Her professional camp career began in 2019 as the Director of Camp Friedberg and co-founder of Camp Ga’avah (an LGBTQ day camp) in 2018. Stephanie attended SUNY Buffalo and received a BS in Marketing, and a Master's in Non-Profit Management from CUNY Baruch in 2005. She passed her love of musical theater to her oldest daughter, a current Usdan student and is so excited they get to experience Usdan together! During the summer when not at camp you can find Stephanie on the beach!

Courtney Kassinger has spent her summers at Usdan since 2002 when she first attended as a student. On staff, she has served as a Discovery counselor, a member of the administration/transportation staff, Transportation Manager, and is now the Associate Director of Student Affairs. Courtney holds a B.M. in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia and a M.S. in Music Education from Queens College along with an Advanced Certificate in TESOL from Touro College.  Courtney teaches elementary band in the Harborfields Central School District in the very elementary school she herself attended and is a member of both SCMEA and NAfME.  She looks back fondly on her many summers at Usdan as a student that fostered her love for music and led her to pursue a career in music education.  Courtney is eternally grateful for her Usdan family and the many lifelong friendships that have been created through her time spent at Usdan. 

Dr. Lauren Kinane is a clarinetist, educator, and currently serves as the Manager of Special Projects at Usdan. Prior to becoming the Manager of Special Projects, Lauren served as the Enrollment Coordinator and Student Supervision Coordinator, and she spent four summers as a camper at Usdan. Her summers at Usdan inspired her to pursue her passion for clarinet further. Throughout the year Lauren can be heard performing with the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra and the Atlantic Wind Symphony. She can also be heard on the Massachusetts Chamber Players' album Frank Martin: Music for Winds. Lauren received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, her Master of Music from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, and her Bachelor of Music from SUNY Fredonia. 

Kyra Leeds is an actor and arts administrator from Queens, NY. Kyra was a student at Usdan for ten glorious summers, a Discovery Counselor for three summers, and has worked in Usdan’s administrative offices for the past five years. Kyra has also done some development and fundraising work for DCM, Inc. and, most recently, for the Off-Broadway MCC Theater in NYC. As an actor Kyra has been a part of Royal Caribbean’s CATS (Jennyanydots), Argyle Theatre’s FULL MONTY (Vicki), Hangar Theatre’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Christmas Past), and the REV Theatre Company’s PARADE (Ensemble/Dance Captain).  Kyra holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. 

Emily (they/she) is an arts administrator and flute instructor based in Brooklyn, NY. Emily first joined Usdan’s seasonal staff in 2021, supporting the Marketing, Enrollment, and Transportation departments. They joined Usdan’s Education department in January of 2023 as Education Coordinator, and rejoined the Enrollment department as the Enrollment Coordinator in May of the same year. Emily brings with them eclectic administrative experience in from a variety of roles, including a summer as Chamber Coordinator for the Spoleto Festival, USA. Emily holds a BA and MA in Flute Performance from SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Purchase respectively, and in addition to their work at Usdan, teaches private flute lessons to flute lovers of all ages and skill levels. When not teaching, working, or fluting, Emily can be found knitting, listening to e-books, or learning how to play a new instrument.  

Lucas Sheridan is an artist and educator who has been an enthusiastic teacher of the visual arts for over 18 years in Astoria, Queens . He enjoys helping students of all ages develop their skills and understandings of the world through projects in art and design. He fell in love with art and the outdoors as a child and is excited to spend his summer as part of the USDAN Community.

J.T. Harris started his Usdan career in 2018 as an assistant ceramics teacher. In 2019, he was promoted to a lead teacher position as the Discovery Program’s art teacher. He is now returning for his fourth summer at Usdan as the Discovery Art lead teacher. Outside of Usdan, J.T. is a NYS Certified Teacher in art, general education, and special education. He is currently working as an elementary art teacher in the Central Islip School District on Long Island, where he has been for the last three years. J.T. is also a frequently commissioned illustrator based on the south shore of Long Island.

Alexandra Gaudioso joins the USDAN community as a first year Painting and Drawing teacher! With a B.A. in Art from the University of Rhode Island, on her spare time she is completing her Masters in Art Education (prek-12) at CUNY Queens College and working as a high school substitute on Long Island. Her personal practice includes a range of mediums, with a strength in acrylic painting and oil pastels. One fun fact is that I am a local artist! I love collaborating, creating custom pieces, and showcasing my artwork around L.I.!

Amalia Drewes is an artist, a lover of nature, and a spiritual explorer. Amalia graduated from Parsons School of Design, The New School with a BFA in Illustration. Amalia is a presenter and storyteller for Journeys Into American Indian Territory, a moving museum of Native American culture. She has started her own business called Visual Remedies, providing healing art for those who are grieving from loss. Additionally, Amalia operates as a freelance graphic designer, but one of her biggest joys was becoming a teacher of Reggio, a nature-based learning, at Spark Elementary. Amalia started online teaching at Usdan in 2020 as a Mixed Media Instructor and for the 3rd year in a row will attend as a Painting and Drawing teacher. Amalia had the pleasure of attending camp as a young girl, starting when she was in 3rd grade. Her summers at Usdan were some of the best memories of her life. She is very excited to be on the campgrounds again this year to share in the celebration of art, music, and nature coming together. 

I am NYS certified k-12 in art education and 5-12 in literacy education. Formerly a NYC high school teacher in the South Bronx, where I taught ceramics and studio art; now a substitute teacher in a district close to my home. Ceramics is my primary art discipline of choice, though I am well versed in a wide range of art media and techniques. When I’m not teaching out in the world, you can often find me in my home ceramics studio, where I create work and teach private lessons and small classes to students of all ages. I also love gardening, taking care of my houseplants, surfing, riding my bike, and reading. Last summer, I joined Caryn in teaching students metal smithing and mixed media jewelry arts at USDAN and I’m looking forward to another great summer!

Noah Packard is a long Island based videographer and teaching artist & musician. He loves to tell stories and help others tell their stories with art. He began working at Usdan in 2021 as lead a comic art teacher helping students improve as artists and writers in a fun educational environment. Growing up Noah cultivated his love of the arts as teen at Usdan, taking animation and classical guitar. He loves having the opportunity to be part of that learning process for the new campers. During the year he shoots and edits commercials and music videos for local artists and teaches art, and music classes for all ages at libraries all over long Island.

I first began at Usdan as an Art Assistant teacher in 2013 and have worked every year since. Then, in 2021, I became a Lead Teacher. I attended Usdan for 7 years as a student. As a kid, I moved homes every year and Usdan was the one place that really felt like home to me.

My personal art form is primarily digital illustrations. 

I hold a B.A in Education from SUNY Geneseo.

Jodie joined us at Usdan in 2008. Her role has evolved from assistant, to teacher, to art chair representing her dedication to Arts Education and her love of Usdan.  She holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing from SUNY Purchase College and a MSEd in Art Education from CUNY Queens College.  Jodie’s personal work consists of paintings depicting abstract architectural designs with sculptural elements. On the off-season, Jodie is a visual arts teacher in a public school on Long Island. Her favorite experiences at Usdan include working with teachers and children as they reconnect with nature and funnel their creative energy into building a better community. A fun fact about Jodie is that she used to foster hurt wild animals. 

Eric Fox is a local Long Beach artist who takes inspiration from the ocean. He has always found himself inspired by nature and objects found in nature. He mainly creates works of art with acrylic paint, watercolors and ink that reflect ocean and sea life. Some of his works are created on found wood and or driftwood. Eric uses the comic book style of inking to help enhance his works of art and is intrigued by the use of dark inked lines juxtaposed with his use of color. When he is not creating artworks Eric is a visual arts teacher in the diverse district of Long Beach. He has been an art educator for over 25 years and currently teaches in the high school. Some of the classes that he teaches are the International Baccalaureate visual arts program along with Drawing and Painting classes.

Chris Vivas joined Usdan’s Art Department in 2010. Lead Art Teacher, he brings his interest in art, culture, travel, literature, and ceramics to his teaching philosophies. His artwork, influenced by existential writers such as Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus, explores the duality of strength and fragility found within human existence. Exploring how strength synthesizes to weakness and vice versa has led him to working in ceramic during his initial studies at Stony Brook University followed by receiving his MFA from SUNY New Paltz. Art residencies have also been an important aspect of his artistic development and growth as an educator. Residencies include; Shigaraki Ceramic Culture Park in Shigaraki, Japan, Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York, NY, AIR Vallauris in Vallauris, France, Babayan Culture House, Ibrahimpaşa, Cappadocia, Turkey. He currently teaches at Suffolk County Community College and St. Joseph’s College along with various workshops and lectures throughout Long Island.

Daemond Arrindell is a multi-genre writer, performer and educator. He has taught at Seattle University, for TAT Lab, the Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab, and Freehold Theatre, leading poetry & theatre residencies at Washington State’s Monroe Correctional Complex. His work has appeared in City Arts, Specter, Crosscut, Poetry NorthWest, Seattle Review of Books and The Pitkin Review.

In 2019, he performed his one-man show, “Frozen Borders,” an exploration in imagery, poetry and emotion regarding the United States’ southern border. In 2022, Daemond earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. The rest of the year, he teaches poetry and theater throughout the New York area.

This is Daemond's first year at Usdan. In a previous life, many years ago, he was a lifeguard at Jones Beach.

A proud native of Long Island, New York, Jacqueline was introduced to dance at the tender age of seven. She became well versed in all styles including but not limited to ballet, modern, jazz, latin, tap, and hip hop. She graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education. Jacqueline has performed elite choreographed pieces by Bill T. Jones, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, David Parsons, Larry Keigwin, and Frederick Earl Mosley. She was the lead soloist in Martha Graham's Daughters of the Night, performed at The Joyce Theatre, NYC and she performed in the musical Prime Time in Keywest, FL. Jacqueline spent three seasons with Asha Dance Company, and is currently on her fifth season with Dance Key West, and was the lead actress in The Truth Urban Theatre Group’s production of Viva Africa in Long Island, NY. Jacqueline appeared on Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It Netflix series as well as a dancer on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, and Live with Kelly and Ryan. Some of her commercial credits include performing with Cardi B, Demi Lovato, Rita Ora, and G-Eazy. She walked in Brooklyn Fashion Week and performed in New York Fashion Week. Being represented by Bloc Agency,  has afforded her the opportunity to be casted in commercials such as Ultimate Ears Headphones and a Nutrafol Hair commercial. Jacqueline is grateful to be able to travel the world and share her expertise at dance competitions as an adjudicator. This is Jacqueline's fifth year teaching Hip Hop Dance at USDAN and is excited to have a fun-filled summer of dancing in the sun! 

Doug Shankman has been teaching the art of dance and tap dancing since 2000 and is excited to return to USDAN. Currently, Doug teaches at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and many other performing arts schools, conservatories and colleges throughout the Tri-State area. Additionally, Doug is the Artistic Director for Contemporary Dance Arts and has several upcoming new and exciting projects in workshops and seeking "angels". As an award winning Choreographer and Director, Doug has reimagined, rediscovered and reinvented some of Contemporary musical theater's most epic and exciting shows including: West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Beauty and The Beast, Music Man, Hairspray, Kiss me Kate, Joseph, Camelot, The Full Monty, My Fair Lady, Singin' in the Rain, Legally Blonde, Big River, You're a good man Charlie Brown, Honky Tonk Angels, Peter Pan, My one and Only, On Your Toes and many original new plays and musicals that are currently being workshopped for contemporary audiences.

Johanna is a performing and teaching artist. She taught at Usdan in 2021 and 2022 and is happy to return this summer. She holds a BFA in Dance from the University at Buffalo and completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Awakened Spirit Yoga. She enjoys helping her students discover joy, connection, and self-expression through yoga, dance, and theatre. During the year she teaches dance to children of all ages. Johanna is also a member of Actors’ Equity Association and is a Long Island native! Favorite performing credit: Broadway National Tour of A BRONX TALE.

Kelly (BFA Dance, Montclair State University) is thrilled to be joining USDAN for a third summer after joining in 2022. She teaches dance at studios across Queens and Long Island. She is Choreographer of the Long Island Cabaret Theatre and a dance competition judge for Dance Champs Elite. Favorite performance credits include a Bollywood tour, an entertainment contract in Greece, and a circus production at Six Flags Great Adventure. Her dog, a chow chow named Zucca Maria, looks like a lion.

Sadie started working at Usdan in 2008 as a Discovery Counselor and has loved the Discovery program ever since! She currently teachers Elementary School General Music in the Three Village School District. She also teaches Early Childhood family music classes. Her main instruments are voice and piano.

Tatiana Birenbaum is thrilled to be returning to USDAN for another magical summer! This will be Taty's third season at USDAN! She is half Brazilian half Argentinian multidisciplinary artists graduated from the American Musical and Dramatics Academy. Besides being a teaching artists, she is a performer and the producer and singer of a monthly showcase series called "Let's Broadway". Most recently she was the choreographer for a production of the musical "Working" and the Israeli Folk Dance Festival that happend in NYC this past April. She has also performed with big names of the Brazilian music like Toquinho, Jair Rodrigues and Alceu Valenca. When not performing or teaching, you can find Taty trying new ice cream shops, doing Acro Pilates and enjoying picnics.

Dr. Kageki Nagao started working at Usdan as a double bass lead teacher and a chamber music coach in 2008. He has been a director of orchestras since 2014. During the school year, Kageki directs the string department of Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School.

Graduated from Juilliard School and Stony Brook University, Kageki is active as a soloist, orchestra and chamber musician. Kageki was chosen by Leonard Bernstein to serve as principal bass for the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. Recently, Kageki appeared as a member of the Strauss Symphony of America, which played in venues such as the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center, NYC. As a conductor, Kageki lead the SCMEA Division III East Festival Orchestra in March 2018.

Kageki lives with his wife Jeanine (also a Usdan teacher) and a rabbit named Juliet.

Dennis Creighton (Sr. Vocal Ensemble)- Dennis has taught choral music at the high school level for the last 25 years. He is a frequent guest conductor and is very active in NYSSMA. He can often be found on local Long Island stages acting in musicals and plays.

Native New Yorker, saxophonist, recording artist, composer and educator Sam Dillon has established himself as one of the most in demand musicians of his generation. Sam’s prolific soloist and sideman work includes over 40 studio recordings, performances on a global level and international recognition as one of the defining tenor saxophone voices today.

Sam’s latest album, co-lead with Andrew Gould entitled “It Takes One To Know One”, was released on Cellar Live Records in 2022 and is streaming on all platforms. Sam’s most recent sideman recording’s include Mark Sherman’s “With Freedom” on Miles High Records (2023) and Chris Hajian’s “A Portrait in Melancholy” (2023). Sam’s previous leader albums include “Two Part Solution” with Frank Basile on Cellar Live in (2020); “Force Field” on PosiTone (2019) and “Out In The Open” on Cellar Live (2018). Please refer to Sam’s website for his full discography.

In addition to Sam’s work as a leader, his long history with big bands include extensive touring, recording and preforming with The Vanguard Orchestra, The Jimmy Heath Big Band, Mingus Big Band, Slide Hampton Octet, The 8BitBigBand, The Steven Feifke Big Band, The Birdland Big Big and several others.

In 2022 Sam was awarded a Grammy Certificate for his participation in The 8-Bit Big Band’s Meta Knight’s Revenge (From “Kirby Superstar”). In 2016 Sam was awarded an Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School granting him his third degree in music performance including a masters degree and bachelor’s degree from SUNY Purchase College in 2009. In 2013, Sam was selected as one of 13 semi-finalists in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.

Sam is also the director of the jazz program at USDAN Summer Camp For The Arts where he has acted as both a teacher and administrator for the past 6 years.

Sam is an endorsing artist for Yamaha Saxophones and D’Addario Reeds.

For more information please visit www.samdillonmusic.com.

Alicia Pilgrim is a multi disciplinary artist from Washington, DC but is currently based in New York City. Some of Alicia’s selected credits are as follows: the Drama Desk nominated play CULLUD WATTAH at The Public where she was also nominated for an Antonyo & Audelco Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, and can be seen as NAJJA in the second season RANDOM ACTS OF FLYNESS on HBO Max as well as the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning film A THOUSAND AND ONE.) Currently giving ourselves the permission to explore all of our creative impulses. In the last year, Alicia has been teaching herself how to dj & has been exploring sound curation. Selected credits include: co-sound design & dj for Ghetto Alchemy: LRSG at the Tank, Dream Machine @ the Lincoln Center) Fun fact: This is my first year @ USDAN!!!

Gerry Saulter joined Usdan’s Music Department in 2020. He is a distinguished Alhambra Guitars and RC Strings Performing Artist, Centaur Recording Artist, and guitarist of the award-winning flute and guitar ensemble, Serenade Duo. As a performer, educator, and chamber music advocate, Gerry has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to maintaining an active private teaching studio, he is also an Applied Instructor of Classical Guitar at Suffolk County Community College. When not playing guitar, Gerry enjoys playing tennis, cooking, and spending time with his family and his dog! Gerry earned a Master of Music Degree from Five Towns College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. serenadeduo.com

Horn player Jeanine Nagao is returning for a second summer as lead teacher at Usdan. Over the past 15 years she served in the capacity of assistant or substitute in the horn department. She is so happy to be back at Usdan this summer to work with all the wonderful campers!

A graduate of both the Juilliard School (BM, MM) and Stony Brook University (BA, DMA), she brings many years of experience as an orchestral player (Filarmonica de Santiago, Korean Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Long Island), Broadway (Phantom of the Opera, Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Cats) and chamber player as well as many years as a soloist.

Jeanine also traveled as a touring musician with musical theater productions such as Phantom of the Opera (Hong Kong/Singapore/Honolulu as well as within the United States; and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music of the Night). As a member of the Strauss Symphony of America, she appeared played in venues such as the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center, NYC.

Jeanine lives with her husband Kageki (Usdan orchestra director) and their rabbit Juliette.

Cindy is returning for her fourth year in the Nature department. Cindy is an artist and environmental activist based in Rockaway, Queens, where she lives on a houseboat made from converted shipping containers. She has a BFA and a Certificate in Art Therapy from School of Visual Arts. A painter and printmaker, Cindy is seven years into a daily drawing practice that has made her a firm believer in the power of making art every day. When she’s not teaching, Cindy spends portions of her year volunteering in the field for environmental organizations – from monitoring buffalo migrations to working on ocean-going conservation ships, Cindy believes that life is best lived outdoors.

Dave began teaching at Usdan in 2005 as the Tennis Instructor and is pleased to begin a new role in 2022 as the Chair of Recreation. During the school year Dave is a 5th Grade Teacher in the East Islip School District. Fun fact: Dave juggled a soccer ball 12,600 times when he was 17.

This is my 5th summer at USDAN! I have worked as an assistant in LEGO design, Fashion, and the Main Range of Archery. In 2022 I was referred to lead Archery for our Recreational Campers. During the year I am an elementary school teacher, with my certification in Elementary and Special Education. Archery is a fun activity to participate in during the summer! One fun fact about me is that I can say the alphabet backwards from any letter!

James Crichton is an actor, singer, pianist, & educator. As an actor he most recently appeared in the New York premiere of Unknown Soldier at Playwrights Horizons. Other credits include Jasper in Deadland with Prospect Theater Company, the national tour of Peter and the Starcatcher, Botticelli in the Fire at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Last Ship at Pioneer Theatre Company, and Sweeney Todd at The Rev Theater Company. Additionally, he is the host and creator of the podcast Actors: On Process, serves as an adjunct (associate professor) for the musical theatre program at LIU Post, he holds a BFA in Acting from Hofstra University, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. As both a student and faculty member, this will be his 19th summer at Usdan. His favorite musical is Fiddler on the Roof and his favorite color is purple.

Marie is best known for her star turn as Christine in the Broadway and National Touring production of The Phantom of the Opera, having worked with director Hal Prince. She has performed Christine in the Yeston/Kopit Phantom at Paper Mill Playhouse and appeared in the National and International Tour of The Fantasticks with Robert Goulet. She acted Off-Broadway with the Manhattan Theater Club and on Television on As The World Turns. Across the country she has played leading roles in A Chorus Line, Company, The Mikado, Brigadoon, Lend Me a Tenor, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Nunsense, Guys and Dolls and Cyrano de Bergerac to name a few. She holds an AAS in Acting, a BFA in Dance and an MFA in Dramaturgy from Stony Brook University. As a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association for over 30 years, she has performed with the Broadway by the Year Series at Town Hall, Broadway Pops International, and The City Center Encores in Manhattan. Marie is happy to be returning to USDAN this summer. During the school year she has been teaching at Momentum School of Music in West Islip, directing musicals at Suffolk County Community College and teaching private voice.
 

Jordan Hue started as a lead teacher at USDAN in the summer of 2017. He is writer, actor, director, and teacher specializing in youth theatre and educational programs. While not at USDAN, Jordan is the theatre arts teacher at Long Beach High School and the artistic director of the Carriage House Players in Centerport, NY. He remains active and involved in local theatre projects across the island. Fun fact: Jordan also works as a designer for Top Dog Games, a tabletop gaming company. Education: Hofstra University (BA, MS Ed.), Adelphi University (MS).

Sara Miyamoto (she/they) is so excited to be returning to USDAN for her second summer! Her personal art form is musical theatre but she also loves costuming and is so excited to be costuming these kiddos this summer! They are a recent grad of LIU Post, getting her BFA in Musical Theatre, and is looking forward to moving to the city and starting her career.

This will be my second year at Usdan as a lead teacher in the theatre department. I am a choral musician and theatre director. When I'm not at Usdan, I am a music and theatre teacher in William Floyd School District. I currently hold my bachelors and masters in music, as well as teaching credentials in music and theatre. A fun fact about me is that I got my students on Good Morning America this past school year!

Carolyn is a NY based teaching artist, director and performer. She brings her love of theater to students throughout Long Island and Brooklyn directing school musicals and incorporating theater arts into class curriculums during the school year. She motivates her students to reach their fullest potential by making brave and interesting theatrical choices and, most important, to believe in themselves. Carolyn began at Usdan in 1997 and returned after some gap years to make summer 2024 her 18th year! She has been drama consultant for Council Center of Brooklyn and is co-director of Infinity Arts LI. Carolyn has studied at Brooklyn College, NYU, and in the professional acting program with the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, UK. Carolyn has toured the US and performed and traveled through 46 states. She has appeared in numerous east coast, regional, and Off-Off Broadway productions. She is the proud mom of two daughters who both enjoyed Usdan's Dance programs.

I started at Usdan teaching group beginner and advanced piano, summer of 2022. Last year, Summer 2023 I was part of the Theater Dept as Musical Director for both sessions. This summer 2024, I will be a Musical Director in the Theater Dept during Session 2. Piano is one of my art forms. When I’m not at Usdan I am involved in other musical theater venues as director, musical director and/or accompanist. I am also an accompanist in other situations, and teach voice and piano. My bachelor’s degree was at NYU. My masters at the New England Conservatory and Boston University. Fun Fact, I love to write songs.

Freyja Goldstein is an award-winning musical theater director and actor and is so excited to be joining the Usdan team. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has worked extensively in both Chicago and New York. She is currently an actor at the Long Island Children's Museum and the director of after-school for Piper Theater Company in Brooklyn.

Jim began teaching at Usdan in the summer of 1991 and after more than thirty summers in the woods, he is still as excited as when he first started. Jim is an actor, director and producer who has overseen more than three hundred shows in Usdan’s three theaters. He began his professional work in the arts at the age of five as a commercial model. He was bitten by the acting bug for good in high school. Jim obtained his B. A. and his M.S. in Education at Hofstra Univeristy and studied for his M.F.A. at Columbia. He is the founder of the OnStage Strategies Group, a theater consulting firm assisting educational and local theater programs as they work to grow and re-imagine their student offerings. Jim believes that art has the power to break down the barriers that divide us.