Summer Newsletter | Jul 8, 2023
What's New With U? Week 2
We had another incredible week at Usdan! We started off with a bang as students enjoyed a concert by La Manga that inspired them to get out of their seats and dance! After having Tuesday, July 4 off from camp, they were treated on Wednesday to an interactive environmental theater experience by Artists in Residence, Superhero Clubhouse, whose performance left them wanting more. But, it didn't stop there. On Thursday, they enjoyed a performance by guest artists The Red Trouser Show, an awe-inspiring acrobatic circus act. The week wrapped up with IMGE Dance, a dance troupe that combines Indian classical, hip hop and contemporary dance. This was a truly incredible week of Festivals! You can watch them all of these performances on our YouTube channel.
In studios across campus, students continued to learn diverse music repertoire, rehearse thrilling musicals and plays, write captivating poems and stories, and develop interesting choreography for upcoming performances in Weeks 3 and 4.
Please join us in celebrating 55 years of Usdan.
PURCHASE TICKETS*
The day long format of experiential events lets you engage with the art and beauty of the Usdan campus the way the students do: immersively. Come for some, or stay for all!
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.
World Premieres with Artists in Residence: The Knights and Superhero Clubhouse
Exhibitions in the Art Department
Performances in the Dance, Theater, and Music Departments
Studio Visits throughout Campus
12:10 p.m.
Festival Performance in the McKinley Amphitheater featuring Discovery Students & Special Guests
1:00 p.m.
Picnic Lunch
1:30 p.m.
Theatrical Performance in the Hillside Theater of “Captain Louie”
Exhibitions in the Art Department
Performances in the Dance, Theater, and Music Departments
Studio Visits throughout Campus
3:05 p.m.
Splash Bash
An after party with swimming, mocktails, music, and nibbles at the pools. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
*It is very important to us that The U Benefit is accessible to our entire community. While you are always welcome to pay what you wish, we hope you will give as meaningfully as you can. We recommend giving $100 per person. The balance of donations above $65/person (the true cost of attending) is tax deductible. Please note: There is no minimum amount you must pay to attend. This event is open to everyone in the Usdan community regardless of ability to pay.
Join the Summer Volunteer Ensemble
We are in search of volunteers from our Usdan community to help on campus this summer!
We especially need your help on our U Benefit days: Wednesday, July 19 & Wednesday, August 16.
We are looking for a large group of people to ensure that these days run as smoothly as possible. Please volunteer one or both days. The Usdan community thrives on the assistance our volunteer ensemble provides. Volunteers will also get to experience and enjoy all that will be occurring on campus on this exciting day. For more information and to be placed on the volunteer list for the U Benefit, please email Sofia Notar-Francesco at snotarfrancesco@usdan.org.
Composition
Senior composition majors and minors were treated to a class on Friday with musical theater writer Ben Boecker, who created and composed the original Usdan commissioned musical, "Camp U: The Musical." Ben spoke with students about the structures of musicals. The students listened to songs and then analyzed the purpose of the songs within the body of the musical to help tell the story and develop the characters. They paid particular attention to how the style of a song sets the overall feeling and tone of the show. Students then compared that opening song to classical composition, discussing the prelude and introduction of a song. The students studied music from Rogers the Musical, which is being released this summer exclusively at Disneyland. Ben led the students in deconstructing the songs, discussing how words and the music work together in musical storytelling.
Composition is our newest offering in the Music Department and is taught by world-class music educator Daniel Felsenfeld, and provides students with unique opportunities to receive mentorship from working composers, such as Artist in Residence Colin Jacobson (Artistic Director, The Knights) and Avi Amon (celebrated for his multimedia work).
Device Policy
Usdan is device and electronics free this summer. We provide students a unique opportunity for immersion in creativity, self-expression and the natural world. To enhance this experience, we have adopted a device-free policy. Disconnecting allows our students to fully engage with their artistic endeavors, explore their imagination and connect with each other. Without their phones, music or video games, our students listen to the sounds that surround them in the woods - the birds, the wind and the sound of their peers playing music, singing and dancing. Not looking a screen leaves them free to look at the moss and leaves and plants that grow along the paths that they tread each day. We know that not having devices in hand is hard for our students and perhaps hard for their family and friends but we ask that you please allow them the peace and space to create and be in the moment, all day long when they are on the Usdan campus. We promise that if you need to reach your child, a call to our office will suffice. Please be our partner in helping our campers disconnect while they are on campus and remind them that their devices must be put away before they get off the bus or out of the car in the morning. We thank you for your support. If you have any questions or need to leave a message for your child during camp hours, please call: 631.643.7900.
Sustainable U
Last week's newsletter touched on sustainable behaviors. As Usdan moves towards a goal of zero waste, every person can do their part to reach this goal. Students can bring their lunches in reusable containers, eliminating single-use plastic bags, paper napkins can be swapped out for cloth napkins, and a refillable water bottle can be used over paper cups at each water station. These small changes can lead to larger changes over time, motivating students to look for new ways to live more sustainably.
Spirit Day
Students went all out this week with their outfits for Decade Day!
WEEK 2 IN MEDIA
TikTok
target="_blank" title="@usdanarts">@usdanarts Some clips from our very first day of camp yesterday! Looking forward to an amazing summer! #Usdan #Usdan2023 #art #inspiredbynature #huntingtonny #musicaltheatre #musical ♬ Daydream - Carly Pearl
Festival Livestream
Our Festivals are livestreamed on YouTube! Every day you can tune in on 12:10 or 12:35 to watch the same Festival performance as your children. We have amazing guest artists on the schedule as well as our talented teachers and student performers. It’s the next best thing to being at Usdan! If you miss the livestream, Festival performances can be viewed anytime on YouTube.
CAMP SHOTS
Our photographers travel around the campus daily capturing photos of our students and the joys of Usdan. In addition to photos shared in our Newsletter and on Instagram, you can view photos in Flickr.
Calendar Highlights: Week 3
Here is what's coming up next week!
When visiting campus you are invited to have lunch with members of Usdan's leadership team. On every performance or exhibition day, we host lunches for Usdan parents, supporters, grandparents and caregivers. Lunches are held backstage in the McKinley Amphitheater, typically at 12:40pm and 1:15pm. Lunch times are set so as not to conflict with the activities you are coming to see.
If you would like to join us for lunch, email rsvp@usdan.org.
Monday, July 10
First Day: Week 3 Recreational Camp!
Festival: Creative Writing
12:10pm & 12:35pm
Families of students who are performing will receive an email in advance of the date.
Families of students are welcome to attend. The performances will also be recorded and posted to our YouTube page.
Tuesday, July 11
5-Year Lunch (4A Students)
12:30pm
Festival: Artists in Residence - The Knights
12:10pm & 12:35pm
Families of students are welcome to attend. The student performances will also be live streamed and posted to our YouTube page.
Wednesday, July 12
Theater Show: Showtune: A Jerry Herman Revue (A25)
10:30am
Festival: Student Music
12:10pm | Orchestra III
12:35pm | Orchestra IV
Families of students who are performing will receive an email in advance of the date.
Families of students are welcome to attend. The student performances will also be live streamed and posted to our YouTube page.
Thursday, July 13
In Studio Show: The Actor Sings (T8)
10:30am | Sr. Musical Theater
Theater Show: Rainbow Fish (T8)
1:30pm | Jr. Musical Theater
Festival: Student Music
12:10pm | Band III
12:35pm | Band IV
Families of students who are performing will receive an email in advance of the date.
Families of students are welcome to attend. The student performances will also be live streamed and posted to our YouTube page.
Friday, July 14
Sprit Day: Wacky Day
Last Day: Week 3 Recreational Camp
Theater Show: Cats
10:30am | Sr. Musical Theater
1:30pm | Jr. Musical Theater
Festival: Student Music
12:10pm & 12:35 | Senior Jazz Major
Families of students who are performing will receive an email in advance of the date.
Families of students are welcome to attend. The student performances will also be live streamed and posted to our YouTube page.
See U next week!
2023 U Designed by Vladym