Dear Friends,  

Recently I re-listened to a testimonial of a student reflecting on their Found Sound Composition class over the summer: 

“Just standing here, it blows my mind to hear all the different sounds. I think that we all just need to stop and listen.” — E, Art Major, grade 9

Hearing E's quote about our campus, I am reminded of how grateful I feel every day of the summer, taking in all that our students dream up and create. This week, as we turn our attention toward gratitude, I encourage your memories of magical summer sounds to prompt stories of Usdan over your Thanksgiving table.

— Lauren Brandt Schloss, Executive Director 

GIVE THE GIFT OF U
Holiday Gift Bundle Sale  

From our Nostalgia Bundle to our Stocking Stuffer Bundle, snag a special Usdan gift for the whole family.

Order by: December 1; receive by December 14
Order by: December 12; receive by December 24

Interested in gifting a young artist in your life a summer at Usdan? Email enrollment@usdan.org for help facilitating your gift. We will also send you a printable certificate.  

2025 ALUMNI PARTY
Generations of Usdanites celebrate 57 years of creativity 

(L-R): Alums Taylor Sheehan and Sarah Shaiman reminisce at The Greats of Craft for Usdan's Alumni Engagement Party on November 13, 2025. 

(L-R): Jordan Leeds, Bruce Friedman, Amy Friedman, Natalie Jakowlew, and Joanne Borts strike a pose as they celebrate years of friendship.

10 things we love about U! 

1. Favorite Festival / Assembly: "The jazz ensemble featuring Jane Monheit!* She inspired me to pursue a career as a vocalist."
— Sarah Shaiman, attended Usdan 1999-2010; *Jane is also a Usdan alum. 

2. Favorite achievement: "When I smuggled my dog onto campus to be in a theater show with me." 
— Joanne H Borts, attended Usdan in the 1970s 

3. Favorite ice cream: "Cookies and cream!"
— Taylor Sheehan, attended Usdan in the 2000s 

4. Favorite memory: "When Andrew McKinley, Usdan's first director, gave me a merit scholarship for Theater. Fifteen years later I was on Broadway." 
— Jordan Leeds, attended Usdan in the 1970s

5. Favorite class: "Band with Mr. Schecher!"
— Nicole Davidson, Music Chair, attended Usdan 2010

6. Favorite place on campus: "The Amphitheater, where I could watch my children perform over the years." 
— Natalie Jakowlew, alumni parent 

7. Favorite piece of memorabilia: "A photo of me performing at Festival with all of my grandparents."
— Jessica Liss, Usdan Director of Development, attended Usdan 2003/04

8. Favorite tradition: "Ice cream!"
— Matt Mantione, attended Usdan 2003-2014

9. Favorite trend popular while you were at camp: "Autographing the scenery." — Tom Meglio, attended Usdan 2010 

10. Favorite teacher: "Ms. Panik!* She taught chorus." 
— Elizabeth Marks, attended Usdan 1968 into the 70s; *Many students know her by her married name, Mrs. Gates.

(L - R) Simon Usdan (attended Usdan in the 2000s), Ally Witherell, Sarah Fishman, and Josh Usdan (attended Usdan in 2009) join in the festivities while enjoying some beers on tap at The Greats of Craft.

Simon and Josh’s great grandfather, philanthropist Samuel Lemberg provided the initial funding for the bold vision of Usdan and named it after his beloved daughter Suzanne Usdan. Their father, John Usdan, serves as Usdan’s current board president. Without Lemberg’s transformational gift, Usdan may have never been born. Four generations later, Simon and Josh celebrate their own summer memories at Usdan. 

Alumni advice to current students 

We asked Usdan Alumni Party guests to give some advice to our current student body. Here are some highlights: 

"Keep in touch with your camp friends throughout the year to keep you sane through school!"

"Never let people take you down. You are perfect just the way you are." 

"If you want to swim, you need to earn it! Get those steps up that swim hill!"

Sponsors of the event included The Greats of Craft (co-founded by former Usdan staff member Stella Shepherd), The Dot Cakes (owned by Usdan alum Alex Posner), Michele Lowe, and Beth Posner. Photos by Alexia Haick, Usdan Photography Teacher. 

We Want to Place an Ad in Your School Playbill!

Is your Musical Theater student in an upcoming play or musical? We want to support them by placing an ad in their school playbill! Email to media@usdan.org with the necessary information to do so! 

Usdanites Out & About

The Montessori Attic — a Montessori-informed home-school program — spent a few days on campus this fall, helping to prepare Usdan's Organic Garden for winter. Interested in helping revive the Garden after winter? Join our "Seed to Snack: Edible Gardening" class next summer! 

(L-R): Theater Faculty Billy Recce, Theater Chair Jim Incorvaia, and Executive Director Lauren Brandt Schloss discussing one of next year's commissioned musicals at Joe Allen's in mid-November. 

Usdan commissioned Billy to write the original musical "KABLAM!", which premiered August 21, 2025. Although they took this blurry photo in front of Joe Allen's "flop wall," Lauren declared that "KABLAM!" and other musicals by Billy would not be added to the wall. 

This night, Billy gave Lauren and Jim a teaser of the musical he is working for Summer 2026. Stay tuned for more info. 

Interested in participating in Usdan's Theater program next summer? Visit usdan.org/enroll to sign up for Musical Theater at Usdan. 

Tony Award and Grammy Award winner J. Harrison Ghee presenting at the 12th-annual Stage the Change conference on November 14, 2025. A Usdan partner, Stage the Change is a non-profit performing arts organization dedicated to building diverse and inclusive spaces for young people to find their voice. 

(L-R): Usdan alum and former Health Office Assistant Tao Infield-David with Executive Director Lauren Brandt Schloss after a sidewalk run in on the streets of Manhattan earlier this month. Tao is now a student at Pace University, studying to become a Physician's Assistant — a career path inspired in part by her time working in Usdan's Health Office. 

Calendar

Sunday, December 7

Campus Tours
11:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m. 

December Tuition Assistance Deadline

Apply By: December 8, 2025

Receive Letter By: December 15, 2025

Sunday, January 11

Campus Tours 
11:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m. 

Can't make a scheduled tour? Email enrollment@usdan.org to visit campus on a different day.