Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts is a Wheatley Heights, Long Island-based summer day camp. Mariah attended the summer camp as a child.[1][2][3]
Background[]
Mariah first attended this camp when she was in 5th grade. She saw this camp as a "breakthrough" because she could finally be around other young aspiring artists and hone her craft, undistracted by the confusion and chaos she experienced at home.[4]
Fiddler on the Roof[]
While at the camp, Mariah had the opportunity to play the lead role of Hodel in the camp's production of Fiddler on the Roof. She would also cover the song "Far from the Home I Love" Mariah's dad Alfred attended the show's opening night. After Mariah's performance, He walked up to the edge of the stage, handed Mariah a big bouquet of sunny daisies tied with a lavender ribbon. Soon after, the teachers, the parents, and all the other campers learned that her father was a Black man. Mariah would not have gotten a major role in a play at the camp again.[4]
Henry (one of Patricia's ex-boyfriends) payed for Mariah's second year at the camp.[4]
Despite Mariah's "less-than-ideal experience of being at a public camp," Usden Summer Camp is behind her inspiration for the creation of "Camp Mariah."[4]
Trivia[]
- Mariah mentions this camp in her memoir.
- Mariah did not mention the camp by its actual name in her memoir
- Mariah attended this camp for at-least two years
- Sources state that Mariah might have attended the camp in 1979 and 1980
References[]
- ↑ Wikipedia: Usdan Summer Camp - retrieved 10/6/20
- ↑ Usdan Alumni page. Usdan.org - retrieved 10/6/20
- ↑ Don't forget about us - MCArchives - retrieved 10/6/20
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Carey, M., & Davis, M. A. (2020). The Meaning of Mariah Carey. New York: Andy Cohen Books/Henry Holt and Company.