WHO WE ARE
We are a group of dedicated educators, writers, actors, directors, mentors and volunteers who transform hearts, minds, lives and communities by empowering young people to own and share their stories.
We are a group of dedicated educators, writers, actors, directors, mentors and volunteers who transform hearts, minds, lives and communities by empowering young people to own and share their stories.
In collaborative workshop settings, we mentor youth to write and perform their stories, using theater to champion those most desperate to be heard and toughest to reach. We teach confidence, choice, hope, and empathy.
Every child from every neighborhood deserves a place to belong, the freedom to safely express themselves, an opportunity to be seen, heard, and known, and the chance to dream and achieve beyond their circumstance.
For over 20 years, The Unusual Suspects has responded to the systemic challenges facing Los Angeles’ youth. The Unusual Suspects participants break patterns of recidivism, gang activity and violence, and go on to be graduates, dreamers, leaders and mentors who are engaged in and give back to their communities.
Please note: Due to the latest developments around the COVID-19/novel coronavirus pandemic, including recent announcements by LAUSD, Governor Newsom, Mayor Garcetti, President Trump, and the CDC, under direction from LAUSD and public health officials, many of our upcoming youth performances have been postponed until further notice.
Performance season typically allows US participants to share their playwriting and performance accomplishments by presenting their original work to a captivated audience. These final performances are the culmination of our programs, and we regret that we will not be able to offer these performances, as originally scheduled, for our youth or supporters this spring.
Our workshops leading up to those performances — taught by our highly skilled teaching artists and guided by our committed volunteer mentors — are uniquely crafted to provide our students a safe place for expression and an environment in which they can grow in their academic and social lives. As we adapt to the changing landscape, please know that we are actively trying to implement alternative programming through digital platforms, and will share developments as they occur.
