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YOUTH JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP

In partnership with Stage Raw, The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company offers a paid fellowship to prospective writers (15-25 YO) with a focus on theatre coverage and critique.

The three-month fellowship enrolls up to 8 fellows per year, and a selection of writers from each cohort will be featured in future editions of DEVISE Magazine, the annual theatre publication launched by The Unusual Suspects in 2024.

Through the Youth Journalism Fellowship, young writers interested in exploring their journalistic voices will receive mentorship from Stage Raw’s pool of professional journalists and collaboratively produce publishable reviews, essays, and interviews, all adhering to traditional journalistic ethics, rigor, studiousness, and cogent analysis. After each collaborative piece between the mentor and mentee, the mentee’s articles and reviews are posted on Stage Raw. Both mentors and mentees will be financially compensated for each article published on Stage Raw.

2024 FALL COHORT

Matthew Beymer

Asa Fris

Yazlin Juarez

Molly McLean

Thatiana Smith

Isadora Swann

Ursula Youd

Matthew Beymer

Matthew Beymer (he/him) is a theatre performer and writer based in Los Angeles, originally from San Jose, CA. He is a fourth-year student in the Musical Theatre program at UCLA TFT, where he has explored interests in playwriting, puppetry, and theatre history. Matthew is a previous Assistant Video Producer and a writer for the Arts and PRIME Magazine sections at the Daily Bruin. He currently directs photo and video content for Color Box Production Company, and he recently interned with Skylight Theatre Company as a Communications intern. Matthew would like to thank Stage Raw and Unusual Suspects for their gracious support of young arts journalists.

Asa Fris

Asa is a theatre artist born and raised in McKinney, Texas. In 2023, he graduated from Southern Methodist University with a BFA in Theatre, and a BA in Psychology. Since then, he’s worked as an acting apprentice for Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and currently serves as a directing apprentice for PlayGround LA’s Monday Night series. Asa aspires to theatre and art that asks questions, and affirms life. He is very thankful for this opportunity, and excited to grow as a writer and journalist.

Yazlin Juarez

Yazlin Juarez (she/they) is a writer and artist based in Pico Rivera with a Bachelor’s in Literature from UC Santa Cruz. She takes every opportunity to forge spoken word poetry, photography, and design into instruments of social change. Yazlin discovered her love of theater through the Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center, where she developed student productions as the director of Poet’s Corner. She recently completed a fellowship at the Los Angeles Review of Books’ Publishing Workshop and helped organize the 1st Annual Los Angeles Street Poetry Festival. Yazlin is published in the Red Wheelbarrow Anthology, TWANAS Press, and PubLab and continues to capture her history through a queer Chicana lens. She now proudly serves as a marketing associate at the Latino Theater Company in Los Angeles.

Molly McLean

Molly McLean received her BA in Theater Arts from the University of Puget Sound. She studied Secondary English instruction at Cal State Northridge. She enjoys performing as well as writing.

Thatiana Smith

This is Thatiana Smith first year in the Youth Journalism Fellowship. She is in her first year at University at California State University, Los Angeles. When she’s not busy with school she likes playing video games and watching TV and movies.

Isadora Swann

Isadora Swann is a young actress, playwright, and director whose passion lies within the intersection of storytelling and social change. She is honored to participate in the Youth Journalism Fellowship and is excited to cultivate her artistic eye and get to know the LA theatre community. She grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a current senior double majoring in Theatre and NGOs and Social Change at the University of Southern California. 

Ursula Youd

Hello, my name is Ursula Youd!  I am a junior in high school at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), majoring in cinematic arts. I have a love for writing and directing my own short films, where I have  the opportunity to show them at festivals. On top of that, theater is something that I greatly appreciate through a critical and emotional lens, which always leads me to learn more!

WANT TO APPLY FOR THE 2025 FALL FELLOWSHIP?

Applications open on May 1, 2025. Please check back later for the link to apply.

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