The Unusual Suspects Theatre Co. to Hold Annual Gala
By: Sally Henry Fuller May. 17, 2015
The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company will hold its seventh annual gala on Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 pm at the Skirball Cultural Center with an evening of musical performances of original works, created entirely by the company's student participants from San Fernando High School as part of Unusual Suspects' flagship theater-arts education and mentorship program.
Hosted by comedic actress Melissa Peterman (Baby Daddy; Reba), the gala evening also pays tribute to supporters Russ Cashdan and Paul Hudson, and features live and silent auctions.
Created in the wake of the Los Angeles riots and the resulting deterioration in community relations, the innovative theatre program is offered to youth in underserved and at-risk environments as a primary tool for empowerment and self-expression, and has been recognized locally and nationally with a number of awards, including an L.A. County Commission on Human Relations Award as well as a national Coming Up Taller Award presented at the White House.
Sally Fairman, Executive Director of The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, noted, "We are so proud to be involved in this work, empowering our youth in vulnerable communities. As with theatre itself, our work is a collaboration with wonderful partners: our student performers, teaching artists, gifted, capable staff and passionate supporters," adding, "both Russ Cashdan and Paul Hudson are indispensable supporters of The Unusual Suspects and role models: they embody success not only in business, but as compassionate, creative human beings."
Russ Cashdan is a partner in the L. A. office of Hogan Lovells US, LLP, representing a range of companies and firms from small startups and individuals to multi-billion dollar multinational entities. Cashdan has served on The Unusual Suspects board of directors for nearly a dozen years, leading the Finance Committee. He and his wife Donna support several other organizations including the Starlight Children's Foundation, A Place Called Home, and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels. Paul Hudson is the immediate past chairman and chief executive officer of Broadway Federal Bank, the largest and only publicly-owned African American bank west of the Mississippi. With a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley and his juris doctorate degree from Boalt Hall School of Law, he practiced law in Washington, DC and with the LA-based family firm Hudson, Sandoz and Brown before joining Broadway Federal Bank in 1980. He is one of the earliest supporters of Unusual Suspects, becoming involved in the mid-1990's after seeing the company's work in the juvenile detention centers. A well-known community leader who has served on several boards, Hudson is also the co-founder of the African American Board Leadership Institute (AABLI).
Founded in 1993 by actress Laura Leigh Hughes in response to deteriorated community relations resulting from the 1992 Los Angeles riots, The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company's mission is to empower youth in underserved and at-risk environments with the means and methods necessary to explore personal and social conflicts and develop self-esteem, communication and coping skills to make positive life choices and become productive members of the community.
The Unusual Suspects serves youth in underserved and at-risk environments throughout Los Angeles County, including foster kids, abused children, students in violence-plagued neighborhoods, gang members, and juvenile offenders. Annually, The Unusual Suspects provides theatre arts mentoring for approximately 600 youth, ages 9-21, in partnership with local agencies. In addition to program participants, another 2,000-plus audience members and local community members benefit from culminating play performances and post-show discussions. Celebrity supporters include J.J. Abrams, Ed Asner, Jackson Browne, George Clooney, Viola Davis, and Reba McEntire.
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