Commissioned by the Museum of African American History in Boston, How I Met My Cousin: The Genealogical Saga of the Bailey Family Tree is an auto-ethnographic solo performance, curated, written and performed by Sue’s “family history” obsessed 3rd cousin, Professor Denise J. Hart, the play, a form of public scholarship, takes the audience on a journey through the highs and lows of African American genealogical research using documentary style narrative story telling. The piece will be presented during Juneteenth weekend in Boston along with a lecture in conversation with the museum director Dr. Noelle Trent. 

Lecture: A Blueprint for Freedom & Justice: The life and legacy of Sue Bailey Thurman

• Lecture Date: Friday June 19, 2026 from 3-4:30pm. 

Plowshares Theatre, Detroit MI: The New Griots Play Development Program provides Plowshares with an opportunity to encourage and nurture promising new works from emerging and established playwrights. The winners this year are examples of the vibrant talent in Black Theatre today. Each writer was chosen by Plowshares Theatre Company as a dynamic voice needing to be heard The Festival is sponsored by the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Performances will be followed by an audience discussion moderated by the play’s director. In this way, audience members have an opportunity to provide comments to assist in the further development of the play. 

I was delighted to be selected as one of four participants in the Unexpected Stage Company’s 2022 Artist Retreat for Playwrights (BIPOC), April 9-16, 2022. 

The retreat was a marvelous opportunity to think, create and experience fellowship with a group of brilliant fellow artists! 

The cabin setting was the perfect place to explore and give my imagination the kind of interrupted freedom I needed. 

Thank you to the team at Unexpected Stage!