As an actor, activist, educator and advisor, Suzzanne Douglas’ voice and vision helped to shape Luna Stage. We wish to honor her stunning onstage presence, her mentorship of early-career artists, and her commitment to new work that engages issues of social justice.

Each year for the next 10 years, Luna will commission a new play by an emerging BIPOC playwright that actively engages themes of social justice.

These projects will be chosen by Luna’s creative team in collaboration with Suzzanne’s life partner Jonathan Cobb. Each playwright will be given $5,000/year for two years to support the creation of a new full-length play. Luna will commit to the nurturance and development of these pieces, and their subsequent public performance.

Luna has a long history of commissioning and producing new plays, and of launching the careers of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) playwrights who go on to make substantial contributions to the field, including Matthew Lopez, Nikkole Salter, and many others. Over these past several years, Luna has moved ever-further in the direction of social practice art-making, commissioning plays that speak directly to the central issues of our times. 

The Suzzanne Douglas Memorial Commissioning Fund reflects and sustains Suzzanne’s commitment to creating powerful theatrical experiences that reflect the experience of communities of color while nurturing the next generation of BIPOC artists

We invite you to join us in honoring Suzzanne’s legacy by supporting these bold new commissioned projects.​

The Suzzanne Douglas Memorial Commissioning Fund is supported by:

Laura and Raj Amin
AnnaMaria Assevero
Graham Bavitz
Laurence Boiteux
Todd & Tammy Bolden
Heather Bond
Pam Boyer
Ami Brabson and Andre Braugher
Sophia Branch
Crystal Broussard
Julia Campbell
Michael and Pamela Clarke
Jonathan Cobb
Marcia Davis-Allison
Rachel Christmas Derrick

Michael Dichiaro
Donald Douglas
Jennifer Dozier
Leslie Duval
Sha’Nita S. Dyer
Lucia Edmonds
Patricia France
Linda Gadsby
Shayna Gleason
Rutanna Graves McQueen
Jana Handwerk
Adrianne Harrison-Surgeon
Jody Hubert
Palisa R. Kelley
Susan Kerner

Lisa Neville
Anissa Nixon
Betty Robinson
Sophia Ryan
Kevin Ryan
Michelle Seaton
Katrice Simon
Jill Slattery
Janet Smith
Carol Stefan
Eric & Tanesha M. Gray Stickney
Faith and Gary Taylor
Kimberly Thomas
Lynne and Vincent Toye
Melissa Walker and Christian McBride
Shelley Weinstock
Rita Woodard