Creator Of ‘The House On Cherry Street’ Talks Sutton Family Legacy, Storytelling And What He Hopes Audiences Take Away
For Cedric Bellamy, everything begins and ends with one thing: legacy.
In fact, it is the foundation of his moniker, “Legacy City”. “Legacy is in everything I do” the San Antonio based musician, entrepreneur, and Army veteran says, “Whether I’m making music, producing, directing, or creating, I’m always thinking about what we’re leaving behind”.
Legacy was also what led him to writing and producing a play on the Sutton family.
“When I came across the Sutton Family story and the history surrounding the house on Cherry Street, I saw something bigger than just a house. I saw family. I saw struggle. I saw perseverance. I saw people who built a legacy that continued beyond them.”
Bringing Sutton History To The Stage
On Sunday August 16th, Bellamy will unveil his latest production, The House On Cherry Street. Grounded in the humble beginnings and trailblazing history of the Sutton Family, the title is a homage to the esteemed estate of San Antonio civil rights activists Samuel Johnson Sutton and Lillian V. Sutton, located at 430 N. Cherry Street.
Beyond legacy, storytelling is also pivotal to Bellamy’s work.
“I’ve spent years in music. I’ve produced. I’ve created. I’ve worked with artists. I’ve built my own platforms. But now I’m taking everything I’ve learned and bringing it into theater.”
Bellamy is not only producing the play as well as the accompanying music, he is also directing the play.
“That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly” he says, “because when you’re dealing with somebody’s history, you’re dealing with somebody’s legacy…I think sometimes you don’t have to share somebody’s bloodline to understand the importance of their story… as an artist, I’ve always felt like I’m supposed to tell stories,”
For Bellamy, music was the first way he learned to do that. Theater became another.
“Music gave me one way to do that. Now theater gives me another way. And when I started digging into the Sutton Family story, I realized this wasn’t something I wanted to just look at and walk away from. I felt like it needed to be told.”
Keeping Black Legacy Alive
Storytelling is how legacy is not forgotten. At a time where the legacies of Black people in America are literally being ripped from the textbook, community members like Cedric Bellamy are ensuring these legacies continue to live on.
When asked what he hopes those attending will take away from seeing the play, his answer can be summed up in this powerful call to action:
“I want you to leave thinking about your own family. That’s probably the biggest thing. I want somebody to walk out of that theater and say, ‘I need to find out more about where I come from,’” Bellamy said.
“I really want the younger generation to understand that they come from something. You didn’t just appear here. Somebody sacrificed for you. Somebody struggled for you. Somebody worked a job they didn’t want to work. Somebody went through something so that you could have something they didn’t have. That’s legacy. … That’s what I hope people take away from this play.”
The House on Cherry Street premieres Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Phyllis Wheatley Community School, 415 Gabriel St. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show begins at 6 p.m.
For ticket information, contact Bellamy at streetligionnation.com
