Each character in TRAV'LIN has a story, drawn from J.C.'s tales of his life in Harlem
George
A retired railroad porter, now church Deacon and unofficial mayor of the block, considers love something you never take serious.
Although never a Pullman porter, J.C. spent fair amount of time in his teens working as a train attendant. In later life, J.C. became active in church affairs, performing many duties of a deacon. Primarily, George reflects J.C.’s mature and quiet, yet slightly mischievous nature. The character is named after George Whiting, a frequent collaborator with J.C. and a good, supportive friend.
Doug Eskew
BROADWAY: Rev. Avery in The Color Purple, Big Moe in Five Guys Named Moe, Truly Blessed
OFF BROADWAY: Thunder Knocking on the Door and Josephine Song
NATIONAL TOURS: The Color Purple, Cats, Five Guys Named Moe (NAACP nomination and LA Ovation Award), Dreamgirls, and Ain’t Misbehavin
REGIONAL THEATRE: Thunder Knocking on the Door at Arena Stage (Helen Hayes nomination), Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Geva Theatre, and The Old Globe Theatre. Ain’t Misbehavin at the Ahmanson Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Arena Stage (Helen Hayes nomination), Baltimore Center Stage and The Papermill Playhouse. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at Syracuse Stage, Polk County at the McCarter Theater and the Berkley Rep, Crowns at the Intiman Theatre.
TELEVISION CREDITS: One Life To Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night With David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Loving, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and The Tony Awards (1992 and 2005)
Billie
The sweetheart George left behind 30 years ago, now a survivor with a sharp tongue, a strong will, an open heart and a deep spirit.
Pig Foot Mary came to Harlem from the South and started selling boiled pig feet from a street cart. She became a successful restaraunteur through a combination of good cooking and an industrious nature. The character’s name comes from Billie Holiday, who recorded a number of J.C.’s songs – one of them was the title song for TRAV’LIN which, according to legend, was her audition number when she landed her first singing gig. The name “Ethel,” adopted by Billie during the show, refers to Ethel Waters. She was the first person to record a J.C. song, went on to record ten of his tunes and became his lifelong friend.
Brenda Braxton
Brenda Braxton: 2010 marks Brenda’s seventh year as Velma Kelly in Broadway’s hit musical Chicago, having performed the role on and off in both the Broadway and national touring productions. Prior to that, she was featured on Broadway in the hit musical revue Smokey Joe’s Cafe, a performance that earned her a 1995 Tony Award nomination, the NAACP Theater Award, the city of Chicago’s Jefferson Award and a Grammy Award for Best Cast Album.
She co-directed and co choreographed the acclaimed 2001 Actors’ Fund Benefit Concert of Dreamgirls. Other Broadway credits include Jelly’s Last Jam, Cats, Legs Diamond and the original production of Dreamgirls. She received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Living the Dream” Award given by New York Gov. George Pataki and the Josephine Baker Award from the National Council of Negro Women for her work as founder of Leading Ladies Just for Teens, seminars geared to empowering teenage girls.
In November 2006, she launched BBRAXTON; Exceptional Grooming for Exceptional Men, a men’s grooming salon located at 1400 Fifth Avenue in Harlem. The first salon of its kind, BBRAXTON offers men’s grooming services for the discriminating customer. In 2009 Ms. Braxton was the only woman honored with the “Men of Style Award” presented by Gillette Fuzion and BBRAXTON salon hosted the Gillette Fuzion Tour in New York City for the second year.
This fall she will expand the brand to include the BBRAXTON Grooming Academy, a community based initiative to provide neighborhood seniors with complimentary grooming services on a regular basis while training apprentice barbers in the art of barbering and grooming. Keep an eye out for her “Bringing Sexy Back!” seminars celebrating women over 50!
Archie
Numbers runner and self-promoter always looking for the deal, charmer and fast-talker, Ros’ long-time main squeeze who fancies himself a ladies’ man.
J.C. would on his front stoop for two people – one was his numbers runner, the other his insurance salesman who would come by to collect his weekly premium. Archie also has elements from a few other colorful characters J.C. knew, including Joe Louis and Fats Waller. His name comes from one of J.C.’s many Harlem acquaintances, mostly associated with the night J.C. won a $3000 diamond ring in a poker game.
Randy Donaldson
Randy Donaldson has appeared in 11 Broadway/National tours including; Tommy Keeler in Annie Get Your Gun, Banzai in The Lion King, Richie in A Chorus Line and Wonderful Town. Randy is a co-producer on the upcoming Broadway production of The Pee Wee Herman Show.
Roz
Beauty shop owner, plays the role of Archie’s long-suffering woman but knows how to put it on and get what she wants.
Rose Morgan established herself as one of the preeminent businesswomen in the United States with her “House of Beauty” and school. She was briefly married to Joe Louis, himself a great friend of J.C.’s.
Soara-Joye Ross
Soara-Joye Ross’ Broadway credits include Les Miserables, the revival, and Dance of the Vampires.
Soara-Joye received The New York Musical Theater Festival 2009 “Best of Fest” award for Outstanding Individual Performance for her portrayal of Mama Lila, in Allan Harris’ Cross That River, where she worked with Donna McKechnie.
OFF BROADWAY: Jerry Springer, the Opera at Carnegie Hall, Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center, wehre she originated teh role of Annabel (Original Cast Recording), the New York premiere of The Tin Pan Alley Rag (RTC) and the two-woman comedy Single Black Female (The Duke & Playwrights Horizons).
Other credits include:Aida (Colorado Theatre Guild, Outstanding Leading Actress Nominee), Ragtime, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (HTC), From the Mississippi Delta (Triad Stage), Tick, Tick…BOOM! (Alliance Theater), Once On This Island (Sacramento Music / Bay Street / Mill Mountain) and Smokey Joe’s Caf&earc;’ with Gladys Knight (European and US tour).
Soara-Joye also played the Handi-World Cashier in the feature film Garden State directed by Zach Braff and has appeared on The View.
All praise, honor and glory to The Most High!
Nelson
Aspiring salesman of bibles and hymnals, hopeful but inexperienced suitor with an engaging eagerness prone to deflation, especially by women.
The young men J.C. described may have been Bible salesmen like Nelson or perhaps insurance salesman, retailers or bankers. He is named in memory of Nelson Hall, a friend of Gary’s who helped TRAV’LIN in its earliest days and became an acquaintance of J.C.’s through Gary.
Michael Jean Dozier
THEATRE: Regional: Barnstormer (World Premier) directed by Jerry Dixon (Red Mountain Theatre Company), “Rosencrantz” in Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead (Baltimore Centerstage); A Midsummer Nights Dream, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Roanoke Island Festival); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre).
TV/FILM: FX/FTVS – Lights Out (recurring); Lucky Monkey Pictures – City Island; NBC – Untitled Lukas Reiter Project (pilot) directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.
EDUCATION: BFA, North Carolina School of the Arts. Proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
Ella
George’s niece, staying with him for nursing school, innocent and trusting but can be feisty, has strong intuition but not yet sure of her place in the world.
Alberta Hunter was a long-time acquaintance of J.C. who attended nursing school much later in life. Ella’s name comes from Ella Fitzgerald, whose first three recorded songs were written by J.C. and who performed and recorded several other J.C. numbers.
Karla Mosley
Karla Mosley hails from Westchester, NY and is an NYU Graduate. Favorite roles include: Film/TV: Guiding Light (CBS, final cast), Burn After Reading (Dir. by the Coen Bros.), Hi-5 (TLC, three Emmy Nominations), Gossip Girl (CW), Law and Order: Criminal Intent (NBC), The Knights of Prosperity (ABC), Redhook (Currently on Showtime).
Theater: (NY) Expatriate, The Culture Project; Max and Ruby, Lucille Lortel; Drift, NYMF; Young Sistas, Vital Theater Company. (Regional) Sophosticated Ladies (with Maurice Hines), Arena Stage; Dreamgirls, TUTS; A Holiday for Hope, Bushnell Theater. (Concerts/Workshops) Runaways, Joe’s Pub; Princesses with David Sippel; The Lion King Hong Kong with Lynn Taylor-Corbett; Finding Nemo with Bobby and Kristen Lopez (also featured on cast album); Invisible Life (original music by Sshford and Simpson).
Karla has performed in jazz concerts with her cousin the late ‘Doc’ Cheatham and Dakota Staton. Karla is also on the International Board of Covenant House and she does awareness work with the National Eating Disorder Association.
*Cast members from New York Musical Theatre Festival Production, October 2010. These Actors appeared courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.