Characters

Click on description to learn more about the character’s history.

GEORGE – 60s
A retired Pullman porter, now church Deacon and unofficial mayor of 132nd Street, a settled bachelor who likes life neat and tidy.

Taken from a variety of J.C.'s stories, mostly about himself. Although never actually a 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. He is named for J.C. collaborator George Whiting.

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Character 3 George PS

BILLIE – 60s
The sweetheart George left behind 40 years ago, still feeling the hurt, now a woman of experience with a strong will and a deep spirit.

Based on Pig Foot Mary, who built a street cart into a famous Harlem restaurant. She is named for Billie Holiday, who recorded a number of J.C.’s songs, including 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, the first person to record a J.C. song and his lifelong friend.

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Character 3 Billie PS

ROZ – 30s
Beauty shop owner, Archie’s long-suffering woman, sassy, brassy and passionate with lots of ‘tude who knows how to get what she wants.

Modeled on Rose Morgan, Harlem entrepreneur who 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

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Character 3 Roz PS

ARCHIE – 30s
Numbers runner, Roz’ long-time main squeeze, always looking for the deal, charmer, fast talker, self-styled ladies’ man and incorrigible flirt.

Inspired by J.C.'s stories of his own numbers runner with elements of 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.

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Character 3 Archie PS

NELSON – 20s
Traveling Bible salesman, incurable romantic, eager but inexperienced suitor, insecure and prone to deflation, especially by women.

Drawn from several aspiring young Harlem businessmen J.C. described, perhaps Bible salesmen like Nelson, or insurance salesmen, retailers or bankers. He is named in memory of Nelson Hall, a friend of Gary’s who helped TRAV’LIN in its earliest days.

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Character 3 Nelson PS

ELLA – 20s
George’s niece, staying with him for nursing school, innocent and trusting but with backbone, has strong intuition but not yet sure of her place in the world.

Looks back to songstress and nurse Alberta Hunter, a long-time acquaintance of J.C. who attended nursing school much later in life. She is named for Ella Fitzgerald, whose first three recorded songs were written by J.C. and who performed and recorded several other J.C. numbers.

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ELLA

The actors pictured on this web site (other than those from different theatres shown in the Production History) are cast members of the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival and appeared courtesy of Actors' Equity Association: Doug Eskew as George, Brenda Braxton as Billie, Randy Donaldson as Archie, Soara-Joye Ross as Roz, Michael Jean Dozier as Nelson and Karla Mosely as Ella. The production was directed and choreographed by Paul Stancato. Set design and photography were by Christopher Ash.