Character guide
Gator
from Memphis
Gator is a mute character at the heart of Memphis, the 2009 Broadway musical with music by David Bryan.
- Show
- Memphis
- Broadway premiere
- 2009
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- David Bryan
Who is Gator?
Gator works at Delray's club on Beale Street and spends nearly the entire show without speaking, a silence the story reveals to be rooted in a childhood trauma tied to racial violence. His muteness becomes one of the show's most powerful symbols of the toll segregation and violence take on the people living under it.
Gator observes much of the action from the sidelines of the club, and his eventual moment of breaking his silence, prompted by a violent event late in the show, is one of Memphis's most emotionally charged turns.
Gator's role in Memphis
Gator is a supporting role built almost entirely on physical presence and reaction for most of the show, which makes his single vocal moment, the number Say a Prayer, land with unusual force. The role demands a performer who can hold an audience's attention through stillness and expression before that late release.
Derrick Baskin originated the role in the 2009 Broadway production. Gator's arc is often singled out by audiences as one of the show's most surprising and moving threads, despite his limited stage time compared to the leads.
Gator: frequently asked questions
What show is Gator from?
Gator is a supporting character in Memphis, which opened on Broadway in 2009.
Is Gator a lead or supporting role?
Gator is a supporting role, largely silent for most of the show until a pivotal late moment.
Who wrote the music for Memphis?
David Bryan composed the music, with lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro.
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