Charles Travon Easley, 19, said he knew he wanted to be involved in the theater when he was 2 years old. He never stopped dreaming, and he never gave up. Now he is producing a musical and said he is doing it because to create opportunities for others on the westside.
Easley said he owes his success to his grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth Tyree, his faith, and Rachel Muha, founder of The Run the Race Club, which is part of The Brian Muha Memorial Foundation.
Born and raised in Columbus, Easley is the youngest of 12 children. He grew up on the westside, attended public school, and graduated from Bishop Ready High School. He spent a lot of time at the Run the Race Center where he helped direct performances.
Steve Polk, a volunteer at the center, said he would pay for summer theater if Easley were good and got good grades. He was then cast in a professional show at the Columbus Childrens Theater. Easley said if it were not for the Brian Muha Memorial Foundation, he would not have had those opportunities, which is why he wants to give back and create opportunities for other people on the westside.
Rachel Muha, who founded the foundation after her son, Brian, was kidnapped and murdered in May 1999, was his mentor, and provided the helping hand in writing this new chapter in his life.
“Travon is a superstar! (Close friends and family call him by his middle name, Travon.) He started coming to RTR (Run The Race) when he was in third grade. And now he graduated from high school last year, went to college for one year, is working in a bank now, but his heart is in writing, directing and acting in plays,” said Muha. “He has directed plays and produced plays for us, and now he’s branching out a little bit and producing “The Bodyguard.” It won’t be held at the center, but we are with him 100 percent.”
Easley’s latest project “The Bodyguard -a Musical,” will run June 15-18 at East High School, 1500 East Broad St., Columbus.
“Come feel like the ‘Queen of the Night’. Come see one of the best shows this summer. You’ve waited for it to come to Columbus. You asked, so you shall receive,” said Easley.
“The Bodyguard – a Musical” is about former secret service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, “The Bodyguard” features a host of classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, and one of the biggest selling songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
Showtimes will be June 15, 16, and 17 at 7 p.m., and on June 18 at 2 p.m.
For tickets or for more information, visit http://one.bidpal.net/muhaeasleythebodyguardthed…/welcome.
For more information about The Run the Race Center and the Brian Muha Memorial Foundation, visit brianmuhafoundation.org.
