After hit Broadway role, Baylor alumna writes musical based on her Mission Waco experience

As a Baylor student, Elizabeth A. Davis, BFA ’03, worked with Mission Waco more than 15 years ago to serve the homeless. Every weekend, she’d make about 100 lunches in her apartment and take them to Mission Waco. It was through this work that Elizabeth developed a friendship with Narciso Allala, aka “Joe Lightfoot Gonzales” or “Indian Joe.”

Joe had lived a very hard life; he’d only completed the 7th grade, and had lived much of his life on the street. He was also proud, irascible, and very resistant to accepting help. Nevertheless, Elizabeth continued to bring him lunches. Over time, she got to know him surprisingly well, even bringing him into her family.

After graduating from Baylor and moving to New York (where she eventually earned a starring role on Broadway), Elizabeth continued to keep in touch with Joe. When he passed away from cancer in August 2014, Elizabeth wrote not only his obituary, but an entire musical in his memory. Indian Joe — the unlikely story of a homeless Native American and a Texas beauty queen who never should have been friends — debuted this fall at Goodspeed Musical’s Norma Terris Theatre in Connecticut. (That’s Elizabeth and the actor playing “Indian Joe” pictured above.)

“It’s a moving piece in which a huge journey takes place,” director Kim Weild told the Connecticut Post. “As their friendship grew, they learned to overcome fear and prejudice, and realized there’s more to family than meets the eye. Its time to be told is right now, especially given what’s happening in the world in terms of refugees.

“My hope is that [the audience will] come away with an understanding of what home means to and for them. And also, hopefully, it will allow them to, next time they see a homeless person, really see that person and acknowledge that person, and perhaps not be so quick to turn away. To see that that person might have the ability to change their life and expand who they are in the world.”

Sic ’em, Elizabeth!

[In addition to the musical, Elizabeth is working to create a scholarship at Baylor to honor Joe. Learn more about supporting that on the musical’s website.]