Troy is a 53-year-old African American man working as a garbage collector in 1957 Pittsburgh. He was once a star player in the Negro baseball leagues but was barred from the major leagues due to segregation, leaving him deeply embittered. He spent fifteen years in prison for a robbery gone wrong, where he met Bono and began turning his life around. He rules his household with rigid expectations and demands absolute obedience, believing that duty and responsibility matter more than affection.

Rose is Troy's wife of eighteen years, ten years his junior. She chooses to plant herself in Troy's life despite his difficult nature, working tirelessly to hold their family together. She does not drink but participates in the Friday night porch conversations, where she acts as a grounding force against Troy's tall tales. She is deeply compassionate and advocates for her son Cory's future.

Cory is the 17-year-old son of Troy and Rose. He works at the local A&P grocery store but has recently caught the attention of a college football recruiter. He desperately desires his father's approval and respect, but he faces an uphill battle against Troy's conviction that White men will never let a Black athlete succeed. He feels increasingly stifled by his father's demands.

Jim Bono is Troy's steadfast friend and fellow sanitation worker. The two men met while incarcerated thirty years ago and have been inseparable since. Bono greatly admires Troy's leadership and work ethic, but his deepest respect stems from Troy's decision to settle down with Rose. He acts as a quiet observer of the Maxson family dynamics, offering gentle warnings when Troy's behavior threatens his marriage.

Gabriel is Troy's younger brother. He sustained a severe brain injury during World War II, resulting in a metal plate in his head and a government pension that Troy used to buy the family home. Gabriel now operates under the sincere belief that he is the archangel Gabriel. He recently moved out of Troy's house into a rented room, seeking a bit of independence.

Lyons is Troy's 34-year-old son from a previous relationship, born before Troy went to prison. He is a jazz musician who struggles to make a steady living, preferring the artistic lifestyle over the physical labor his father respects. He frequently visits on paydays to borrow ten dollars, which causes immense friction with Troy.

Raynell is the youngest child in the Maxson family. She grows up under different circumstances than her older brothers, bringing a fresh energy into the home. Her presence gives Rose a new focus and creates a shift in the family's long-standing dynamics.

Alberta is an attractive woman who catches the eye of many men in the neighborhood. Troy often buys her drinks and engages in friendly banter with her, a habit that prompts Bono to give him gentle warnings about protecting his marriage.

Mr. Rand is the White supervisor managing the sanitation workers. He enforces the department's rules and acts as the initial barrier when Troy questions why only White men are allowed to drive the garbage trucks while Black men must lift the heavy cans.

Lucille is Jim Bono's wife. Though she remains off-stage, she exerts a powerful stabilizing influence over Bono, expecting him home on Friday nights and providing the kind of solid marriage that Bono deeply values.

Bonnie is Lyons's partner who works steadily in the laundry department of a hospital. Her reliable income provides the primary support for their household, giving Lyons the freedom to pursue his music gigs.