Character guide
John the Baptist
from Godspell
John the Baptist opens Godspell, Stephen Schwartz's 1971 musical retelling of the Gospel of Matthew that transferred to Broadway in 1976.
- Show
- Godspell
- Broadway premiere
- 1976
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Stephen Schwartz
John the Baptist on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1973 film
David Haskell originated John the Baptist in the 1971 Off-Broadway production, doubling the role with Judas, and played both again in David Greene's 1973 film, opposite Victor Garber's Jesus. That doubling is a fixed convention of Godspell: the actor who opens the story as John, gathering the followers, returns as the disciple who betrays Jesus.
The film moves the story to modern New York City. Haskell was one of six film cast members, along with Garber, who had come from the original Carnegie Mellon staging or the earliest commercial productions.
Who is John the Baptist?
John the Baptist appears at the start of the show, calling the scattered voices of the prologue together and baptizing them into the community that becomes the tribe of followers around Jesus. His appearance marks the transition from the show's opening cacophony into its central story of teaching and fellowship.
In most productions, the actor playing John the Baptist also plays Judas Iscariot later in the show, giving the character a symbolic arc from the one who welcomes the community in to the one who ultimately betrays its central figure.
John the Baptist's role in Godspell
John the Baptist is a supporting role, though a pivotal one, opening the show with the number Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord, one of Godspell's best known songs. The part requires a strong, clear voice to lead that early sequence and set the tone for the community building scenes that follow.
David Haskell originated the role, doubling it with Judas Iscariot in the original productions. That doubling tradition has made the role a distinctive bookend within the show's structure, framing its arc from welcome to betrayal.
John the Baptist: frequently asked questions
What show is John the Baptist from?
John the Baptist is a supporting character in Godspell, which transferred to Broadway in 1976.
Is John the Baptist a lead or supporting role?
John the Baptist is a supporting role, often doubled with Judas Iscariot.
Who wrote the music for Godspell?
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for Godspell.
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