Character guide
Judas Iscariot
from Godspell
Judas Iscariot is a key figure in Godspell, Stephen Schwartz's 1971 musical retelling of the Gospel of Matthew that transferred to Broadway in 1976.
- Show
- Godspell
- Broadway premiere
- 1976
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Stephen Schwartz
Looking for a different Judas Iscariot? Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar
Judas Iscariot on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1973 film
David Haskell originated the doubled role of John the Baptist and Judas in the 1971 Off-Broadway production and played it again in David Greene's 1973 film, opposite Victor Garber's Jesus. The doubling is a fixed convention of Godspell: the same actor who appears as John, calling the followers together, later becomes Judas, who betrays Jesus.
The film keeps that device but moves the story into modern New York, with scenes at Bethesda Fountain, Times Square, the Lincoln Center fountain, and the World Trade Center rooftop.
Who is Judas Iscariot?
Judas emerges within the tribe of followers gathered around Jesus, initially presented much like the other disciples before the show gradually reveals the doubts and tensions that will lead him to betray his teacher. His arc gives Godspell's otherwise loose, playful structure a growing sense of dramatic tension as the story moves toward its final scenes.
Often doubled with the role of John the Baptist, who opens the show, Judas provides a throughline connecting the story's joyful beginning to its somber conclusion, embodying the betrayal at the heart of the Gospel narrative being enacted.
Judas's role in Godspell
Judas is a lead role frequently performed by the same actor who plays John the Baptist, a doubling that has become a common tradition in productions of the show. The role requires strong vocals for the show's early ensemble numbers along with the dramatic weight needed for the betrayal sequence late in the show.
David Haskell originated the dual role of John the Baptist and Judas in the original productions. That pairing of an opening and closing figure within one performer remains one of the more distinctive structural choices in Godspell's staging.
Judas Iscariot: frequently asked questions
What show is Judas Iscariot from?
Judas Iscariot is a lead character in Godspell, which transferred to Broadway in 1976.
Is Judas Iscariot a lead or supporting role?
Judas Iscariot is a lead role, often played by the same actor who plays John the Baptist.
Who wrote the music for Godspell?
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for Godspell.
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