Please note that people of all races, gender identities, and abilities are encouraged to audition for this inclusive and collaborative production. We may also be casting Understudies for Lead Roles & Ensemble Swing Roles.

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• Fabiana Aziza Cunningham - Age: 30s +- Accent: New York/generic ‘American accent’ preferred. Fabiana is the counsel for the defence. She has brought Judas’s case to court to argue that he should not be left in hell, and that others were also responsible. As the play progresses we learn more and more about her. This is a demanding role which requires a lot of stamina. This role will not double.

• Yusef El-Fayoumy - Age: 30s + - Accent: Egyptian/Middle Eastern. The prosecution counsel. Yusef treads a fine line between being a sharp legal mind and a sycophantic bootlicker. He is a lecherous ground-kissing, butt-kissing prosecutor– sometimes because that is who he is and sometimes because he puts it on for his own and the prosecution case’s advancement. Yusef is the play’s most comical role, however he isn’t just comedy. This great role requires lots of stamina. This role will not double.

• Judas Iscariot Age: 30s - Accent: not specified, however New York or General American preferred. This is a very intense role which requires a lot of focus. Judas spends the majority of the play in a catatonic state. As the court case proceeds, Judas performs in various flashbacks from his past. This role will not double.

• Jesus of Nazareth - Age: 30s - Accent: not specified, however General American preferred. The role of Jesus has one major scene in this play, however he does appear every now and then in other scenes. This beautiful role is great for an actor who wants to play an interesting and challenging role. This role will not double.

• Satan - Age: any- Accent: not specified, however New York or General American preferred. Satan is suave, charming and funny, but at the drop of a hat, he can be everything that you would expect, and want, from Satan. This character needs to ooze presence and charisma. This role will not double.

• Judge Littlefield - Age: 40+- Accent: General American. As the trial judge, Littlefield has the power to decide which cases will get heard. High status. He was a brigadier general for the Union army during the American Civil War and was known as "the Prince of Carpetbaggers" during the Reconstruction Era. He now resides in Purgatory, but is still waiting/hoping that one day he will be allowed into heaven.

• Court Bailiff - Age: any - Accent: any, New York/generic ‘American accent’ preferred. A role with great comic moments. I am looking for an actor who wants to take on a role where they can build as much backstory as possible and enjoy every comic moment that can be found – beyond what is on the page. This Court Bailiff needs to believe that his/her job is the most important job in the whole of Purgatory. They must believe in the status that the job’s uniform and that their attitude brings. However, how well does that status stand up under scrutiny and challenge? The Court Bailiff is on stage for most of the play. This role will most likely not double.

• Henrietta Iscariot - Age: 40 –50s- Accent: not specified, however New York or General American preferred. Judas’s mother. She opens the play with a heartfelt monologue about motherhood and losing a son. This role and her monologue grounds the play in realism, which is important before we ‘enter’ the Americanised purgatory. She is later called as a witness. Henrietta’s love, pain and faith have to be real; she provides the first insight into who Judas is. May be doubled with Sister Glenna, Accent: Irish 

• Mary Magdalene - Age: mid 20s – 30s - Accent: not specified, however General American preferred. This Mary Magdalene is not your typical representation. She is not a whore. She loves Jesus with all her soul; as she says about Jesus: ‘We shared an intimacy that I cannot put into words.’ She is also a good friend of Judas. A kind and loving character.

• Saint Monica - Age: 20/30s- Accent: New York. A fabulous role that really sets the tone for the play. Saint Monica is not your normal saint; she is fiery, loud, opinionated, funny and very New York. Underneath this brash exterior, she is also capable of real love, patience and compassion.

• Saint Peter - Age: Any - Accent: not specified, however General American preferred. A disciple known for his temper and love and passion for fishing. An urban, street-smart saint. A fun and comic role.

• Saint Matthew - Age: Any - Accent: not specified, however General American preferred. A disciple who talks about his life before meeting Jesus – he freely admits that he was a “scumbag”. A tax collector who admits he was a sinner and a traitor. Another fun comic role.

• Saint Thomas - Age: Any - Accent: not specified, however General American preferred. ‘Doubting Thomas’ – Thomas, a disciple, has a long monologue about people deserving second chances. We also learn a lot from him about who Judas was and what he was like.
  Simon the Zealot - Age: Any - Accent: not specified, however General American preferred. A disciple who is called as a witness for the defence. Simon believes that Jesus should have led the revolution and thrown the Romans out. He starts off sure of himself and his views, but as he is cross- examined it starts to dawn on him slowly that maybe he is not as sure of the answers as he thought he was.

• Caiaphas the Elder - Age: mid 30s + - Accent: not specified. Caiaphas paid Judas to betray Jesus and, upon Jesus’s arrest, and handed him over to the Romans. Caiaphas is The High Priest of the Sanhedrin. He is a man of faith, however, like many people who reach high positions within religion, he is also a skilled politician. He was appointed with Rome’s blessing. He wants to preserve his own power, standing and status as well as protect his temple and people. Even though he stands by what he did, his role in Christ’s death may have affected him deep down. He does not ask for or want forgiveness from anyone but his god.

• Pontius Pilate - Age: 30+ - Accent: General American / Southern American. Pontius Pilate ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. He is filled with self-love and self-belief. There is also a touch of Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men in this role. A role with both great laughs and serious drama.

• Mother Teresa - Age: Any - Accent: Eastern European/Middle Eastern. A lovely comic role – a lot of the humour comes through stereotypes – being old and deaf.

• Sigmund Freud - Age: Any - Accent: Austrian/German. Called as a witness to argue that a sane person cannot commit suicide. Freud brings an intellectual atheist argument to the play, wrapped up in a stereotypical Sigmund Freud impersonation.

• Matthias of Galilee/Delayne/Soldier2 - Age: Any - Accent: not specified, however New York or General American preferred. An eight year-old boy and childhood friend of Judas. Matthias and a young Judas play together in a flashback scene. A comedic role.

• Butch Honeywell/Ensemble - Age: 30+ - Accent: New York/ General American. Foreman of the jury. Butch does not/cannot admit that he is dead and in Purgatory. Butch closes the play with a beautiful monologue. Butch ties a lot of the play together; we learn about the more human side of betrayal, and we also learn a lot about the idea of purgatory and what it means to each and every one of us.

• Gloria/Ensemble - Age: 30+ - Accent: New York. A jury member and an angel. As an angel, she spends her time in, and journeys between, heaven and earth. She is the audience’s guide to Purgatory and the court case. Gloria is very happy with her death (life). She spends it with her husband (who is also in heaven) and still gets to watch over her children on earth.

• Loretta - Age: 20–30s - Accent: New York/ General American. A jury member. Loretta is currently in limbo; she is in a coma back on earth. This is a small role, with one scene; however, for the rest of the play she will be sat in the jury (wearing a medical gown).

• Uncle Pino - Age: 30+ - Loretta's drunk uncle.