Cast Roles

He’s Alive – List of Principal Characters

JESUS – Central character to the play. Son of God and 2nd person of the Trinity. Will be explained in more detail at the audition.

DISCIPLES (needed 12 men)

In the terms of the Disciples, the 12 are very important to the play. Not all of them have many of the lines but in terms of biblical truths and characters they play an enormous role. The 4 disciples who play the biggest roles are Peter (large role) John, James and Judas. (Medium roles) The other disciples have either 1 to 4 lines to say but appear in 5 of the 12 scenes.

  1. PETER (BROTHER OF ANDREW) – Grew up in Bethsaida. Peter was part of the inner ring of Jesus’s disciples. He was unlikely to lead, but the moment Jesus called him as a disciple, the life of Peter the fisherman changed dramatically and irrevocably. Jesus called Peter to be fishers of men. He had a very close relationship with Jesus. Peter was also part of the select group of 3 disciples (John and James were the other 2) that Jesus took with him at times of special revelation. Characteristics he was dynamic, strong, and bold, who took charge, who initiated, who planned, who strategized, who confronted, who commanded people to Christ. And very often blew it. As when he denied Jesus 3 times and tried to walk on water.
    Peter also has a singing role.
  2. JOHN – (BROTHER OF JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE AND SALOME.) Was also among Jesus’ inner ring. Characteristics: Jesus called John and James the “sons of thunder” for their fiery tempers and yet there was a sensitive, loving, believing, intimate John, every bit a truth seeker. Who spoke the truth in love so that he attracted people to himself. He was the writer of John’s gospel, 1,2,3, John and Revelation.
  3. JAMES – (BROTHER OF JOHN, SON OF ZEBEDEE AND SALOME) He was as was Peter, Andrew and John the first called of Jesus and always named in the first 4 disciples in the list of the 12 disciples. Characteristics: He was zealous, passionate, uncompromising, insensitive at first, ambitious, who could see a goal and go for it with all his might and die in the process.
  4. JUDAS ISCARIOT – THE DISCIPLE WHO BETRAYED JESUS. He was the treasurer of the group Characteristics – Treacherous and greedy and very ambitious. Was a bit of an outsider. Could not understand Jesus’s way of peace and reconciliation, wanted someone who could lead them to a worldly victory.
  5. ANDREW (BROTHER OF PETER) – was the first person to become a disciple of Jesus. He was a Fisherman. Peter and Andrew had a fishing partnership with John and James. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. His statement “we have found the Messiah (Jn. 1:41) He was present at feeding of the 5000, and it was he who found the boy. Characteristics – Was humble, gentle, inconspicuous, Andrew who didn’t see the crowds but saw the individuals in the crowds. And while he never attracted a mob he kept bringing people to Jesus.
  6. MATTHEW – TAX COLLECTOR – Although initially despised as an outcast he abandoned his corrupt (and profitable) way of life to follow Jesus. When jesus said to him “Follow me” He was also the writer of the Gospel of Matthew.
  7. PHILIP – Fisherman – He was loyal and earnest and some ways he had a very questioning attitude yet he was the one who told Bartholomew about Jesus. He also followed Jesus, when Jesus simply said “Follow me”
  8. SIMON (THE ZEALOT) – He was a fierce patriot to the Jewish cause. He believed if we are willing give up our plans for the future, we can participate in Jesus plans.
  9. THOMAS – Has always been called the doubter, he was the one who suggested the disciples go to Bethany – even if it meant death. So although he may have questioned, he had courage. He was totally committed to his Master
  10. THADDEUS – Asked Jesus why he would reveal himself to his followers and not the world. Least known and recorded by scholars of the disciples
  11. BARTHOLOMEW – He initially rejected Jesus because Jesus was from Nathareth but later acknowledged him as the “Son of God” and “King of Israel. He had an honest and straight forward manner.
  12. JAMES THE YOUNGER 0R THE SON OF ALPHAEUS –Some biblical scholars suggest he could have been a brother of Mathew as Mathew’s surname was also Alpheus or that he was a cousin to Jesus as his mother was a sister to Jesus’s mother Mary.

SANHEDRIN

Sanhedrin are in 7 of the 12 scenes and with the exception of Jesus, they have the most speaking roles in the production. The Sanhedrin were made up of:

  1. ANNAS – Served as High Priest in Jerusalem from AD 6 -15 and continued as head of the high priestly clan for many years thereafter. Born into a wealthy family and influential family, He stood at the Pinnacle of Jewish aristocracy. He was a leader of the Sanhedrin. (Large Part) He was a very arrogant, powerful and treacherous man. He was a Pharisee.
  2. CAIAPHAS – Son in law to Annas and the High Priest, was responsible for presiding over the Sanhedrin that sentenced Jesus to death. He was a member of the Sanhedrin who became very concerned when at the raising of Lazarus he began to realise how popular Jesus was. He was a very powerful and political person. He also was a Pharisee.

Other Sanhedrin characters required

  1. NATHANIEL,
  2. JOSHUA (SADDUCEES)
  3. EZEKIEL (PHARISEES)
  4. RABBI (SCRIBE) all very powerful members of the Sanhedrin.
  5. NICODEMUS – (PHARISEE) He was a devout Jew and a member of the Sanhedrin. As a Pharisee he struggled to understand Jesus and gradually revealed his faith more openly. Although he normally came to hear from Jesus at night. He was the one who asked” How can a man be born again?” Slowly he came to know Jesus as Messiah. He defended Jesus at the trial of Jesus and also (with Joseph of Arimathea) prepared Jesus body for burial and provided the burial place.
    Nicodemus also has a singing role.
  6. EPHRAHIM AND BOAZ (TEMPLE MERCHANTS) these characters were the merchants that sold the goods for the temple as well as being money changers. You could only purchase from the temple in the temple currency. They were very corrupt and devious characters and almost served at the pleasure of Annas the High priest. (He had a finger in every pie)
  7. MALCUS – He was Caiaphas’ right hand man and according to scholars in all possibility a slave.
  8. TEMPLE GUARDS X 2 The temple has its own guards that presided over the security of the temple. They were there to protect the temple and Sanhedrin and were answerable to Caiaphas and Annas the High priests.

ROMANS

  1. PILATE – ROMAN GOVERNOR OF JUDEA (AND RETIRED SOLDIER) – Pilate presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered his execution. His sole allegiance is to the powers of the world. Although a ruthless, politically aware and powerful man, he was convinced of Jesus innocence, but had a shaky alliance with high priests. Also his political career was on the line as Governor of Judea So therefore was very careful to protect his position in Jerusalem.
  2. ROMAN SOLDIERS X 6 – The centurion plus 5 Soldiers. Members of the infantry and cavalry stationed in Judea. They were to protect and keep the peace in Judea. The Romans were successfully in conquering the known world because of their excellent military might. Romans soldiers represented so adequately the “Might of Rome”. A powerful fighting machine.
  3. MARCUS Right hand man to Pilate and his scribe.
  4. HANDMAIDEN – Servant to Pilate’s wife.

OTHER SMALLER MALE ROLES

  1. 2 Thieves,
  2. Barabbas
  3. Simon of Cyrene

FEMALE ROLES

  1. MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS: As the play starts, we see Mary the mother of Jesus explaining to Nicodemus, how the angel came to her and told her of the virgin birth, we hear how Mary kept so many of these things in her heart for so many years. Her mother’s joy at Jesus entrance into Jerusalem. We witness her at the trial of Jesus showing so much of her mother’s heart and at the agonising crucifixion of the son, going to the tomb and then excitingly knowing of her Son’s resurrection and “HE’ ALIVE”
  2. MARY MAGDALENE – The most prominent of the women who accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. She is named in all 4 gospels as a witness to the Crucifixion. She is the first-person Jesus appears to at the empty tomb.
    She is also a singer (either as a soloist or in a duet) her song explains the attempt of the Pharisees to stone her and how Jesus stopped the event and told her to “Go and Sin no More”
  3. SALOME – (MOTHER OF JOHN AND JAMES)It is commonly recorded that Salome asked of Jesus, that when he, Jesus comes into his kingdom that her sons may sit on his right hand and left hand. She is also recorded as one of the ladies that, with Mary the mother of Jesus took spices to the tomb for Jesus body. In this play she is at the resurrection of Jesus.
  4. ELIZABETH (COUSIN TO MARY) she was the one person who knew the full story of the virgin birth and was always a confidant to Mary. She is also part of the holy ladies that are at the crucifixion and are at the tomb and resurrection of Jesus.
  5. HANNAH is a composite character. She portrays many of the feelings of the ladies who would have been present at the scene before Pilate as Jesus is sentenced to death. This portrayal of a woman convinced of Jesus being the Messiah and her belief that the Sanhedrin are both evil, manipulative and corrupt. It is a small but powerful role and is central to the tension in scene 9 of the play.
  6. ANGEL – In this play the Angel who appears in the garden scene with Jesus and who appears to the ladies at the tomb is taken by a female.

Other smaller Female Roles

LADIES AND MEN IN THE CROWD SCENES.

We are also auditioning singers for additional songs in the Play