NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” production has found its Judas.
“Hamilton” star and two-time Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon will play Jesus’ betrayer in the Easter Sunday live musical, the network said on Thursday. Dixon portrayed Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s star-making play.
Dixon joins John Legend as Jesus, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, Alice Cooper as King Herod, Ben Daniels as Pontius Pilate, Norm Lewis as Caiaphas, Jason Tam as Peter, Jin Ha as Annas, and Erik Gronwall as Simon Zealotes.
The original musical debuted on stage in 1971, and follows the final week of Jesus’ life. The original musical starred Jeff Fenholt as Jesus and Ben Vereen as Judas, and earned five Tony nominations. Vereen was nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, and Lloyd Webber won a Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Composer.
NBC’s production will be directed by David Leveaux. The show will be filmed live in front of an audience at the Marcy Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y.
“Jesus Christ Superstar Live” will air Easter Sunday, April 1 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.