The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
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The Little Theater | 1600 Holloway Ave Creative Arts Bldg, Room 107 San Francisco, CA 94132
Event Details
Submitted by the Event Organizer
For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Michael Schweikardt
mzs@sfsu.edu
Celebrating the Play’s 20th Anniversary, San Francisco State University School of Theatre & Dance Pushes Boundaries with a Bold New Staging of Stephen Adly Guirgis’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
From April 25th – May 3rd, 2025
San Francisco State University is proud to present an immersive and unconventional production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. This milestone staging celebrates the 20th anniversary of the critically acclaimed play, bringing a fresh approach to its exploration of morality, justice, and redemption.
Set in a time-bending corner of Purgatory called “Hope,” Judas is on trial for his betrayal of Jesus, his soul left in the balance. Through the testimonies of larger-than-life biblical and historical characters such as Mother Teresa, Sigmund Freud, and Satan, Guirgis’s provocative and irreverently funny play forces us to examine our ideas of love, mercy, free will, and forgiveness. Provoking and imaginative, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot blurs ancient faith with contemporary pessimism, making it as relevant today as it was at its premiere.
This production at San Francisco State University takes Guirgis’ razor-sharp script and transforms it through unconventional staging and an immersive experience that breaks traditional theatrical boundaries to engage audiences in unexpected ways.
“Our approach places the audience on the stage with the characters in the world of the play,” says director Dr. Vicki Hoskins. “By placing the audience in the midst of the action, we’re asking them to be more than spectators—we’re inviting them to grapple with the play’s questions in a direct and personal way.”
Since its premiere in 2005, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot has challenged audiences with its blend of contemporary language, subversive humor, and profound discussions of good and evil. Now, in its 20th anniversary production, San Francisco State University’s School of Theatre & Dance reimagines the piece for a new generation.
This visually and sonically engaging production features innovative design work by both undergraduate and graduate students, including Cory Aoki Trachsel (Scenic), Germaina Powell (Costumes), Yana Ubungen (Lighting), Parker Santos and Atashi Evans (Sound), and Cole Backhaus (Props). A talented cast of student actors from San Francisco State University’s Theatre, Dance, Creative Writing, and Cinema programs further highlights the interdisciplinary collaboration that defines this unique production.
Don’t miss this bold and transformative theatrical event that redefines the way we experience one of the most provocative plays of the 21st century.
For interviews, inquiries, and tickets, please contact Michael Schweikardt at mzs@sfsu.edu
For Calendar Editors
When: April 25, 3pm; April 26, 6pm; April 27, 3pm; May 1, 3pm; May 2, 6pm; May 3, 3pm.
Where: The Little Theater, 1600 Holloway Ave Creative Arts Bldg, Room 107 San Francisco, CA 94132
Ticketing: $10 students; $15 general admission
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: 10-15*
