Biography: John-Michael Tebelak (September 17, 1949 – April 2, 1985) was an American playwright and director. He was best known for creating the musical Godspell, based on the Gospel of Saint Matthew. Stephen Schwartz wrote the music for Godspell. Some of the lyrics are original to the show, while others were taken from either the Bible or traditional hymns in the 1940 Episcopal hymnal.