Saturday Church at NYTW- Page 2

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 7:38pm

We very much wanted to like this last night.  Unfortunately, it is not good.

The music is fine enough.  The book very cliched, with snatches of magical realism, pulling from every gay/queer trope and previous musicals like Kinky Boots, CATS: The Jellicle Ball, Strange Loop etc - and not for the better.  There are a handful of snarky drag queen "jokes" that, spaced out, make you think they are better than they are.  The " black Jesus " character (done quite a bit recently) is really only useful as a trio of the same "joke" of the name itself.  They lyrics are extremely cliched, with obvious next-rhymes.  You can see both the plot and the lyrics coming moment to moment. 

The director is not capable of the material.  The designers seem to all be strong but not cohesive. (love Zinn but was disappointed in this. again, I suspect director's lack of focus and inability to stage creatively).  The sound being in best shape.  The staging is clunky, awkward and, if there is a transition, it's a mess or non-musical.  Liberation was good due to a strong cast, less in direction - that also is slightly stagnant/uncreative.  This director is better with very small plays.  They have no sense of musicality or working with writers to a better goal.  She's not doing it.

The cast has some nice spots in Kalukango, Lloyd and Gee (doing a bit of what he always does).  They are TRYING to make sloppy material and direction work and should be commended for the effort if uneven (again, director).  Unfortunately, the leading player Bryson Battle (in great voice), a contestant on "The Voice", is NOT an actor.  The scene work is hard to watch - even with the seasoned pros mentioned above working very hard opposite.  It's either very community theater acting (not to knock it) or super melodramatic one note.  The director, again, has not helped this person who doesn't have the skill.  This role needs recasting and an actor/singer (he looks too old)?.  He, unfortunately, makes the proceedings ever more unbelievable.  Perry, the love interest, has to be interested in this character - and does the best he can despite choppy writing (abeit some flat notes vocally).  The ensemble cast sounds great (primarily due to great sound design) - unfortunately, they are not great actors either.  Quezon and Anania, despite looking fantastic (and dancing well) have to work a side story that never comes to much fruition and come across unbelievable.   Thomas has her smart/sassy moment that land but still needs work in most of the scene work.  Why does the Aunt come around in the end ??  To wear the costumers dress?  Some of the costumes are solid others ... questionable lacking guidance and taste in places.

There are several members of the dancing/vocal ensemble from CATS: The Jelicle Ball that due the ballroom work/werk, but to a lesser exciting extent.  The choreography is pretty basic for the genre and styles presented (including boy band).

The 1st act ends with a thud so much so we didn't know if it was over initially.  This could either be cut and a 90-110 min show or use a good full rewrite and new director with musical vision.

This seemed so up our alley.  Even if considered a "workshop", primarily by name alone, compared to other off-Broadway theaters (although more money goes into this with producers and the company itself) -- it lacks vital life.  It feels fake and like gay life through a straight lens.  Most shows at NYTW are not workshops and in much better shape.   A few good beats (maybe the best thing about it) throughout the show do not a queer/drag coming of age musical make.  Queer life narratives deserve better than this watered down religion vs gay narrative, often done much better.   Wanted to like this ... 

Updated On: 8/29/25 at 07:38 PM

[bandit964]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 8:26pm

CoffeeBreak summed up my thoughts 100%.  

Wanted to like this a lot. 

Was cliche.  There were multiple moments when my friend and I cringed.  100% predictable.  No chemistry. 

 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 8:55pm

bandit964 said: "CoffeeBreak summed up my thoughts 100%.

Wanted to like this a lot.

Was cliche. There were multiple moments when my friend and I cringed. 100% predictable. No chemistry.

"

 

hehe watch out

I commented “cringe” and that comment was deleted 

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:27pm

I was giving my two cents to a friend of mine who was in the workshop but had to turn it down, and he didn’t seem surprised the book was still in rough shape despite having two book writers (one of whom wrote the source material).

[Robbie2]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:40pm

African Queen2 said: "Everyone, they’ve got super cheap tickets for this week!! Go out and buy them before word gets out!!"

 

Words out that's not any good! 

[Mitch101]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:48pm

This is the exact feedback I would give. The real culprit here is the director. She knows nothing about a musical and how it has to function. If she is unable to get the writers (two book writers and the composer/lyricist) to deliver for the actors what they actually need to tell the story, why put her at the helm?

Why doesn't Ulysses have a great musical moment at the end? Something we can really latch onto musically?

SPOILERS*****

Why does Aunt Rose suddenly decide to dress and attend the ball? How does she even know where to go? 

The entire first act centers on Ulysses wanting to sing in the church choir. Aunt Rose is given a throwaway line in the middle of very loud act two finale offering him to join. This is such shoddy writing it was more painful than funny.

To make matters worse, at the end of act one, Ulysses put on make-up for the first time. Then throughout Act Two, he goes home and everyone acts like he isn't wearing makeup. Possibly one of the worst directorial choices I've ever seen.

Everyone keeps wishing Ebony never leaves Saturday Church. But she is there all the time!

What dooms this show more than anything is how absolutely astonishing the cast is, so much better than the material they are saddled with. Yet, many of them have better parts to come in the upcoming CATS. That isn't to say Saturday Church can't find new cast members, but none will ever be as good as this cast- and yes, that can be credited to the director. She isn't all bad.

END OF SPOILERS******

Go for the casting. The rest is pretty bad and cliche. It's like a TV movie of the week with some magic realism thrown in.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 11:28pm

The cast is talented in ways but more than not are not actors - with good voices & energy.  It's on the director to cast across the board for the show's needs.  3 of them try hard to make the shoddy, choppy material, without arc, work.  The rest, reaaaaal questionable.   At least in CATS its sung through with sass, voice, dance and general performance "acting" required.  The majority of the scenes are rough or uneven - written, directed and acted.  This is rough.    *clack*

Updated On: 8/30/25 at 11:28 PM

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 11:59pm

Saw this tonight.  SOOOO tired.  That plot - ripped out of every Gay Boy Coming Out handbook.   

SPOILERS BUT WHO CARES

Gay boy is uncomfortable with his sexuality and how his family and church will react if he reveals himself.

Cute meeting of another boy on the subway who comes on to him hugely (out of nowhere - huh?).

Advise from a drag queen Jesus (slim excuse for sass and songs)

Meets a Saturday Church organization catering to fellowship and support for trans, homeless, gay youth.

Decides to really go for it and come out to everyone - gee....really...that's IT?   And in full drag!  At least that's a bit of a twist. 

How many times do we have to sit through this?

 

Great choreography and dancers and singers.  Terrrrrrible material.  Serviceable songs if generically runway/disco.  What director could make something out of this predictable, tepid bore?

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/30/25 at 11:59 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/30/25 at 1:02am

I’m over the coming out musical trend. Let’s just have happy out people dealing with stuff. 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 8/30/25 at 1:24am

RippedMan said: "I’m over the coming out musical trend. Let’s just have happy out people dealing with stuff."

Sadly we live in a country where coming out can still be life threatening according to where you live. These stories may not speak to you, but some youth still need to hear them. It’s not a “trend” it’s extremely relevant. Trevor Project funding cut. Pulse memorial paved over. Look around you and maybe decenter yourself. 
 

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 11:02pm

CoffeeBreak said: "We very much wanted to like this last night. Unfortunately, it is not good.

 

That's all.

[Birdie Boy]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 11:23pm

Honestly, the writing is all surface level and amateur, as is the direction, but I had a great time.  It’s definitely like Strange loop and kinky boots and Rent (Michael grief was in the audience tonight), but I actually found it to be most like Dear Evan Hansen.  The act 1 closer “bring these walls down” is very “you will be found.”  The leading kid who switches families and the mom nurse always at work.  Kristolyn Loyd has moved to the Rachel bay jones character.  

The main problem with the show is the writing.  The lyrics especially.  It’s all pop music and the same lyrics keep repeating over and over and over. We dont know much about these stock characters, no details, the only character development is really in the book scenes.  It survives on vibes and a cute little story but it’s not good, but enjoyable still.  There’s definitely a great musical in there, it just needs a new book and lyrics and a new director.  Have Michael R Jackson come in and write it. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 11:50pm

...and new director, lead and other supporting actors of the "church".  An overhaul needed.

Updated On: 9/1/25 at 11:50 PM

[Birdie Boy]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 12:35am

The book is definitely a mess.  It took too long to take off, and even then it was floundering all over the place.  The falling action when Ulysses runs away, that whole thing is a mess.  The mother has no conviction whatsoever.  The show needs a “so big/so small” moment between her and the son. Aunt rose also needs more.  Literally her sole purpose is the villain and the mother’s sole purpose is to come in and out in the nurse clothes.  There needs to be a better song for the coming home/ reconciliation moment, it hardly even feels like a moment.

 We get a bunch of stuff happening but none of it is fleshed out, it’s all skit like.  The scene where the mother and ebony meet in the subway. Random as hell.  Ebony is there with bags from Bergdorf Goodman while the poor mother is slaving away at the hospital day and night.  How do those “bohemians” have money?  Are they all escorts? There also should be a song when he comes into the world of the Saturday church.  That’s an easy musical theater moment going from the world of conservative Christian life to ballroom and rainbow colors. 

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 7:06am

African Queen2 said: "Y’all ain’t ready for this!!!

BEST MUSICAL 2026 INCOMING"

Sometimes you hurt a show by over hyping it. This is clearly a very early stage work in progress and you sent people to a tiny theater, early in previews, telling them it was going to win a Tony. Slow your roll- lower expectations never hurt. 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 7:11am

For anyone who has seen this, an early warning from NYTW was about volume. Is it really that loud? Not to sound like Patti LuPone, but I had to leave Hell’s Kitchen at intermission due to the volume. I am really sensitive to it. Not sure if it’s connected to my brain tumor or what, but lately it’s been really hard for me to deal with extremely loud sounds. Movie theatres are hell for me lately!

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 8:04am

iluvtheatertrash said: "For anyone who has seen this, an early warning from NYTW was about volume. Is it really that loud? Not to sound like Patti LuPone, but I had to leave Hell’s Kitchen at intermission due to the volume. I am really sensitive to it. Not sure if it’s connected to my brain tumor or what, but lately it’s been really hard for me to deal with extremely loud sounds. Movie theatres are hell for me lately!"

If a movie theatre is a struggle for you, I would not recommend this show purely based on the sound design within size of the space. If the cast isn’t singing with their full chest, the music is bumping almost club-style. You will likely be struggling after the first number 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 8:42am

Oof. Okay. Thank you!

[steven22]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 10:06am

I’m going Friday night. Very excited. 

[inception]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 3:29pm

Re dealing with sound:  I bring inexpensive foam earplugs with me to concerts.  Probably good to bring to shows like this as well.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 3:32pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "For anyone who has seen this, an early warning from NYTW was about volume. Is it really that loud? Not to sound like Patti LuPone, but I had to leave Hell’s Kitchen at intermission due to the volume. I am really sensitive to it. Not sure if it’s connected to my brain tumor or what, but lately it’s been really hard for me to deal with extremely loud sounds. Movie theatres are hell for me lately!"

You should definitely invest in noise canceling ear plugs. They're relatively cheap. 

https://a.co/d/anoPySZ

Updated On: 9/1/25 at 03:32 PM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 4:52pm

Thanks for the tip. I’ve always worried it would mean I couldnt make out lyrics, but I’ll give it a try.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 5:37pm

I'd recommend concert earplugs! I got Loops which were fairly inexpensive and they did a great job filtering out the crowd and general ringing from the loudness so I could hear the singer and instruments even better. I also used them for Starlight Express and Evita in London and thought they worked quite well!

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 5:38pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "Thanks for the tip. I’ve always worried it would mean I couldnt make out lyrics, but I’ll give it a try."

 

There are so many types and brands to choose from. My job offers the 3M 1100 foam plugs. A lot of people don't like them. They keep popping out. However they still allow you to hear everything, just muted.

 

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 9:02pm

i bet the marketing team didn't think the discussion on this show would dissolve to earplugs one week into the run!   LOL