By Matthew Wexler
Faith can provide solace, but it can also act as a double-edged sword, dividing us from those we claim to love the most, including ourselves. Such is the struggle of Ulysses, a queer teen on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance in Saturday Church, a new musical featuring music by Sia.
LGBTQ+ youth — particularly trans, nonbinary, and BIPOC teens — are bearing the brunt of an increasingly polarized nation, positioning New York Theatre Workshop’s world premiere as particularly relevant subject matter. But Damon Cardasis, who wrote and directed the film on which the musical is based, and co-writer James Ijames, get caught in a cycle of big themes with too few moments of specificity that invite us into Ulysses’ world.
Bryson Battle (The Voice season 27 semi-finalist) blows the roof off of Sia’s pop-infused soulful score as Ulysses, a questioning teen struggling with his father’s recent death, his overworked mother’s absence (Kristolyn Lloyd), and pressure from an aunt (Joaquina Kalukango) who wants to straighten him up. But Cardasis and Ijames’ book provides him little beyond the broad strokes of teen angst and young love.
Inspired by an introduction to Saturday Church, an inclusive queer fellowship led by Ebony (B Noel Thomas) and populated with an array of buoyant personalities, Ulysses begins to find his voice, both literally and figuratively. He craves singing in his family’s parish, a desire squelched by his aunt, who says he’s “too much” for the choir.
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The predictable plot finds him running away from home, followed by his aunt’s change of heart once she recognizes the emotional damage she’s been inflicting. Darrell Grand Moultrie’s twerk-heavy hip-hop choreography breathes exuberant queer affirmation into intersecting storylines that otherwise fail to propel Ulysses’ journey into something beyond a checklist of LGBTQ+ youth struggles.
From the musical’s opening moments, Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee, in the dual role of Black Jesus and Pastor Lewis, capitalizes on Sia’s catchy score. But the familiar dance beats and melodic riffs aren’t quite enough to make Saturday Church stand out among identity-focused new works.
Fast facts: ‘Saturday Church’
- New York Theatre Workshop, 79 East 4th Street, New York City
- Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes with one 15-minute intermission
- Performances through October 24, 2025
1MC takeaway — Cardasis’ original film was based on his experience volunteering at St. Luke in the Fields Church in New York City’s West Village. The Saturday evening Art & Acceptance Outreach Program welcomes marginally housed young people, 18 to 29. Services include home-cooked meals, arts activities, free clothing and toiletries, as well as legal and crisis support.
