As New York Theatre Workshop prepares to launch its 2025-26 season, the Off-Broadway venue will premiere “Saturday Church,” a groundbreaking musical adaptation of Damon Cardasis‘s 2017 indie film of the same name.
The production, set to begin performances on August 27, 2025, represents a unique collaboration between Broadway talent, nightlife artists, and recording industry professionals who have joined forces to bring this story to the stage.
The musical follows Ulysses, a queer teenager in New York City maneuvering the challenging terrain of family acceptance while discovering supportive LGBTQ+ communities. Co-written by Cardasis and Pulitzer Prize winner James Ijames, the narrative explores the tension between religious devotion and queer identity as Ulysses finds himself torn between his aunt’s church and his emerging self-understanding.
Grammy-nominated artist Sia makes her stage musical debut as the primary songwriter, crafting a score that fuses gospel, house music, and contemporary pop.
Grammy winner Honey Dijon contributes additional music, bringing authentic NYC house music culture to the production. Tony recipient Jason Michael Webb and Grammy winner Luke Solomon handle music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements, ensuring a cohesive musical landscape that supports the story’s emotional journey. The concept album features extended club versions of several tracks, providing fans with additional listening experiences beyond the theatrical presentation.
The creative team features Tony Award nominee Whitney White directing, with choreography by Obie Award winner Darrell Grand Moultrie, who incorporates elements of voguing culture into the production.
The visual world of “Saturday Church” is created through David Zinn’s scenic design, Qween Jean’s costumes, Adam Honoré’s lighting, and Gareth Owen’s sound design. The production incorporates sweeping filters and layered ambient sounds to create immersive underwater sequences that reflect Ulysses’ emotional journey. The production will highlight body positivity as a central theme alongside self-expression.
The cast includes Tony winners J. Harrison Ghee and Joaquina Kalukango alongside NBC’s “The Voice” contestant Bryson Battle and vocalist Ayana Jackson.
With an approximately 140-minute run time including intermission, the production promises to deliver a powerful exploration of identity, faith, and found family while celebrating the joy and liberation that comes through authentic self-expression and community support. Producers are also exploring sync deals with streaming platforms to further extend the musical’s reach and generate additional revenue streams for the artists involved.
