New York Theatre Workshop — Attraction in New York

By chance, I ended up at Saturday Church at New York Theatre Workshop right after finishing a reading of Third Person with a friend, just around the corner. We were lucky enough to grab $25 rush tickets and slipped in just before the show began.

From the very first beat, the production was electric. The music, stage design, and choreography pulsed with energy, creating an atmosphere that was both celebratory and deeply moving. The cast radiated presence, and their voices carried a power that made the story soar. The set, with its urban grit and glowing lights, felt like both a sanctuary and a stage for liberation.

What struck me most was the empowerment woven into the narrative. You don’t need to be Black, Christian, or trans to feel its resonance—the themes of faith, identity, resilience, and chosen family reach far beyond any one community. It’s about belonging, and about the strength it takes to carve out your own space in the world.

Before leaving, I even picked up the LP as a souvenir—something to carry home with me to Malaysia, and a reminder of a night where theatre, music, and community came together in such a powerful way.

Saturday Church is more than a musical; it’s a powerful reminder of joy and survival, and of how art can hold space for stories that uplift...

It's a nice and intimate space, with three sides pointed to the center, and while you have your usual chairs that definitely aren't made for people tall or heavyset, they're comfortable enough to not have to move every ten minutes to try to get comfortable. Also, the tickets are affordable and the staff are quite nice. I remember e-mailining someone because I needed to change the show I was going to and they were courteous, when I called they were quick to know who I was and provide a solution, and overall the experience makes you appreciate the smaller theaters...

Performance was outstanding but event staff especially the transvestite at ticket booth should lose attitude if they seriously hope for future donations to the theater. The staff call visitors patrons then speak to them and order them around like they are children! Not to mention the horror experience of hauling people like cattle through random parts of theatre then rushing them to use toilets only to walk back into theater and be asked to show tickets for fear of theft during the...