» This Week on Broadway for August 2, 2026: The Saviors @ Atlantic Theater Company BroadwayRadio

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08/2/26

James Marino,Michael Portantiere,Peter Filichia

This Week on Broadway for August 2, 2026: The Saviors @ Atlantic Theater Company

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James Marino, Peter Filichia, and Michael Portantiere review The Saviors @ Atlantic Theater Company, The Potluck @ Playwrights Horizons, Birthright @ MCC, Last Laugh @ Vino Theater, Gene Frankel Theatre Festival, Walter Paisley, and Are You Now or Have You Ever Been @ City Center

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Panel:

Peter Filichia | [email protected] | Facebook
PETER FILICHIA is a playwright, journalist, and historian with a number of books. Peter’s new day-by-day desk calendar – A SHOW TUNE FOR TODAY – 366 Songs to Brighten Your Year – is available at finer retailers!

Showtune for Today: That Was A Year from Road Show

Michael Portantiere | [email protected] | Facebook
MICHAEL PORTANTIERE has been a theater journalist for more than 50 years. The founder and editor of CastAlbumReviews.com. He is also a theatrical photographer whose photos have appeared in The New York Times and other publications, and he writes reviews of cabaret shows for NiteLifeExchange.com. Additionally, Michael is known as a producer and director of shows at 54 Below, the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and other venues.

James Marino | [email protected] | Facebook
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Reviews

MP + PF: The Saviors @ Atlantic Theater Company‘s Linda Gross Theater, through August 15, 2026
by Bubba Weiler
directed by Jack Serio
When a lost young man takes shelter in their church, two altar boys desperately cling to each other as their changing faiths, lives, and bodies threaten to tear them apart.

PF: Soho Rep and INTAR Theatre present César Alvarez’s new musical The Potluck @ Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons, through August 9, 2026
Written by César Alvarez
Directed by Sarah Benson
with Signal Producing Support from Civis Foundation in collaboration with Spirits Go Blah

MP: Jonathan Spector’s Birthright @ MCC Theater, through August 23, 2026

PF: Three Quick Things:

Last Laugh @ Vino Theater, July 27 – 29, an out of town tryout in NYC before premiering at Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

Gene Frankel Theatre Festival showcasing original premieres, curated by industry leaders, highlighting innovative performances in NYC, through August 16, 2026

Walter Paisley (a new musical) — backers audition
Book, music, and lyrics by Randy Rogel,
Direction by Jerry Zaks, and associate direction by Steve Edlund.
It was co-created by BT McNicholl, and produced by Joey Parnes.
The cast includes Preston Truman Boyd, Natalie Charlé Ellis, Conner John Gillooly, Robert Lenzi, Becca Petersen, Lance Roberts, Mary Testa, Samantha Williams, and Ethan Slater as Walter Paisley.

Review: DID YOU SEE WHAT WALTER PAISLEY DID TODAY? Scares Up Tons of Laughs in La Mirada By: Michael Quintos, Mar. 25, 2023
Outrageously quirky and oddly delightful, this gag-heavy “beatnik” horror comedy is funny and fresh yet weirdly familiar.

MP: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been, An American Docudrama @ New York City Center Stage I, through August 2, 2026

News:

CATS: The Jellicle Ball, cast recording, possible move after Broadway production closes run at the Broadhurst Theatre on Saturday evening, August 8.

Purple Rain

42 years to the day since Prince’s legendary film premiered, and three weeks since the album re-entered the Billboard 200, producer Orin Wolf is thrilled to announce that the stage adaptation of PURPLE RAIN is coming to Broadway.

PURPLE RAIN will premiere next spring at the Majestic Theatre (245 W 44th Street), beginning previews on Friday, March 12, 2027, and officially opening on Monday, April 12, 2027.

Tickets will go on sale this September at Telecharge. Casting for the production will be announced at a later date.

Experience Prince’s legacy live on stage at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre in PURPLE RAIN, the electrifying new musical based on the Grammy®-winning album and Oscar®-winning film, featuring over 20 of his iconic hits, including “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “Take Me with You,” and “The Beautiful Ones.”

Minneapolis, 1984. A new era of music television is creating overnight stars. A magnetic young performer known as “The Kid” seems like the perfect frontman to lead his bandmates to stardom. But when his past threatens everything he’s built, he’ll have to sing his way out of the darkness and into the spotlight where he belongs.

The stage adaptation of PURPLE RAIN features music by Prince, direction by Tony®️-nominated director Saheem Ali (Buena Vista Social Club), a book by playwright and screenwriter Peter Duchan (Dogfight), a music team led by Tony®️ Award winner Jason Michael Webb (MJ the Musical), and choreography by Emmy®️ Award winner Ebony Williams (Sneakerella; additional choreography for the Renaissance World Tour).

Bobby Z and Morris Hayes, both of whom worked with Prince for years as bandmates and musical collaborators, serve the production as Music Advisers.

Future Episodes:

Peter’s Brainteaser:

This performer was nominated for a Tony – and lost — in a Broadway debut, before becoming a household name.

One year later, another performer was also nominated for a Tony – and also lost for the second time — but would become a major household name before the end of the decade.

One year after that, the two performers joined forces to do a show together.

Who were the two Tony losers? What was the name of the show they teamed to do?

Michael’s Musical Moments

Hadestown: The Musical | Official Trailer | Bleecker Street