This Week on Broadway for March 2, 2025: Dakar 2000

BROADWAYRADIO

03/2/25

James Marino,Michael Portantiere,Peter Filichia

This Week on Broadway for March 2, 2025: Dakar 2000

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Peter Filichia, James Marino, and Michael Portantiere talk about Dakar 2000 @ MTC, In The Heights @ Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, Second Stage production of Evolutionary Function of Shame @ Signature Center, Mint Theater Company’s production of Garside’s Career, The New Group’s production of Curse of the Starving Class @ Signature Center, Preview of upcoming — Platinum Dreams @ York, and the book: If the Song Doesn’t Work, Change the Dress

Mia Barron and Abubakr Ali in Manhattan Theatre Club’s world premiere production of Dakar 2000 by Rajiv Joseph, directed by May Adrales. © Matthew Murphy

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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 – has been released! Peter also has columns at Masterworks Broadway, Broadway Select, and many other places.

Show Tune for Today is: Camelot, “March the 2nd on the dot”

Audio from live performance of 1960 OBC Camelot… floating around.

Michael Portantiere | [email protected] | Facebook
MICHAEL PORTANTIERE is a theater reviewer and essayist. He is the founder and editor of CastAlbumReviews.com. He is also a theatrical photographer whose photos have appeared in The New York Times and other major publications. You can see his photography work at FollowSpotPhoto.com.

James Marino | [email protected] | Facebook
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Pre:

All the Drama: 2020 Pulitzer winner “A Strange Loop” Released on Patreon / Public 3/8/25

Stagecraft: Bess Wohl about her new play “Liberation” Released on Patreon / Public 3/5/25

Reviews:

Mia Barron and Abubakr Ali in Manhattan Theatre Club’s world premiere production of Dakar 2000 by Rajiv Joseph, directed by May Adrales. © Matthew Murphy

PF: Dakar 2000 @ MTC, through March 23, 2025
Manhattan Theatre Club’s world premiere of Dakar 2000, starring Abubakr Ali and Mia Barron, written by Rajiv Joseph and directed by May Adrales.

In Senegal on the eve of Y2K, an idealistic Peace Corps volunteer (Ali) survives a mysterious car accident. An imposing State Department operative (Barron) arrives at his hospital where she immediately takes command of the situation and his safety. Though they couldn’t be more different, they form an unlikely relationship. But when it becomes clear that they both have secrets, the volunteer is roped into a darker side of public service – one he can’t come back from. Unpredictable at every turn, this world-premiere thriller was commissioned by Manhattan Theatre Club.

The creative team includes Tim Mackabee (Scenic Design), Emily Rebholz (Costume Design), Alan C. Edwards (Lighting Design), Bray Poor (Sound Design), Shawn Duan (Projection Design), Tommy Kurzman (Hair, Wig & Makeup Design), and Merrick A.B. Williams (Production Stage Manager).

Abubakr Ali

Class Notes: Rajiv Joseph “Dakar 2000”

The cast of In the Heights at Signature Theatre

MP: In The Heights @ Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, through May 4, 2025

PF: Second Stage production of Evolutionary Function of Shame @ The Irene Diamond Stage, The Pershing Square Signature Center, through March 9, 2025

MP: Mint Theater Company’s production of Garside’s Career @ Theatre Row, through March 15, 2025
Mint Theater Company (Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director) presents the New York Premiere of Garside’s Career by Harold Brighouse (Hobson’s Choice), directed by Matt Dickson, opening Thursday February 20th for a limited engagement through March 15th. Previews now at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets from $39 are on sale at minttheater.org.

Calista Flockhart (R) and Lois. Photo by Monique Carboni.

PF + MP: The New Group’s production of Curse of the Starving Class @ The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theater @ The Pershing Square Signature Center, through April 6, 2025

Sam Shepard’s Curse of the Starving Class with David Anzuelo, Kyle Beltran, Calista Flockhart, Cooper Hoffman, Jeb Kreager, Stella Marcus and Christian Slater, directed by Scott Elliott, now through April 6.

Christian Slater (R) and Lois. Photo by Monique Carboni.

Sam Shepard’s fiercely funny, OBIE award-winning play Curse of the Starving Class returns to the stage. With their family home on the verge of collapse and the creditors closing in, the Tate family white-knuckles to their past, while scratching and clawing their way towards a better future. This timeless story dismantles the American dream in its look at a family fighting to stay alive.

Listener Arthur Smith forwarded this to us:

A different vantage point can change the way you see your job by Maria Hollenhorst
Naveen Kumar, a theater critic for The Washington Post, was forced to shift his own perspective after a back injury made it difficult for him to sit through plays. He wrote about the experience and spoke to Marketplace about how standing instead of sitting helped him see the shows — and his job — in a new way.

MP: Preview of upcoming — Platinum Dreams @ York

New Musical Platinum Dreams Sets Off-Broadway Premiere By Margaret Hall
Adapted from Platinum by Will Holt and Bruce Vilanch, and Sunset by Will Holt, Platinum Dreams will be directed by York Interim Artistic Director Joseph Hayward.
The York Theatre will stage the new musical Platinum Dreams later this spring as the first production in its 2025 New2NY lineup.

Running March 8-16, Platinum Dreams features a book by Stevie Holland, music by Gary William Friedman, lyrics by Will Holt, and additional lyrics by Holland. Adapted from Platinum by Holt and Bruce Vilanch, and Sunset by Holt, Platinum Dreams will be directed by York Interim Artistic Director Joseph Hayward.

PF: Book: If the Song Doesn’t Work, Change the Dress | Amazon
The Illustrated Memoirs of Broadway Costume Designer Patricia Zipprodt
Patricia Zipprodt (Author) , Arnold Wengrow (Author)

News:

Sunset Announces Closing July 13, 2025

Sunset Boulevard Revival Announces Extension and Final Broadway Performance Date By Diep Tran, Andrew Gans
In an Instagram post, the production announced that show will officially close July 13 (it had previously been on sale until July 6).

Chris Gattelli in NYT

The Choreographer Chris Gattelli Sends Love Letters to His Dance Heroes by Margaret Fuhrer
The dance humor in Christopher Gattelli’s shows, like “Schmigadoon!” and “Death Becomes Her,” is underpinned by affection for musical theater and its excesses.

Margaret Fuhrer – Arts writer and editor

Next Week:

Peter’s Brainteaser:

What character, first seen in a 1950s musical — and only on Broadway during this century — has the longest name?

Michael’s Musical Moments

FLOYD COLLINS, “The Call” — Jeremy Jordan

Music Opener:

OPENER: start at the beginning and fade out around 0:29