Al Portner is regional editor for Broadway World – Kansas City. He is a retired career journalist and media executive who has written for publication over more than 40 years. Portner has published daily newspapers in venues as far east as Washington DC, as far west as Honolulu HI.
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First Show:
The first musical I saw on Broadway was 1776 with the original cast.Favorite Show:
My favorite show current recent show is Phantom Of The OperaFavorite Stories:
- BWW Review: AN EVENING WITH SIERRA BOGGESS at Musical Theater Heritage - Because of the presence of Ms. Boggess' parents in a small space environment, I felt like the veil dropped and we saw a glimpse of who this excellent performer really is as a person. I was able to feel the relationship of this family in relation to my own children.
- BWW Review: BETWEEN THE LINES at Kansas City Repertory Theatre - BETWEEN THE LINES was a Pre-Broadway tryout production performed in front of the Broadway creative team. The show has yet to open in New York, but it remains clever and engaging. It also generated Broadway World reads at a rate four or five times what would normally be expected in a market of about two million.
- The Last Romance at New Theatre Restaurant - THE LAST ROMANCE marked the final teaming of Charley Robinson and Michael Learned. Both were charming in a super venue.
- Review: HADESTOWN at Kansas City Music Hall - The touring company of HADESTOWN featured a complex and thoughtful exploration of an ancient myth transported into another, but indefinite point in time. It was early in the run and a super cast was still extremely excited about performing something new. I personally enjoyed sharing uncommon background material that hoped to enhance the audience experience.
- BWW Review: CATS at Musical Theater Heritage - CATS is not a favorite musical play. This particular production, however, featured a director who disassembled the entire show and rebuilt it with young, talented actors for a small theater and limited costume/makeup. It was an especially involving experience.
BWW Review: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
February 6, 2017
February 6, 2017
recollects the early section of an unbelievable catalog of work.
BWW Review: HOW TO USE A KNIFE at Unicorn Theater
February 2, 2017
February 2, 2017
offers a revealing look into two troubled individuals.
BWW Review: SHIPWRECKED! at Spinning Tree Theatre - Fun Fraud
January 23, 2017
January 23, 2017
Shipwrecked has a lengthy moniker and excellent actors
BWW Review: PHOTOGRAPH 51 at Metropolitan Ensemble Theater
January 23, 2017
January 23, 2017
Discovery depended on work of female scientist
BWW Previews: PLAYWRIGHT SLAM at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
January 5, 2017
January 5, 2017
Attend Playwright Slam with short original script
BWW Review: STOMP at Broadway Theater League
December 19, 2016
December 19, 2016
Twenty year old show demonstrates the percussion potential of ordinary household items.
BWW Review: A SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS SHOW at Musical Theater Heritage
December 13, 2016
December 13, 2016
Excellent performer do unusual musical selections proud
BWW Review: SANTALAND DIARIES at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
December 13, 2016
December 13, 2016
See how KC Rep has enhanced this holiday favorite.
BWW Review: THE NUTCRACKER at Kansas City Ballet
December 7, 2016
December 7, 2016
Lavish settings and sumptuous music frame classic story
BWW Review: CHRISTMAS CAROL at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
December 5, 2016
December 5, 2016
Scrooge saves Crachit family and Christmas for 143rd straight year.
BWW Preview: SANTALAND DIARIES at KC Rep Copaken Stage
November 28, 2016
November 28, 2016
Santa's elf speaks out on elf kingdom
BWW Review: SISTER'S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM at Starlight Theatre
November 28, 2016
November 28, 2016
Starlight Theatre continues its indoor season with the return of 'Sister' for a new Catechism lesson based about half on the Holy Nativity and half on CSI - The Holy Land. 'Sister' (played to the hilt by Mary Zentmyer) arrives back at Starlight after a successful run last year with her 'Late Night Catechism Class.'
BWW Review: NINE at Spinning Tree Theatre
November 10, 2016
November 10, 2016
'Nine' makes its audiences work to achieve full understanding
BWW Review: CABARET at Musical Theater Heritage
November 6, 2016
November 6, 2016
Now at Musical Theater Heritage, a show that grabs its audience by the throat and holds on viscerally through the final fade to black. The era is the early 1930s. The city is Berlin Germany. The setting is the grungy and erotic Kit Kat Club. The liberal Weimar Republic turns inward on itself and cedes control to some of the darkest forces in recorded history. This is a suburb production of John Kander and Fred Ebb's 1966 classic masterpiece 'Cabaret.'
BWW Review: MEN ARE FROM MARS - WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS at Starlight Theatre
November 4, 2016
November 4, 2016
Amadeo Fusca shares the challenges in his own marriage in a relatable show that leaves audiences laughing.
BWW Review: THE INVISIBLE HAND at K.C. Repertory
October 26, 2016
October 26, 2016
suggests universal situation - reflects middle eastern war.
BWW Review: DEATHTRAP at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
October 26, 2016
October 26, 2016
'Deathtrap' shocks and delights
BWW Review: SONGS OF THE GREAT WAR at Musical Theater Heritage
October 10, 2016
October 10, 2016
They called it the 'War To End All Wars.' Between 1914 and 1918, over 17 million souls gave up their lives on the altar of the first-ever modern war. Musical Theater History (MTH) at Crown Center presents a new and fascinating look back called 'Songs of the Great War.'
BWW Preview: 2017 STARLIGHT PREVIEW at Starlight Theatre
October 4, 2016
October 4, 2016
An expanded 2017 Starlight Summer Broadway show series was announced last week by Starlight CEO Rich Baker at a star studded Sunday Brunch. Features included a five-show winter 'indoor' season preview, a nine-show 2017 Broadway season, and a special surprise performance by the touring stars of 'Jersey Boys.'
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