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Alan Portner - Page 17

Alan Portner

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 Opera

Favorite 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: THE FANTASTICKS at Kansas City Reportory Theatre
BWW Review: THE FANTASTICKS at Kansas City Reportory Theatre
March 28, 2016

A show worth seeingAn inspired piano overture flows smoothly into 'The Fantasticks' signature opening song; 'Try To Remember.' 'The Fantasticks' is a simple fable for all time about a boy, a girl, their two fathers, and a wall. Kansas City Repertory Theatre reinvents 'The Fantasticks,' history's most performed musical play, with an all-star cast, expanded musical accompaniment, and a lavish new setting.

BWW Review: THE ISLAND at Kansas City Actors Theatre
BWW Review: THE ISLAND at Kansas City Actors Theatre
March 17, 2016

'The Island' brings home the tragedy that was aparttieid.

BWW Review: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE at Lyric Opera Of Kansas City
BWW Review: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE at Lyric Opera Of Kansas City
March 17, 2016

Elixir enjoys great success in updated version

BWW Review: SING OUT SISTER! at Quality Hill Playhouse
BWW Review: SING OUT SISTER! at Quality Hill Playhouse
March 11, 2016

A cast of three plus Kent offers a memorable evening of song

BWW Review: ROOF OF THE WORLD at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
BWW Review: ROOF OF THE WORLD at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
March 9, 2016

Tech aspects first class... story too complex

BWW Review: AN EVENING WITH COLE PORTER at Musical Theater Heritage
BWW Review: AN EVENING WITH COLE PORTER at Musical Theater Heritage
March 9, 2016

Enjoyable show with fine singers

BWW Review: THE WHALE at Unicorn Theatre
BWW Review: THE WHALE at Unicorn Theatre
March 9, 2016

Difficult to watch, but worth the effort

BWW Feature: MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE at MTH At Crown Center
BWW Review: TOMAS AND THE LIBRARY LADY at The Coterie Theatre
BWW Review: TOMAS AND THE LIBRARY LADY at The Coterie Theatre
March 1, 2016

Coterie's first bi-lingual production relates the story of Tomas Rivera late chancellor at UC-Riverside at a small boy

BWW Review: LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL at Barn Players
BWW Review: LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL at Barn Players
March 1, 2016

All that dance and great leads make for fun

BWW Reviews: THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
BWW Reviews: THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
February 8, 2016

Diary of Anne Frank makes important historical statement

BWW Review: HOW TO STEAL A PICASSO at Unicorn Theatre
BWW Review: HOW TO STEAL A PICASSO at Unicorn Theatre
February 4, 2016

Playwright calls his work farcical reality

BWW Preview: HOW TO STEAL A PICASSO at Unicorn Theatre
BWW Preview: HOW TO STEAL A PICASSO at Unicorn Theatre
January 29, 2016

World Premier of How to Steal a Picasso opens at Unicorn Theatre

BWW Review: ONE MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY at Starlight Theatre
BWW Review: ONE MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY at Starlight Theatre
January 28, 2016

Star Wars parody closes Starlight Theater indoor season

BWW Review: A NUMBER at Kansas City Actors Theatre
BWW Review: A NUMBER at Kansas City Actors Theatre
January 26, 2016

'A Number' opens from Kansas City Actors Theatre at Rockhurst University's Mabee Theatre.

BWW Review: POTTED POTTER at Starlight Theater
BWW Review: POTTED POTTER at Starlight Theater
January 22, 2016

Potted Poter called 'Gloriously Goofy' in the best Music Hall tradition.

BWW Review: LATE NITE CATECHISM at Starlight Theatre
BWW Review: LATE NITE CATECHISM at Starlight Theatre
January 19, 2016

Sister leads a very funny 'Late Nite Catechism' indoors at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City

BWW Review: BUYER & CELLAR at Unicorn Theatre
BWW Review: BUYER & CELLAR at Unicorn Theatre
December 17, 2015

Seth Golay spins yarn about his job as a shopkeeper in Barbra Streisand's Cellar.

BWW Review: MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY at Unicorn Theatre
BWW Review: MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY at Unicorn Theatre
December 10, 2015

Tomorrow as it might be with Homer, Marge, and Bart Simpson

BWW Review: DIRTY DANCING at Music Hall
BWW Review: DIRTY DANCING at Music Hall
December 9, 2015

Fun for the audience, but not on the level of the film



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