Alan Portner - Page 8

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.

ANNIE Brings the Sun Out at White Theatre

July 15, 2021

Now running on the stage of the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center’s Overland Park campus is a very credible production of 1977’s “Annie.

BWW Review: DEAD RINGER at Musical Theater Heritage

July 10, 2021

Live Theater has returned to Musical Theater Heritage with the World Premiere production of “Dead Ringer.

BWW Feature: AUSCHWITZ - NOT LONG AGO - NOT FAR AWAY at Union Station

June 15, 2021

Now open at Kansas City’s Union Station is a huge, new, historical exhibition.

BWW Review: DIXIE'S HAPPY HOUR at Starlight Theatre

January 28, 2021

Dixie Longate is back, at least virtually, at Starlight Theatre.

BWW Review: THE MUSIC OF MOTOWN at MTH (Virtual)

January 18, 2021

“The Music of Motown” is the third original cabaret show in a series of video streamed entertainments from Musical Theater Heritage in the wake of the great Covid-19 pandemic.

BWW Review: THE SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS SHOW at Musical Theater Heritage

December 11, 2020

A KC holiday treasures I always enjoy is the “The Spectacular Christmas Show” at Musical Theater Heritage.

BWW Review: BROADWAY'S PRINCE at MTH At Crown Center

November 6, 2020

MTH’s new virtual Musical Monday “Broadway’s Prince” is a delightful decompression from the all-consuming political drama that engulfs the country.

BWW Review: AN EVENING WITH RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN at Musical Theater Heritage

September 1, 2020

Fans of Musical Theater Heritage are in for a treat with a new, locally conceived and performed streaming remembrance revue featuring the iconic music of a?oeRodgers and Hammerstein.

BWW Review: AMERICAN SON at Unicorn Theatre

March 9, 2020

AMERICAN SON is a bold, intense, ninety minute study of race and law enforcement in America during the early twenty-first century.

BWW Review: THE GOLDEN GIRLS PARODY at Starlight Theatre Indoors

March 9, 2020

BWW Review: TITANIC (THE MUSICAL) at Barn Players

February 18, 2020

Barn Players production of TITANIC (The Musical) opened this past weekend at the Arts Asylum to full and appreciative audiences.

BWW Review: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS at Yardley Hall

February 16, 2020

A third evolution of the American classic AN AMERICAN IN PARIS took the stage at Yardley Hall inside the Carlsen Center at Johnson County (KS) Community College to an almost full audience of 1500 souls.

BWW Review: CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES at New Theatre & Restaurant

February 15, 2020

It doesn't much matter whether you happen to be Lutheran, Catholic, another flavor of Protestant, Jewish, or Muslim.

BWW Review: COME FROM AWAY at Kansas City Broadway Series

February 12, 2020

COME FROM AWAY is a 2017 musical play that memorializes the best of how humans can react in the face of the 911 tragedy.

BWW Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at The White Theatre

February 11, 2020

William Shakespeare's 1595 comedy A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is one of his most often performed light plays.

BWW Review: FOREVER PLAID at Musical Theater Heritage

February 9, 2020

FOREVER PLAID is a delightful stroll down memory lane for you.

BWW Previews: VALENTINE'S Date shows in Kansas City

February 8, 2020

Still planning your special holiday evening out with your best girl or guy? Kansas City has lots to offer.

BWW Review: THE OFFICE; A MUSICAL PARODY at Starlight Theatre Indoors

February 5, 2020

The Musical Parody of TV's THE OFFICE is for those who are devoted fans of the 2005 a?' 2013 NBC comedy series.

BWW Review: FUN HOME at Kansas City Repertory Theatre

February 3, 2020

FUN HOME (the musical) is, according to KC Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Stuart Carden, a?oethe most important new musical theater piecea?oe of the last decade.

BWW Review: BABEL at Unicorn Theatre

January 26, 2020

The World Premier engagement of Jacqueline Goldfinger's BABEL (as part of the National New Play Network) is enjoying its first, fully realized production at Kansas City's Unicorn Theatre in Midtown.

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