Contact BroadwayWorld Kansas City

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.

Andrew Burrill is a writer, critic, and performing arts professional whose work spans theatre, education, entertainment, and public service. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in historic Louisa County, Virginia, his early years were shaped by a deep awareness of American history, service, and community — values that continue to inform his artistic lens.

A graduate of the University of Virginia and Shenandoah Conservatory, Andrew’s academic and artistic training includes mentorship from distinguished scholars and theatre-makers across directing, acting, dramaturgy, voice, design, and writing. At UVA, he contributed to major institutional traditions such as the Lighting of the Lawn, performed in landmark productions including Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, worked in the Contemplative Sciences Center, and wrote for The Huffington Post. He later earned an M.S. in Performing Arts Leadership & Management from Shenandoah Conservatory, deepening his expertise in arts administration, history, and cross-disciplinary leadership.

Andrew has interviewed and worked alongside leading creators in theatre and entertainment, including members of the creative teams behind Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, Tony-nominated performers, and internationally recognized scholars. Professionally, he has held roles in talent management and agency representation in Los Angeles, supporting award-winning actors and contributing to film and media projects, including the internationally recognized feature film After Masks, which he conceived and executive produced during the COVID-19 shutdown.

His writing and critical voice are shaped by a commitment to empathy, context, and the belief that theatre remains one of the most powerful mirrors for understanding society. Andrew’s work explores how performance both reflects and reshapes conversations about identity, community, history, and collective memory.

In addition to his arts career, Andrew currently serves in the United States Army as a 92Y Unit Supply Specialist with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he plays an active leadership role in the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) Program. His service continues a long family legacy of military commitment and informs the discipline, civic responsibility, and moral clarity he brings to his writing and advocacy.

Across every chapter of his career — from university stages to Hollywood studios to military service — Andrew remains devoted to storytelling that elevates humanity, honors truth, and amplifies voices that deserve to be heard.

Jacques du Plessis is an actor, writer, and director based in Columbia, Missouri. His stage work ranges from John Proctor in The Crucible to Shakespeare in Something Rotten and John D'Agata in The Lifespan of a Fact, and he writes, directs, and produces his own short films. He holds degrees in political science and biological sciences from the University of Missouri, along with a graduate certificate in public health. He is drawn to reviewing as a working theatre artist who knows what a production costs to make, and he believes a good review should tell an audience enough to enjoy what they're about to see.