Review: PEER GYNT at St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
by Steve Callahan - May 06, 2025
A rich and lively production of an Ibsen classic--with Grieg's full instrumental music. The St. Louis Symphony, with director Stéphane Denève, interpret Grieg’s music with their usual perfection. All in all it’s a memorable presentation of a very great work of music and theater....
Review: JERSEY BOYS at New Theatre & Restaurant
by Alan Portner - April 28, 2025
JERSEY BOYS at New Theatre Restaurant is a delightful evening out on the town. The show tells the mostly true story of sixties pop legends Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. This show is an original and fun trip down memory lane with a singing group who offered a unique sound that still resonates...
Review: DOUBT, A PARABLE at KC United Church Of Christ
by Alan Portner - March 10, 2025
Kansas City Actors Theater presents an exceptional production of DOUBT, A PARABLE by John Patrick Shanley in the unexpected, but perfectly selected sanctuary of the Kansas City United Church of Christ in the Brookside area....
Review: RUMORS at New Theatre Restaurant
by Alan Portner - February 23, 2025
A super cast makes the most of Neil Simon’s 1988 word-salad comedy masterpiece entitled RUMORS. RUMORS opened last week at New Theater Restaurant in Overland Park. This one is played strictly for laughs.
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Review: HAIRSPRAY at White Theatre
by Alan Portner - February 04, 2025
HAIRSPRAY, a co-production of the White Theatre and the Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, is the kind of old-fashioned, joyous, musical theater experience that recalls a PAJAMA GAME, or a DAMN YANKEES, kind of show that is just pure entertainment. Additionally, HAIRSPRAY has a point to make a...
Review: BOOK OF DAYS at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
by Alan Portner - February 01, 2025
Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre kicks off its 2025 calendar year offerings with an offbeat murder mystery/character study by Lanford Wilson called BOOK OF DAYS performed at The Westport Bowery. The play, originally commissioned by Jeff Daniels in 1998 for his own small town (Michigan) theater company,...
Review: PARADE at Kauffman Theatre
by Alan Portner - January 29, 2025
The touring company of PARADE, now playing at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, recounts the sad, but true tale of Leo Frank and Mary Phagan. Mr. Frank was almost certainly falsely convicted of Ms. Phagan’s April 27, 1913 murder due to an early twentieth century eruption of rampant antise...
Review: CHICAGO: THE MUSICAL at Kauffman Theater
by Alan Portner - January 10, 2025
Chicago, the Musical, now playing at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, is a super evening out for you and your significant other. It is a welcome respite from our incredible snow event last weekend. ...
Review: WHO'S HOLIDAY A CHRISTMAS MASTERPIECE OPENS IN KANSAS CITY at The Ruby Room
by Steve Wilson - December 09, 2024
Ho...Ho...Ho, Cindy Lou Who, that’s who returned to Kansas City on Friday, December 6, in WHO’S HOLIDAY A NEW COMEDY WITH A TWIST OF RHYME. Padgett Productions’ Christmas delight opened on the stage of the Ruby Room inside Crown Center. The Ruby Room is the perfect venue for WHO’S HOLIDAY, as the sh...
Review: FUNNY GIRL at Kansas City Music Hall
by Alan Portner - December 04, 2024
FUNNY GIRL is one of the crown gems of the American Musical Theater. Kansas City audiences will be treated to a first-class production of a show that many theater buffs know about but have never seen.
Tuesday night’s performance starred Leah Platt in the lead role of Fanny Brice. Leah has a gangbus...