Jay Cranford

Review: ALONE TOGETHER at New Theatre Restaurant
by Alan Portner - Sep 22, 2025

What Audiences at New Theatre’s new production of “Alone Together” experience an immediate, hilarious sense of “Been There… Done That…” and identify mostly with George and Helene, the lead characters.

Review: WEST SIDE STORY at White Theater
by Alan Portner - Jul 12, 2025

From its first electrifying notes to its tragic final act, WEST SIDE STORY continues to captivate audiences with its blend of urgent drama, iconic music, and groundbreaking choreography. Each new staging of this classic presents a fresh opportunity to rediscover its timeless tale of love and rivalry. This latest interpretation seeks not only to honor the legendary legacy of the original but also to breathe new life into its unforgettable characters and vibrant score.

Review: CLUE at New Theatre Restaurant
by Alan Portner - Jul 7, 2025

Madcap! Frenetic! Hilarious! It is the New Theatre Restaurant production of CLUE. Clue is a comic murder-mystery tale based on the 1985 film of the same name which was based on the 1949 Parker Brothers board game that just about anyone who grew up in that period will surely have played at some point.

Winners Announced For The 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards
by BWW Awards - Jan 14, 2025

Winners have been announced for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards! The 2024 Regional Awards honor regional productions, touring shows, and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Last Chance To Vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards; LEGALLY BLONDE at Great Plains Theatre Leads Best Musical!
by BWW Awards - Dec 27, 2024

This is the last chance to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Final Week To Vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards; Great Plains Theatre Leads Favorite Local Theatre!
by BWW Awards - Dec 23, 2024

This is the final week to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Vote For The 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards; LEGALLY BLONDE at Great Plains Theatre Leads Best Musical!
by BWW Awards - Dec 16, 2024

Voting continues for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Latest Standings Announced For The 2024 BWW Kansas City Awards
by BWW Awards - Dec 9, 2024

Don't miss your chance to vote for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards! Voting ends on 12/31 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

Review: NUNSENSE at New Theatre Restaurant
by Alan Portner - Dec 3, 2024

Heating up the boards at New Theatre Restaurant now through February 2, 2025 is a new production of a reliable Off-Broadway Musical Review called NUNSENSE featuring a very funny quintet of comedy Sisters from the “Little Sisters of Olathe.”

Review: DISNEY'S NEWSIES at New Theatre & Restaurant
by Alan Portner - Jul 16, 2024

This production of NEWSIES, directed and choreographed by Jerry Jay Cranford and assisted by Christina Burton, features a cast of twenty-two dancers and singers, plus constantly in motion LED backdrops, a bridge flown high off the stage floor, combined with three matching stair/tower units strategically moving about the stage, and an eleven-piece orchestra. 

Lyric Opera Of Kansas City Announces Two Opera Commissions For Audiences Of All Ages
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 16, 2023

General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler Kemper has announced the commission of two operas created to be presented in community spaces where audiences of all ages gather. The Haberdasher Prince by the twin-sister creative team of composer Rosabella Gregory and librettist Dina Gregory will premiere in April 2024. Maya and the Magic Ring by composer Lori Laitman and librettist Dana Gioia will premiere in spring 2025.

Review: DREAMGIRLS at New Theatre & Restaurant
by Alan Portner - Jul 13, 2023

The point of musical theater (for most people) is pure entertainment, and the New Theatre & Restaurant original production of 1981’s DREAMGIRLS hits the bullseye. DREAMGIRLS is directed by Jerry Jay Cranford and stars a comparatively large, twenty-one member cast backed by an eight-piece orchestra.  Cranford has assembled a cast of Broadway belters and fine dancers to tell the tale of a Supremes-like black female singing trio around 1960 and in the decade to follow.   The show is flashy and impeccably costumed.  The set, while relatively simple, is technically superior. LED screens are used across the background to simulate locations.  Not much was spared when the producer was asked to fund this production.  Choreography by Courtney German is frenetic, well drilled, and perfectly appropriate for this genre.  The musical score is spectacular by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen.   Several numbers (including the title track) became number one hits outside the show.

ANNIE Brings the Sun Out at White Theatre
by Alan Portner - Jul 16, 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.” It is the first new, full, live, Broadway Style indoor production to tread the boards of this very nice auditorium in sixteen months.

GODSPELL Kicks Off Starlight's 2021 Advent Health Broadway Series
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 11, 2021

Starlight welcomes Godspell to its stage for the very first time Tuesday, June 22 – Sunday, June 27.

GODSPELL to Kick Off Starlight's 2021 AdventHealth Broadway Series June 22-27
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 11, 2021

Starlight will welcome Godspell to its stage for the very first time Tuesday, June 22 – Sunday, June 27. This refreshing retelling of the Gospel of Matthew is a sensational musical production that is uplifting, celebratory and fun. Godspell includes songs by Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, such as the popular hit “Day by Day.”

Kansas State Theatre's Kansas Theatre Works Podcast Presents ONE DEAD, ONE DYING
by Stephi Wild - Sep 10, 2020

K-State Theatrea??s Kansas Theatre Works Podcast will present One Dead, One Dying by Laura Camien.

Spinning Tree Theatre to Conclude the 2019-20 Season with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 6, 2020

Spinning Tree Theatre will conclude the 2019-20 season April 17 - May 3 with Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles. The 1983 musical, based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret, has music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein. La Cage aux Folles won the 1984 Tony Award for Best Musical, and both Broadway revivals (2005 and 2010) won Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical.

BWW Review: CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES at New Theatre & Restaurant
by Alan Portner - Feb 15, 2020

It doesn't much matter whether you happen to be Lutheran, Catholic, another flavor of Protestant, Jewish, or Muslim. All places of worship surely have CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES like these.

Spinning Tree Theatre Presents the Kansas City Premiere of GIRLFRIEND
by Stephi Wild - Jan 2, 2020

Spinning Tree Theatre continues 2019-20 season January 24 a?" February 9 with rock musical Girlfriend. Kansas City premiere, based on Matthew Sweet's 1991 hit rock album by the same name, has music/lyrics by Sweet and book by Todd Almond.

Winners Announced for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards
by Alan Henry - Jan 9, 2019

We are pleased to announce the winners for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and voted on by you - the local theatergoers!