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 OperaFavorite 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: VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. at City Theatre Of Independence
June 5, 2017
June 5, 2017
Now running at the City Theater of Independence is the 2013 Tony winning comedy 'Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike' by Christopher Durang. Based loosely on charcters and the works of Anton Checkhov, you don't have to be familiar with the Russian writer to get all the jokes. Well, you might need to know a little bit to get all the in-jokes, but the New York critics gave this show a resounding seal of approval.
BWW Review: THE LITTLE MERMAID at Starlight Theatre
June 5, 2017
June 5, 2017
Disney's Little Mermaid at Starlight offers a great show and value added video assist
BWW Review: THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB at New Theatre Restaurant
May 31, 2017
May 31, 2017
Five expert actors led by Morgan Fairchild entertain with sight gags, snappy dialog, and true caring for their oldest friends.
BWW Review: THE BALLAD OF LEFTY AND CRABBE at The Living Room Theatre
May 27, 2017
May 27, 2017
'The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe' sparkles as a completely home- grown, home- performed, home-produced and expanded reboot to the 2015 Fringe Festival hit now enjoying its world premiere at The Living Room Theatre in the Kansas City Crossroads District through June 18. 'Lefty and Crabbe' has matured and ripened on the vine and is now most definitely ready for prime time.
BWW Review: WHAT WOULD CRAZY HORSE DO? at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
May 7, 2017
May 7, 2017
Nationalist overtones foreshadow future danger
BWW Review: 42ND STREET at Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts
May 3, 2017
May 3, 2017
Peggy Sawyer arrives a 'youngster in the chorus, but becomes a big star.
BWW Review: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE at Lyric Opera Of Kansas City
April 24, 2017
April 24, 2017
continues to work after 138 years
BWW Preview: 42ND STREET at Broadway Theater League
April 17, 2017
April 17, 2017
Just plain fun - and a Lullaby from Broadway
BWW Review: TENNESSEE PLAYBOY at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
April 3, 2017
April 3, 2017
Tale of Irish revolution turned to pretty funny cornpone comedy
BWW Review: AVENUE Q at MTKC Pro
April 3, 2017
April 3, 2017
ribald memories of another puppet driven show that may have taught lessons on PBS
BWW Review: A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
April 3, 2017
April 3, 2017
tells the story of an ordinary family struggling to live an ordinary life during difficult times
BWW Review: FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE at Black Repertory Theatre Of Kansas City
March 31, 2017
March 31, 2017
celebrates genius of songwriter and performer Louis Jordan
BWW Review: SHE LOVES ME at Musical Theater Heritage
March 27, 2017
March 27, 2017
Excellent cast prevails over 1963 remake of a 1936 show.
BWW Review: DRUNKS at Whim Productions
March 20, 2017
March 20, 2017
Audience learns how the movie business works with a combination of drugs, alcohol, wild sex, porn, and wild insecurity
BWW Previews: THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI at Musical Theater Heritage
March 17, 2017
March 17, 2017
See the mysterious German 'Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,' wait for the surprise ending, and watch the score materialize before your eyes.
BWW Review: CONSTELLATIONS at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
March 13, 2017
March 13, 2017
Are there multiple universes existing in almost parallel?
BWW Preview: DEAD MAN WALKING at Lyric Opera
March 9, 2017
March 9, 2017
The story or Sister Helen and a convicted double murderer at Kauffman Center
BWW Review: GEM OF THE OCEAN at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
March 1, 2017
March 1, 2017
Part allegory, part realism, play transports audience to early 20th century.
BWW Review: BOEING, BOEING at New Theatre Restaurant
February 25, 2017
February 25, 2017
proves that a fun situation never gets old.
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