Alan Portner - Page 13

Marilyn was called 'the greatest white female singer in the world' by Ella Fitzgerald. Marilyn still has it at age 89.

AC Smith is memorable as Troy Maxson

It is a first ever production of a new play simply titled 'Bastard' by Kansas City playwright and artist Tyson Schroeder presented at the tiny studio theater on the third level of The Living Room Theatre in the Crossroads area. Directed by Living Room co-founder Shawnna Jouragan, 'Bastard' is a screed on the tyranny of making art and the superficiality of those who pretend to appreciate it.

Get deep into the play making process with AC Smith and Ron Parson

Next up at Kansas City Repertory Theatre is a new production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning 1983 play 'Fences' at the KC Rep Copaken Theatre in downtown Kansas City with an exceptional cast. Directing 'Fences' is Ron OJ Parson Director/Resident Artist at Court Theatre of Chicago. AC Smith plays Troy Maxxson supported by Alfred Wilson as Troy's best friend and co-worker, Jim Bono.

A delightful evening of theater at New Theatre

If you are a lover of the 'Great America Songbook,' Kent Barnhart's latest amalgamation of familiar tunes, 'I've Got A Crush On You,' with their origins in the musical theater of the last century is for you. Barnhart, with his trademark, droll sense of humor, leads a devoted audience at Quality Hill Playhouse through a century of music that has long outlived the shows that first gave them birth.

Kicking off the Unicorn Theatre's 44th season is 'Men on Boats' by Jaclyn Bauhaus (in cooperation with the UMKC advanced MFA program). 'Men on Boats' is an interesting and mostly accurate exploration of John Wesley Powell's 1869 exploration of the Colorado River north of and into the Grand Canyon.

'Grey Gardens,' the 2007 character piece that originally featured a bravura turn and a Best Actress in a Musical Tony for Christine Ebersole, is the current, ambitious, fall offering from the Barn Players Community Theater in Mission through October 1. 'Grey Gardens' tells the story of a Mother and Daughter who struggle through a steep descent from American Aristocracy to poverty and health department threats of eviction from their Long Island mansion. It is a story we may never have heard except for that the Mother in our story was also Aunt to the late Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis.

World Premiere show keeps audience engaged and appreciate - may have a great future in New York

$5 million goal set by the end of 2017

Features show built for the huge stage with many local talents

Designed as a very funny screed against Jim Crowe and political corruption, Rainbow continues to shine on its audiences after 70 years.

2013's 'Motown, The Musical' opened Tuesday night for a week's run through August 27 at Starlight Theatre inside Swope Park to a responsive, handclapping, music-swaying, delighted audience. 'Motown' is what old films might call a biopic with music. It tells the story of 'Motown' founder and owner Berry Gordy Junior and his business and personal journey through popular music based in the black experience of mid-20th Century Detroit Michigan.

Well performed but a little academic and study in how styles have changed

Holding an audience on a stage by yourself for a whole hour is no small task, but it is one accomplished by Buffalo Grove Illinois' Tim Mooney in his remarkably cogent performance of 'Breakneck Julius Caesar' at the Unicorn Theatre's Jerome Stage as his contribution to the 2017 Fringe. Tim Mooney is a repeat offender at Fringe and he is always excellent.

Value expressed as mystery and state of being

As part of the 2017 KC Fringe, 'Yiddish With Dick And Jane' is worth seeing at the Arts Asylum close to downtown. Although just about anyone can enjoy this one, it says something about age when one realizes his own education falls after the McGuffey Reader period and smack in the middle of 'Reading with Dick and Jane' years.

Five man magic show provides professional and enjoyable hour

Misguided attempt at film noir style misses the target