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Alan Portner - Page 15

Alan Portner

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 Opera

Favorite 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: TENNESSEE PLAYBOY at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
BWW Review: TENNESSEE PLAYBOY at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
April 3, 2017

Tale of Irish revolution turned to pretty funny cornpone comedy

BWW Review: AVENUE Q at MTKC Pro
BWW Review: AVENUE Q at MTKC Pro
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
BWW Review: A RAISIN IN THE SUN at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
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
BWW Review: FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE at Black Repertory Theatre Of Kansas City
March 31, 2017

celebrates genius of songwriter and performer Louis Jordan

BWW Review: SHE LOVES ME at Musical Theater Heritage
BWW Review: SHE LOVES ME at Musical Theater Heritage
March 27, 2017

Excellent cast prevails over 1963 remake of a 1936 show.

BWW Review: DRUNKS at Whim Productions
BWW Review: DRUNKS at Whim Productions
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
BWW Previews: THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI at Musical Theater Heritage
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
BWW Review: CONSTELLATIONS at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
March 13, 2017

Are there multiple universes existing in almost parallel?

BWW Preview: DEAD MAN WALKING at Lyric Opera
BWW Preview: DEAD MAN WALKING at Lyric Opera
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
BWW Review: GEM OF THE OCEAN at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
March 1, 2017

Part allegory, part realism, play transports audience to early 20th century.

BWW Review: BOEING, BOEING at New Theatre Restaurant
BWW Review: BOEING, BOEING at New Theatre Restaurant
February 25, 2017

proves that a fun situation never gets old.

BWW Review: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Kansas City Music Hall
BWW Review: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Kansas City Music Hall
February 13, 2017

Slimmed down production loses no impact and becomes even more intimate.

BWW Review: FIRST DATE at Starlight Theatre
BWW Review: FIRST DATE at Starlight Theatre
February 7, 2017

Laugh at the way blind dates always go

BWW Review: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
BWW Review: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
February 6, 2017

recollects the early section of an unbelievable catalog of work.

BWW Review: HOW TO USE A KNIFE at Unicorn Theater
BWW Review: HOW TO USE A KNIFE at Unicorn Theater
February 2, 2017

offers a revealing look into two troubled individuals.

BWW Review: SHIPWRECKED! at Spinning Tree Theatre - Fun Fraud
BWW Review: SHIPWRECKED! at Spinning Tree Theatre - Fun Fraud
January 23, 2017

Shipwrecked has a lengthy moniker and excellent actors

BWW Review: PHOTOGRAPH 51 at Metropolitan Ensemble Theater
BWW Review: PHOTOGRAPH 51 at Metropolitan Ensemble Theater
January 23, 2017

Discovery depended on work of female scientist

BWW Review: MY OLD LADY at Kansas City Actors Theatre
BWW Review: MY OLD LADY at Kansas City Actors Theatre
January 20, 2017

Family drama surprises

BWW Previews: PLAYWRIGHT SLAM at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
BWW Previews: PLAYWRIGHT SLAM at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
January 5, 2017

Attend Playwright Slam with short original script

BWW Review: STOMP at Broadway Theater League
BWW Review: STOMP at Broadway Theater League
December 19, 2016

Twenty year old show demonstrates the percussion potential of ordinary household items.



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