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: DEATHTRAP at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre
October 26, 2016
October 26, 2016
'Deathtrap' shocks and delights
BWW Review: SONGS OF THE GREAT WAR at Musical Theater Heritage
October 10, 2016
October 10, 2016
They called it the 'War To End All Wars.' Between 1914 and 1918, over 17 million souls gave up their lives on the altar of the first-ever modern war. Musical Theater History (MTH) at Crown Center presents a new and fascinating look back called 'Songs of the Great War.'
BWW Preview: 2017 STARLIGHT PREVIEW at Starlight Theatre
October 4, 2016
October 4, 2016
An expanded 2017 Starlight Summer Broadway show series was announced last week by Starlight CEO Rich Baker at a star studded Sunday Brunch. Features included a five-show winter 'indoor' season preview, a nine-show 2017 Broadway season, and a special surprise performance by the touring stars of 'Jersey Boys.'
BWW Review: I DO, I DO at Chestnut Fine Arts Center
October 4, 2016
October 4, 2016
A gentle, pleasant evening at the Chestnut
BWW Review: HANSEL AND GRETEL at Lyric Opera Of Kansas City
September 20, 2016
September 20, 2016
Hansel and Gretel struggle with the evil clown
BWW Review: EVITA at Kansas City
September 19, 2016
September 19, 2016
Mariand Torres and Mauricio Martinez soar in Lloyd Webber's Evita
BWW Review: THE RAT PACK IS BACK at Starlight Theatre
September 14, 2016
September 14, 2016
Pleasant evening recalls Vegas glory days
BWW Review: I'M NOT RAPPAPORT at City Stage in Union Station
August 17, 2016
August 17, 2016
Nat and Midge shine on their park bench
BWW Review: GENTLEMEN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Starlight Theatre
August 12, 2016
August 12, 2016
'A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder' is a delightful current work that leans heavily on the British Music Hall tradition of broad comedy and clever plot twists. 'The Gentlemen's Guide' won the 2014 Tony Award for best new musical play. Imagine a game of 'Clue' writ large. 'Gentlemen's Guide' is pure cleverness and fun.
BWW Reviews: NEXT TO NORMAL at Musical Theater Heritage
August 9, 2016
August 9, 2016
Journey deep into the mind of a suburban family
BWW Review: IF/THEN at Starlight Theatre
July 28, 2016
July 28, 2016
'If/Then,' now playing through Sunday at the Starlight Theatre, is a show the audience wants to love. It is chock full of big songs, great performances, and memorable dancing. Sets are cleverly designed to resemble impressionist versions of everyday New York big city locations that have the ability to gracefully and seamlessly transform one into the next. Orchestrations are lush and fully realized.
BWW Review: THE DAWNING OF AQUARIUS at Quality Hill Playhouse
July 15, 2016
July 15, 2016
Selection of 20th Century songs recalls fun of 60s and 70s
BWW Revieww: ONCE at Starlight Theatre
May 23, 2016
May 23, 2016
Starlight Theatre's Broadway season stepped off Friday evening with the offbeat, intimate 'Once' based on a 2007 film of the same name. The film became a cult favorite and earned the 2008 Academy Award for Best Song 'Falling, Slowly.' Rewritten for the stage and transformed into a full-fledged musical, 'Once' the musical earned eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best New Musical.
BWW Reviews: LOT'S WIFE at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
May 2, 2016
May 2, 2016
Eric Rosen scores hit new show with comedy melodrama with an edge.
BWW Review: GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING at Quality Hill Playhouse
May 2, 2016
May 2, 2016
shares new life into Roberts & Hammerstein tunes
BWW Review: CARMEN at Lyric Opera Of Kansas City
April 26, 2016
April 26, 2016
Lyric Opera brings great singers together for memorable production of Bizet's Carmen
BWW Review: THE GHOSTS OF LOTE BRAVO at Unicorn Theatre
April 25, 2016
April 25, 2016
Dark Fantasy Drama about life on the Mexican side of the border
BWW Review: JANE EYRE THE MUSICAL at Barn Players
April 18, 2016
April 18, 2016
Complicated piece of theater requires audience go along for the ride
BWW Review: KINKY BOOTS at Broadway Theater League
April 10, 2016
April 10, 2016
K-Boots based the experience of a true UK shoe factory.
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