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: 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.
BWW Review: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN at Musical Theater Heritage
April 4, 2016
April 4, 2016
Musical Theatre Heritage returns to its radio roots with a revival of the 1946 Irving Berlin musical play, 'Annie Get Your Gun.' This MTH production stars the huge voice of Shelby Floyd in the title role of Annie Oakley. Baritone Sam Wright plays Annie's true life husband Frank Butler. Jim Korinke, a long time respected Kansas City actor, is the immortal Buffalo Bill Cody.
BWW Review: THE FANTASTICKS at Kansas City Reportory Theatre
March 28, 2016
March 28, 2016
A show worth seeingAn inspired piano overture flows smoothly into 'The Fantasticks' signature opening song; 'Try To Remember.' 'The Fantasticks' is a simple fable for all time about a boy, a girl, their two fathers, and a wall. Kansas City Repertory Theatre reinvents 'The Fantasticks,' history's most performed musical play, with an all-star cast, expanded musical accompaniment, and a lavish new setting.
BWW Review: THE ISLAND at Kansas City Actors Theatre
March 17, 2016
March 17, 2016
'The Island' brings home the tragedy that was aparttieid.
BWW Review: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE at Lyric Opera Of Kansas City
March 17, 2016
March 17, 2016
Elixir enjoys great success in updated version
BWW Review: SING OUT SISTER! at Quality Hill Playhouse
March 11, 2016
March 11, 2016
A cast of three plus Kent offers a memorable evening of song
BWW Review: ROOF OF THE WORLD at Kansas City Repertory Theatre
March 9, 2016
March 9, 2016
Tech aspects first class... story too complex
BWW Review: AN EVENING WITH COLE PORTER at Musical Theater Heritage
March 9, 2016
March 9, 2016
Enjoyable show with fine singers
BWW Review: TOMAS AND THE LIBRARY LADY at The Coterie Theatre
March 1, 2016
March 1, 2016
Coterie's first bi-lingual production relates the story of Tomas Rivera late chancellor at UC-Riverside at a small boy
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