B&B LIVE

by Alan Portner - February 04, 2025

HAIRSPRAY, a co-production of the White Theatre and the Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, is the kind of old-fashioned, joyous, musical theater experience that recalls a PAJAMA GAME, or a DAMN YANKEES, kind of show that is just pure entertainment.  Additionally, HAIRSPRAY has a point to make a...

by Alan Portner - February 01, 2025

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre kicks off its 2025 calendar year offerings with an offbeat murder mystery/character study by Lanford Wilson called BOOK OF DAYS performed at The Westport Bowery. The play, originally commissioned by Jeff Daniels in 1998 for his own small town (Michigan) theater company,...

by Alan Portner - January 29, 2025

The touring company of PARADE, now playing at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, recounts the sad, but true tale of Leo Frank and Mary Phagan. Mr. Frank was almost certainly falsely convicted of Ms. Phagan’s April 27, 1913 murder due to an early twentieth century eruption of rampant antise...

by Alan Portner - January 10, 2025

Chicago, the Musical, now playing at the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, is a super evening out for you and your significant other.  It is a welcome respite from our incredible snow event last weekend. ...

by Steve Wilson - December 09, 2024

Ho...Ho...Ho, Cindy Lou Who, that’s who returned to Kansas City on Friday, December 6, in WHO’S HOLIDAY A NEW COMEDY WITH A TWIST OF RHYME. Padgett Productions’ Christmas delight opened on the stage of the Ruby Room inside Crown Center. The Ruby Room is the perfect venue for WHO’S HOLIDAY, as the sh...

by Alan Portner - December 04, 2024

FUNNY GIRL is one of the crown gems of the American Musical Theater. Kansas City audiences will be treated to a first-class production of a show that many theater buffs know about but have never seen. Tuesday night’s performance starred Leah Platt in the lead role of Fanny Brice. Leah has a gangbus...

by Alan Portner - December 03, 2024

Heating up the boards at New Theatre Restaurant now through February 2, 2025 is a new production of a reliable Off-Broadway Musical Review called NUNSENSE featuring a very funny quintet of comedy Sisters from the “Little Sisters of Olathe.”...

by Steve Wilson - December 02, 2024

Spoiler alert: What did the iconic Maxine from MAXINE’S CHRISTMAS CAROL learn on opening night? The answer: She learned that Padget Productions has another holiday treat on its hands. MAXINE’S CHRISTMAS CAROL opened on Friday, November 29, at the City Stage inside Union Station. The musical comedy w...

by Alan Portner - November 25, 2024

Cirque Du Soleil’s excellent new Christmas Show, TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE… opens at the Kansas City Music Hall for eight performances beginning THE NIGHT BEFORE…Thanksgiving Day and continues through Sunday, December 1....

by Steve Wilson - November 01, 2024

What did our critic think of BUBBLE BOY, A MUSICAL ABOUT BURSTING OUT at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center?...