KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For 25 years, Dennis Porter has made a living spreading joy and laughter.

Porter, founder of Happy Faces Entertainment, is celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary this fall with an open house bringing together longtime clients, fellow entertainers, friends and others who have been part of the company’s story.

The celebration will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Center for Spiritual Living: 1014 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111

At 5:45 p.m., the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce will hold a special ribbon-cutting ceremony in honor of this anniversary.

The event will offer guests a look back at 25 years of Happy Faces Entertainment through photos, memorabilia, costumes, props and displays highlighting the many types of performances and programs Porter and his fellow entertainers have brought to Kansas City and national audiences.

But for Porter, the milestone is about more than business.

“It’s a celebration of the people who have been a part of this,” Porter said. “There are clients that have been around forever and other entertainers who have been a part of it and I can’t wait to celebrate with them all.”

Porter grew up in North Kansas City and graduated from William Jewell College. Happy Faces Entertainment traces its beginnings to a birthday party where Porter worked as a clown. That first paid gig he considers the beginning of his professional performance career.

Over the past 25 years, Porter has continued to evolve the business, performing and producing entertainment for audiences ranging from children and families to corporate groups, school and library groups, and community organizations in Kansas City and throughout the nation.

On his entertainment journey he has worked as a clown, magician, storyteller, improv comedian, and emcee, and spent more than a decade as DJ Dino for Radio Disney AM 1190.

That ability to adapt became particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many live performances disappeared overnight. Porter drew on his background in video editing, voiceover, improvisation and his network of fellow performers to find new ways to bring entertainment to audiences, including transforming live library programs into videos.

“One of the things you learn from improv is you just keep going,” Porter said. “You keep going, and something’s going to happen, and it’s going to work.”

That philosophy has helped carry Happy Faces Entertainment through 25 years of changing audiences, changing technology and changing business conditions.

For Porter, however, some of the most meaningful moments have remained remarkably simple. One of his favorite parts of performing is overhearing an audience member (especially kids) talking to someone else after a performance and saying how much fun they had.

“It’s honest, sincere, because they’re not saying it to me,” Porter said.

Now, 25 years after that first birthday party, Porter is celebrating the many people who have shared those moments with him.

“It’s amazing to get to do this for a living,” Porter said. “I’m very blessed to create smiles and laughter for a living.”

ABOUT HAPPY FACES ENTERTAINMENT

Happy Faces Entertainment is a Kansas City-based entertainment company founded by Dennis Porter in 2001. The company provides entertainment and interactive programming for a wide range of audiences and events, including corporate events, schools, libraries, community events and family celebrations. For more information: https://www.happyfacesentertainment.biz