Quality of Death by Ruth Jenkins

A play about end of life issues.

Please click here for more information on Quality of Death

Water - The Musical (Grades 3-5)

In partnership with the Portland Water Bureau, we are pleased to present another 30-minute musical about how great Portland's water is, and what we can do to keep it that way. Thrill as Parker and Taylor, Broadway's Hit Makers, come up with a musical right before your eyes. Andrew Berkowitz wrote the book, Skelly Harrington wrote the lyrics and Patrick Short wrote the music, directed and produced. Funded through 2021, now closed. Call us at 503.236.8888 or write amy (at) thinkingtheatre.com for more information.

The Z to A Show

Parents, teachers, and caregivers!

Do you need a twenty minute break with some fresh interactive content for your kids?

It’s The Z to A Show!  A one-on-one fun and educational zoom experience for your child 4-7 years old.

Zsa Zsa the monster will have a zoom chat tailored to your child’s needs in English language skills. Its a fun supplemental learning program designed to give you a break and build the basics.  

Zsa Zsa loves words!  Every 20-minute session will feature a new word, and help with the alphabet, vocabulary, usage, spelling, and other English language skills according to your child’s level and needs. We will also help coach in zoom and computer skills, and social skills like taking turns and sharing.

Prices and scheduling:

Initial consultation - a zoom meeting where we figure out what your kid/s need/s, and what our schedule should be.       $20.00

Z to A Show Packages

1 show - $40.00.    Nice for a birthday or special occasion.

2 shows -$65.00.     Usually in the same week.

4 shows - $100.00.      That’s a whole month!

12 shows - $275.00.   Three months of weekly Zsa Zsa!

Extra kids?  We will work it out.  Parents and older family members are welcome to watch anytime for free!

Book The Z to A Show by calling 503.236.8888 x4 and asking for Patrick. You may also email patrick@portlandcomedy.com.

BIOS:

Amy “Zing” Gray (She/Her) is a member of Thinking People’s Theatre and has performed educational programs in schools at the middle and elementary level for 7 years.  She is an improvisor and founding member at ComedySportz Portland.  She was a professional puppeteer for Tears of Joy Theatre for 15 years, and has performed thousands of puppet shows in schools and theaters across the West.  Amy has designed and performed her own one-woman puppet shows at almost every Multnomah County Library, and in 2012 adapted an “everybody reads” book on commission for the library system.  Amy lives in Portland and has been called “The Best Babysitter Ever.” (Amy has been background checked by Portland Public Schools.)

Zsa Zsa (She/Her) is a little monster who lives in a closet.  She likes words, and loves playing word games like scrabble and bananagrams. She has recently assisted with the CSz “Puppets, Improv, and Zoom” class, and can frequently be seen as a guest on improv game shows.

I Just Don't Buy That (Grades 4-5, formerly for 6-8)

In partnership with Metro. Andrew Berkowitz wrote the book and Patrick Short wrote the music, directed and produced. It's all about REDUCING by being smart and skeptical consumers. The play premiered on March 19, 2010 and ran through May, 2012 at Middle Schools. There are also videos of 5 of the scenes. More info here.

I Just Don't Buy That reconfigured for 4th and 5th Graders, with two entirely new sketches from the mind of Andrew Berkowitz and 5 new songs by Patrick Short & Skelly Harrington, ran from March 2015 through June, 2019.

Jordan's Quest (Grades 3-5)

This musical adventure, in partnership with Metro, premiered March 19, 2011 and ran through June, 2014, playing at 95 schools. It was a blast. It's done now. Written by Andrew Berkowitz with music by Patrick Short.

Sky Orbison and the Earth Protectors (Grades K-5)

A 2007 play developed in partnership with Metro, aimed at the K-5 crowd.  Sky Orbison tackles reducing, reusing and recycling in an interactive setting with original music.  Written by Andrew Berkowitz with music by Patrick Short.  Sky Orbison premiered April 20, 2007, played in over 130 schools and ran through 2011.

Frozen Carrots (K-8)

Frozen Carrots is a funny and thought-provoking musical play that teaches about hunger in Oregon and the United States. It follows two students through an afternoon of working as volunteers at Oregon Food Bank, where they make a deal with the volunteer coordinator: If they can answer three questions about hunger, they can leave early.

In answering those three questions, our young heroes learn about hunger and the mission of Oregon Food Bank -- and realize that they might not want to go home early after all.

The play has a cast of four adult professionals, contains five original songs, and the run time is 32 minutes plus a Question & Answer session.

Frozen Carrots delivers a powerful message and strong incentive for students and adults to volunteer - wrapped in a funny and moving musical. It's perfect for school food drive time - but don't let that limit your thinking and planning.  This is a great play for any time.

Book and lyrics by Andrew Berkowitz
Original Music and Stage Direction by Patrick Short
Choreography by Mary Pat McCoy
Based on a concept by Ruth Jenkins