Number the Stars
Written by. Dr. Douglas W. Larche with Susan Elliott Larche
Based on the Novel by Lois Lowry
Directed by Georgia Mallory Guy
Presented at the JCC on the Cohn Campus
November 7th - 17th, 2024
Sensory Performance 11/9 @ 2:00pm
During the German occupation of Denmark in World War II, the Nazis closed down Jewish-owned businesses and began to round up the Jews for relocation to concentration camps for the final solution. Danish freedom fighters of all ages risked everything in daring, hurried attempts to rescue the entire Jewish population. In this stirring play, young Annemarie and Kirsti Johansen face soldiers, interrogations, fierce dogs, personal danger, the loss of loved ones and their own fears as they try to help their friend Ellen Rosen escape across the ocean to Sweden and safety. Courage, faith, ingenuity and even their fledgling acting skills eventually win the day. All the drama, pathos, adventure, terror and humor that have made Number the Stars a national best seller (and winner of the Newberry Award and the American Library Association Book of the Year Award) come to life in this powerful adaptation.
Coming Soon!
Recommended for Ages 8+
Some Mature Themes and Scary Moments
What is a Sensory Performance?
MATT & BEN
Written by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers
Presented at freeFall Theatre
as part of freeFall's Tandem Series
January 23rd - 26th, 2025
One weekend Only!
From the mind of multi-award winning writer and actress Mindy Kaling, Matt & Ben depicts its Hollywood golden boys – before J-Lo, before Gwyneth, before Project Greenlight, before Oscar… before anyone actually gave a good gosh darn. When the screenplay for Good Will Hunting drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they’re being tested by a Higher Power. Originally performed by Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers in the title roles, Matt & Ben is a hilarious satire on the real and imagined difficulties of pursuing a dream.
Winner of the 2002 FringeNYC Award
“Absolutely delightful and deliciously spiteful! Sharp and clever, Matt & Ben succeeds!” – The New York Times
“A hit! Acidic, funny and affectionate! Matt & Ben spoofs Hollywood’s best friendship!” – The New York Post
Coming Soon!
Recommended for Ages 13+
Mature Language
Recommended for Ages 10+
Mature Themes and Language
Spring Cabaret
Presented on the Patio at Deviant Libations
Saturday, March 1st and Sunday, 2nd 2025
ThinkTank is teaming up with once again Deviant Libation to present an evening of Broadway favorites coupled with some Beers and Booze. We'll be hanging out on Deviant Libation's spacious patio, under an enchanting tent, so bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket and make yourself comfortable. A food truck will be available for you to purchase dinner, or bring your own snacks. Get the family together and make your plans for Saturday, March 1st or Sunday, March 2nd, heck both nights if you want! Seating is limited and our cabarets do sell out, so don't hesitate. It's sure to be an evening everyone can enjoy, with some beer and booze if you're old enough!
Coming Soon!
Songs for a New World
Music and Lyrics by JASON ROBERT BROWN
Presented at the JCC on the Cohn Campus
May 8th - 18th, 2025
Sensory Performance May 2nd @ 2:00pm
It's about one moment. It's about hitting the wall and having to make a choice... or take a stand... or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical from Tony Award winner, Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge, 57 stories above Fifth Avenue, to meet a startling array of characters that range from a young man who has determined that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams... and a soulless marriage.
With a small, powerhouse multi-ethnic cast and a driving, exquisitely crafted score that runs the gamut of today's popular music, Songs for a New World is a great way to bring the young and the young at heart together in a shared musical experience.
Coming Soon!
Recommended for Ages 10+
Mature Themes and Language
What is a Sensory Performance?
5th Annual
TYA Playwrights Festival
August 2025
ThinkTank’s TYA Playwrights Festival is a developmental program dedicated to providing a working forum for progressive and forward-thinking TYA productions for today’s young people and family audiences. The goal is a collaborative workshop process, with local Tampa Bay Theatre professionals and members of our YAE Company, allowing time for playwrights to hear and adapt their work. Submissions for the festival will open to playwrights across North America in January of 2025. From January to June, the festival reading committee will narrow down the submissions, selecting the final plays to be represented at our 2025 Festival Showcase. For the 2024 Play Fest, over 360 plays were submitted from across North America and three were selected to festival show case.
In addition to the selected play readings, ThinkTank will also fully produce one of the plays from 2024’s Festival Showcase selections as a featured mainstage component of our 2025 Festival.
Recommended ages vary due to content of each reading
Coming July 2025
What is a Sensory Performance?
As a part of our vision to provide a theatrical experience that welcomes everyone, we plan to offer Sensory Performances for many of our Main Stage Productions. For these shows, we’ll adjust various elements to ensure that audience members with sensory based sensitivities and other members of our community with special needs can join us! Our sensory performances are open to everyone and are especially crafted to enhance the show-going experience for members of our community with special needs, families with younger children, and any theatre goer who might enjoy a more relaxed show experience!