If your kids have ever dissolved into giggles over the pages of Elephant & Piggie, you already know the magic: simple stories, huge feelings, and best-friend energy turned up to eleven. This February, that magic moves from the bookshelf to the stage as Northwest Children’s Theater brings its most popular production ever, Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In a Play!”, to downtown Portland for a special run of school matinees.
Running February 10–12, 2026, the show lands at the Newmark Theatre for six student-only performances designed to meet a real need. With fewer student matinees available downtown this season and demand for school field trips continuing to soar, Northwest Children’s Theater is teaming up with Portland’5 Centers for the Arts to open more seats, welcome more kids, and put thousands of students in front of live theater—many for the very first time.
That impact adds up quickly. Over the course of just one week, more than 5,400 students are expected to attend. It’s a powerful reminder that when local arts organizations collaborate, access grows—and so does the next generation of theater lovers.
Why Elephant & Piggie Works So Well on Stage
Based on the beloved Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems, the musical captures everything kids love about Gerald and Piggie. Gerald worries. Piggie leaps before she looks. Together, they sing, dance, argue, laugh, and figure things out in real time—just like real friendships do.
The show is fast-paced, playful, and interactive, with music by Deborah Wicks La Puma that keeps young audiences engaged from start to finish. There’s no intermission, the runtime is about an hour, and each performance ends with a cast-led talk-back, giving students a chance to ask questions and peek behind the theatrical curtain.
Making Theater Accessible
Affordability is front and center. Tickets are $14 per person for students, teachers, and chaperones, with half-price tickets available for Title I schools. Northwest Children’s Theater also works with schools facing cost or accessibility challenges to make sure finances are not a barrier to participation.
As NWCT’s leadership notes, this pilot partnership allows the company to reach far more students than its home venue alone could accommodate—while bringing fresh energy and foot traffic to downtown Portland in the process.
The Details at a Glance
- What: Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In a Play!”
- When: February 10–12, 2026
- Showtimes: 9:30 am and 11:45 am
- Where: Newmark Theatre, downtown Portland
- Best for: Ages 3 and up
- Format: School matinee performances only
For teachers and families who believe laughter is a powerful learning tool—and that friendship stories matter—this is one field trip kids will still be talking about on the bus ride home.
