The Tank's 2015 Season Opens With GATHERING THE MAGIC Tonight

The Tank - the Manhattan-based theater company devoted to developing and presenting new works for the stage by emerging artists -- will begin the 2015 season of 'Flint & Tinder,' The Tank's flagship theater program, this month with the world-premiere of GATHERING THE MAGIC, a solo play written and performed by Nelson Lugo about a young man's journey from his first toy magic kit to professional magician - and all the things magical and not-so-much he encounters along the way - with previews starting tonight, January 30 prior to opening January 31 at The Tank's home theatre located at 151 W. 46 St. in NYC.

In GATHERING THE MAGIC, Mr. Lugo - who has been described by Magic Times as "funny and gasp-inducingly astounding, as well as sparklingly smart and sophisticated all at once" - takes his audience on a journey that traverses "boy meets magic kit/boy becomes magician," complete with pitfalls, triumph and adventure. Laced with tales from his career and life - including his Santeria heritage - Lugo's GATHERING THE MAGIC reveals that it's not always important to know HOW a magic trick is done, but WHY.

In the tradition of magic shows, each performance of GATHERING THE MAGIC will feature an opening act, a rotating schedule featuring some of Mr. Lugo's young peers, including Killy Mockstar Dwyer, Schaffer the Darklord and Eli August & The Abandoned Buildings.

GATHERING THE MAGIC will perform the following schedule: January 30 and 31 at 7 pm.; Feb. 6 and 7 at 7 pm and Feb. 8 at 3 pm; February 12, 13 and 14 at 7 pm and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 pm. Running time is 90 minutes. Admission to the Feb. 8 performance will be 'pay what you can.'

CRITICS PLEASE NOTE: ALL OF THE ABOVE DATES ARE OPEN FOR REVIEW.

GATHERING THE MAGIC is presented as part of The Tank's 'Flint & Tinder' program, curated by Josh Luxenberg and Jon Levin of Sinking Ship Productions. The series is produced and co-curated by Rosalind Grush of The Tank.

Subsequent productions to be presented this year by The Tank's 'Flint & Tinder' series are: GO TO SLEEP, GODDAMNIT! presented by international ensemble The Krumple, receiving its U.S. premiere at The Tank April 10-26. Next, The Tank will present WHAT ARE YOU EATING? By Eric Wright and Matt Singer, directed by Emily DeCola featuring puppets by The Puppet Kitchen - May 15-30. Finally, The Tank will be presenting ADA|AVA by Chicago-based company Manual Cinema in a co-production with downtown technological arts presenter 3-Legged Dog June 15-July 5.

Previous 'Flint & Tinder' productions by The Tank include puppeteer Marta Mozelle MacRostie's CLOSE TO DECLINE; the NY premiere of Kyle Loven's LOSS MACHINE; Summer Shapiro's KINDS OF LIGHT; and Split Knuckle Theater's ENDURANCE, which subsequently went on national tour to venues including Long Wharf Theatre. Previously this season The Tank presented the newest work by The Assembly, directed by Jess Chayes.

The Tank was founded in 2003 by nine emerging artists - including director Alex Timbers and Amy Herzog - and continues to serve emerging and established artists in the pursuit of new ideas and forms of expression. A key mission of The Tank is to remove the burden of cost from the creation of new work for emerging artists. In its 62-seat black box theatre on West 46 Street in Manhattan, The Tank presents performances in the full range of the performing arts: theater, music, dance, comedy, film and storytelling.

Tickets to GATHERING THE MAGIC are $15 and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com.

For additional information, visit www.thetanknyc.org.