The Tank's FLINT & TINDER to Return with Works by The Assembly, Puppet Kitchen & More

The Tank - the Manhattan-based non-profit arts presenter, located at 151 West 46th Street, 8th floor - is pleased to announce its third season of its flagship theatre program Flint & Tinder, the curated series of exciting new independent theater presented in the heart of Manhattan's theater district. The series showcases ferociously imaginative emerging artists making work that spans (and often flagrantly combines) physical theater, puppetry, dance, clowning, and more. They are storytellers, relentless risk-takers, and theatrical alchemists shaping the future of the medium.

Flint & Tinder is curated by Josh Luxenberg and Jon Levin of Sinking Ship Productions, and produced and co-curated by Rosalind Grush of The Tank.

"We could not be more thrilled about the artists and projects in our 2014-15 Flint & Tinder series," stated The Tank's Executive Director Rosalind Grush. "From income inequality to the death of God to food culture to a magician growing up in the Bronx, our artists will be telling incredible stories using truly mind-blowing physical theater techniques. We are so proud to be in a position to provide these talented up-and-coming artists with the resources to bring their unique work to the New York scene."

The curated shows that make up this season's Flint & Tinder are:

"That Poor Dream," written and devised by The Assembly (Stephen Aubrey, Edward Bauer, Ben Beckley, Nick Benacerraf, Jess Chayes, Emily Louise Perkins, and Alyssa Simmons), directed by Jess Chayes and presented on January 9 at 4pm and 7pm; January 10 at 7pm; January 11 at 3pm and 9pm; January 15 at 7pm; January 16 at 7pm; January 17 at 7pm; and January 18 at 7pm.

A moving mosaic of what it means to be endowed with Great Expectations, "That Poor Dream" is set on a train traveling from New York City to Fairfield, CT, uniting worlds divided by geography, privilege, and time. Inspired by Charles Dickens' classic novel about coming of age in a profoundly class-conscious society, the work draws on the company's own complex relationship to class identity and economic disparity in American society. The Assembly - which has been called "a cutting-edge young theater collective" by The New York Times - explores in its newest creation "That Poor Dream" how class defines and divides us, and how our shared humanity might bring us closer together.

"Gathering the Magic," written and performed by Nelson Lugo - who Magic Times says "manages to be funny and gasp-inducingly astounding and sparkingly smart and sophisticated all at once" - directed by Paige Blansfield, with additional material by Richard Lovejoy and magic consulting by Richard Laufenburger presented on January 30 at 7pm; January 31 at 7pm; February 6 at 7pm; February 7 at 7pm; February 8 at 3pm; February 12 at 7pm; February 13 at 7pm; February 14 at 7pm; and February 15 at 3pm.

"Gathering the Magic" is a 90 minute exploration of one magician's journey: A timeless tale of "boy meets magic kit/boy becomes magician," packed with pitfalls, triumph and adventure. Descended from a genuine Santeria, Nelson Lugo has evolved his singular magical style for more than 15 years, showcasing classic prestidigitation with a wink and a nod to the nerd culture that has shaped him. "Gathering the Magic" is in its essence a love story which asks if there can be truth in deception, for it's not always so important HOW a trick is done, but WHY.

"Go to Sleep, Goddamnit!" written, directed and performed by the international theater company The Krumple, presented on April 10 at 7pm; April 11 at 7pm; April 17 at 7pm; April 18 at 7pm; April 19 at 3pm; April 23 at 7pm; April 24 at 7pm; April 25 at 7pm; and April 26 at 7pm.

"Go to Sleep, Goddamnit!" marks The Krumple's US premiere.

Using full masks, bold physicality and not a single spoken word, The Krumple Theatre Company tells the story of a small provincial church, which finds itself devoid of church-goers. The disillusioned priest battles with himself, God and his pillows as he falls deeper and deeper into an existential crisis. Three nuns unwittingly unleash the power of the internet, and with it their own ambitions and desires. To make matters worse, dinosaurs have appeared on Noah's Ark and someone is plotting to burn down the church. Ranging from grotesquely comic to poignant, "Go to Sleep, Goddamnit!" explores the question: "What does one do when one's purpose has become obsolete?"

"What Are You Eating?" created by Eric Wright & Matt Singer, directed by Emily DeCola, puppets by The Puppet Kitchen, presented on May 15 at 7pm; May 16 at 7pm; May 17 at 3pm; May 22 at 7pm; May 23 at 7pm; May 24 at 7pm; May 28 at 7pm; May 29 at 7pm and May 30 at 7pm.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, lonely, confused and hungry for something (but you don't know what exactly), come sit and eat, and we'll work it out over something delicious. In "What Are You Eating," we'll raise a glass while little Billy tries to navigate his way through a familiar labyrinth of culinary information. The road turns sweet, sour, bitter, and even a little salty.

The Flint & Tinder production of "What Are You Eating?" will mark its world-premiere. In 2012 "What Are You Eating?" had a workshop showing at St. Ann's Warehouse Puppet Lab as part of Labapalooza.

And finally a co-production with 3-Legged Dog of Manual Cinema's "Ada/Ava," directed by Drew Dir, sound design and original score by Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman, designed by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace and Julia Miller, puppeteering by Lizi Breit, Sarah Fornace, Evan Garrett and Julia Miller; presented in July 2015 (dates TBA) at 3LD Art & Technology Center (80 Greenwich Street) in Manhattan.

Bereaved of her twin sister Ava, septuagenarian Ada solitarily marks time in the patterns of a life built for two. However, a traveling carnival and a trip to a mirror maze plunges her into a journey across the thresholds of life and death. Set in a landscape of the New England gothic, "Ada/Ava" uses a story of the fantastic and super natural to explore mourning and melancholy, self and other.

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