WATCH: Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer say a few words at The Tank 10th season kick off party. Music by the Drawn Out Storytelling house band.

“Only at the Tank…

I wanted to come by for two reasons. One, to say when you think about Manhattan, you think about New York City. You have to think about arts and culture, right? And you have to think about the people who break through things. And the Tank is just a break through place. Whether its Drinking Liberally or Living Liberally or bringing something new and exciting about progressive politics to the forefront to next generation New Yorkers. The Tank is what it’s about. You don’t have to be young to appreciate it. You can be someone, like myself, who..by the way, 52 is the new 32, you know that?  But it really is an amazing place. I really just want to say to my friend Justin [Krebs], I think he’s done an amazing job building the organization with so many of you.”

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|the claque| is proud to announce the second annual Quick and Dirties (QuaDs): ideas are sexy, hosted at The Tank, NYC. 

|the claque|, your favorite arts and performance conglomerate based in New York City, is dedicated to creating excellent work while heightening the level of discourse which surrounds it. Our approach is designed to encourage and allow artists to thrive, fostering an adaptable, non-competitive approach to creation and discussion.

About the Quick and Dirties

In short: |the claque| is working to make good plays great.

In detail: We are very happy to present the second annual Quick and Dirties, or QuaDs. This year we will be focusing on helping to realize big ideas from our collaborating playwrights because IDEAS ARE SEXY. |the claque|, the playwrights of the selected plays and over 60 theatre artists will be digging into six workshop productions of full length plays to help those good ideas grow into great ideas.

The workshops focus on plays which are past the point of developmental readings, but not yet ready for full production. Each play receives a week long intensive and two public viewings focusing on building on the central ideas of the plays. Each piece will be fully staffed with creative teams, including directors, designers, actors, stage managers, and a production manager, will delve into the work bringing each play to life.

This year’s QuaDs will also feature readings of two new full-length plays. Each play will get two reading spread over a month to allow the writer to implement and experiment with rewrites.

Finally, in conjunction with the QuaDs, |the claque| will introduce the Bring Your Own Eggs Series (BYOEs). Each Sunday morning and afternoon there will be sessions including panel discussions, master classes and open forums for discussion. |the claque| will be providing the industry experts and the coffee; those attending are expected to bring their own brunch to munch and their insights and questions.

Over the next few months we’ll be taking on some big ideas. Ideas that form plays and those that allow them to spring to life. Join us both in creation and discussion of amazing art and thought.

There isn’t much as seductive as thought and art.

Ideas are sexy.

“Sometimes it takes a Tank to send a message” - J. David Goodman (NY Times)

Mayor Vilnius Zuokas of Lithuania ran a tank over a Mercedes this week. It was a PSA about illegal parking in bike lanes. We’d like to think that all tanks, even yours truly, are agents of change. And we need your help to continue that mission in New York arts. Make a tax deductible donation here: http://do.nr/2sX

On a side note, when the Times asked Howard Wolfson, a deputy mayor in New York known for his avid bicycling, whether Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg would consider something similar, Wolfson tweeted: