ALL HANDS ON DECK
The Tank Gala May 20, 2025
Ahoy there! The Tank’s 2025 Gala sets sail on May 20th. Join us for a night of nautical revelry as we celebrate The Tank and raise the sails for another year of fearless creativity. Our journey begins at the Crowne Plaza, next door, for a feast fit for Poseidon himself, before setting course to The Tank to Party Below Deck.
HONORING
JOSH LUXENBERG & JULIAN SHAPIRO-BARNUM
Josh Luxenberg
We are proud to honor longtime Tank Board Member and artist Josh Luxenberg. Josh recently closed a decade at The Connelly, where his curation created a haven for downtown theater, including Kate Berlant’s sold-out solo show Kate; Will Arbery’s Plano; Fake Friends’ Pulitzer Finalist Circle Jerk; Job, before its transfer to Broadway; and many more. As co-Artistic Director of Sinking Ship, Josh creates original work, most recently NYT Critic’s Pick The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy as part of the Under the Radar festival earlier this year. Also with Sinking Ship: Cassandra, an Agony (J. Paul Getty Museum, commission), A Hunger Artist (Connelly Theater/The Tank, nominated for two 2018 Drama Desk Awards, and winner of Summerhall's Lustrum Award for Excellence at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017, touring with Octopus Theatricals), Powerhouse (New Ohio, O’Neill Playwrights Conference Finalist, NY Times Critic’s Pick), Ocean (Mabou Mines Residency), Flatland (EST/Sloan Commission), there will come soft rains (FringeNYC). Josh’s many formative contributions to The Tank include co-curating Flint & Tinder, a flagship theater series, and co-founding the popular puppet and music series Puppet Playlist, which played to sold-out crowds as one of New York's premiere venues for original short-form puppetry since 2009.
Julian Shapiro-Barnum
Tank artist alum Julian Shapiro-Barnum is a comedian and actor known for his viral online show, “Recess Therapy,” where he elicits some of the best advice from the youngest minds. The show has garnered over 8 million followers across platforms. Julian’s newest projects include “Celebrity Substitute,” which he hosts and executive produces alongside EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and podcast “Gems with Miles and Julian,” which he EPs and co-hosts alongside Recess Therapy’s Miles. Guests on his shows have included Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Billie Eilish, Lin-Manuel Miranda and many, many, more. His first book is coming out summer 2026 through Penguin Random House’s Viking Imprint. Julian’s first web series was “The Social Distance” on CyberTank, The Tank’s streaming platform.
HOSTED BY MARIYEA
An actress, performer, and drag artist, Mariyea last graced The Tank stage in our fall core production of VILE ISLE, which Helen Shaw called “superb […] scrappy & stunning.” Mariyea’s credits include Soho Rep, The Shed, The New Ohio Theatre, Dixon Place, The Delacorte, Joe’s Pub, and drag shows in bars and clubs across the city.
THE TANK GALA MAY 20TH, 2025
ALL HANDS ON DECK AT 6PM
The Crowne Plaza, 320 West 36th Street
The evening begins with cocktails and dinner next door at the Crowne Plaza. With fine dining, toasts, and live music, we’ll celebrate our honorees alongside our most seaworthy supporters—who put the wind in our sails.
PARTY BELOW DECK AT 8PM
The Tank, 312 West 36th Street
Party Below Deck for a raucous soiree back at The Tank proper, with an open bar, luxe party snacks, and pop-up performances. Some seafarers might even find themselves three sheets to the wind.
SILENT AUCTION ALL NIGHT & ONLINE
Treasures await those bold enough to bid. Support The Tank while bringing home pirate-worthy booty.
LANDLOCKED?
If you can’t make the gala, you can still help keep The Tank afloat by making a tax-deductible donation today.
Benefit Committee: Justin Krebs, Anthony Sunga, Jill and Patrick Rousseau, Jenn de la Vega, Danielle King, Eric Krebs, JJ Lind, Emily Perkins-Margolin, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Jill Rousseau, Rachel Schweitzer, Molly FitzMaurice, Johnny G. Lloyd, Meghan Finn
Gala Producer: Nick J. Browne
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
