Community Ensembles

About PLAY TANK

PLAY TANK is an innovative talent development institute designed to support the professional growth of young adults deeply committed to working for community based organizations. PLAY TANK operates as a professional theater ensemble as we believe our next generation of community leaders must be compelling and skillful visionaries.

PLAY TANK Community Theater Ensembles

PLAY TANK Community Theater Ensembles are performing arts companies composed of community members at individual program sites. These community ensembles are co-facilitated by a trained PLAY TANKER in partnership with an experienced Teacher Artist as a creative mentor. Each company chooses a name, crafts a mission, and builds an ensemble identity and skill set. Participants meet weekly throughout the school year for a series of progressive lessons.

Since the fall of 2012, when this initiative was first established, PLAY TANK has developed the following community ensembles:

• Ingersoll Youth Ensemble for middle school students, based at the Ingersoll Community Center in Brooklyn.
• Houston Street Center Youth Ensemble for middle school students, based at the Houston Street Center in Manhattan.
• The Senior Ensemble for older adults, based at University Settlement's headquarters in Manhattan.

On May 24, 2013 University Settlement will present our first Festival of Community Theater Ensembles featuring the above ensembles, PLAY TANK and the intergenerational community theater company and Performance Project Artist-in-Residence, Roots&Branches.