Geoff Sobelle: FOOD
A Note from Geoff Sobelle:
A quick caveat to the show’s crediting…
While the following people absolutely did the following jobs, each and every one of them did much much more - and in a manner that is difficult to describe exactly. All of these humans, including most of the people in the “special thanks,” contributed not just their skills, but their ideas. Their opinions, taste, personal experiences, and generosity of spirit created a culture for “FOOD” that has been specific, vibrant and vital. Their collective imagination (as well as their labor) has fueled the integrity and delirium of this show. – Geoff Sobelle
Creator, Performers & Co-Director, Geoff Sobelle
Co-Creator/Magician, Steve Cuiffo
Co-Director, Lee Sunday Evans
Sound Design, Tei Blow
Original Lighting Design, Isabella Byrd
Lighting Design, Devin Cameron
Chandelier Creation, Steven Dufala
Props Creation, Jessie Baldinger, Julian Crouch, Steve Cuiffo, Nathan (Pierre) Lemoine, Raphael Mishler, Connor O’Leary, Geoff Sobelle, Matthew Soltesz, Christopher Swetcky
Associate Sound Design, Tyler Kieffer
Production Stage Manager, Kelsey Vivian
Assistant Stage Manager, Ashton Pickering
Production Manager/Technical Director, Chris Swetcky
Creative Producer, Jecca Barry
Bios
Geoff Sobelle
Steve Cuiffo
Lee Sunday Evans
Devin Cameron
Tei Blow
Tyler Kieffer
Kelsey Vivian
Ashton Pickering
Chris Swetcky
Jecca Barry
Geoff Sobelle (Creator/Performer/Co-Director) is a US-based actor and creator devoted to making original actor-driven performance works. His shows include: HOME, The Object Lesson, The Elephant Room, all wear bowlers and machines machines machines machines machines machines machines (among others). He has received commissions from BAM, Lincoln Center, Arizona State University, Center Theatre Group, Edinburgh International Festival and The New Zealand Festival. His shows have been recognized by a Bessie Award, an Obie Award in design, two Edinburgh Fringe First Awards, the Best of Edinburgh Award, a Total Theatre Award and an Innovative Theatre Award. He is a Pew Fellow and a Creative Capital Grantee. Geoff was a company member of Philadelphia’s Pig Iron Theatre Company from 2001-2012. He trained in physical theater at the Lecoq school in Paris and is a graduate of Stanford University. www.geoffsobelle.com
Steve Cuiffo (Co-Creator/Magician) is a magician and theater maker who creates solo performance, as well as collaborative works with other artists, filmmakers and theater companies. His work incorporates aspects of sleight of hand, misdirection, imitation and reenactment to create unique performance, art, theater and magic. Most recently he was the Illusion & Lip Sync Consultant for Lucas Hnath's "Dana H." on Broadway, created Sleight Of Hand for the upcoming feature film of “White Noise” directed by Noah Baumbach, was the Magic Consultant for the new season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Other work includes: Illusion Design for Geoff Sobelle's "Home" and "The Object Lesson"; Magic for Thaddeus Phillips' "Zoo Motel", Magic Director for "David Blaine : Live"; an associate with the Wooster Group theater company; and co-founder of Secret Arts.
Lee Sunday Evans (Co-Director) is a two-time Obie Award-winning director + choreographer, and the Artistic Director of Waterwell. Recent credits include Oratorio for Living Things by Heather Christian, Dance Nation by Clare Barron, HOME by Geoff Sobelle, In the Green by Grace McLean, Detroit Red by Will Power and The Courtroom, a reenactment of one woman's deportation hearings with transcripts arranged by Arian Moayed, now a feature film (www.thecourtroomfilm.com). Her work has been seen at The Public Theater, Lincoln Center, BAM, Playwrights Horizons, Steppenwolf, The Atlantic, WP Theater, The Play Company, The Bushwick Starr, ArtsEmerson, Edinburgh International Festival, among others. She is also a co-creator of The Flores Exhibits (www.flores-exhibits.org)
Devin Cameron (Lighting Design) For over two decades, Devin Cameron has illuminated the worlds of theatre, dance, music, and immersive experiences. From New York City's premier stages to acclaimed global venues, the New York Times has recognized his work as “brilliantly designed” and “extraordinary.” Notable design credits include the Drama Desk Award-winning “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart” with the National Theatre of Scotland, Toshi Reagon’s “Parable of the Sower” at Lincoln Center, “Carmen” with Opera Naples, and myriad productions for Norwegian Cruise Line. In addition, Devin holds longstanding positions with two esteemed institutions: resident lighting designer for Punchdrunk's groundbreaking “Sleep No More,” and theatrical lighting designer for Apple's Steve Jobs Theatre, where he has had the privilege of collaborating with the likes of Malala Yousafzai and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez. devincameron.com
Tei Blow (Sound Design) is a media designer and performance maker. Tei’s work combines original compositions with found sound and images, and re-produces them with obsolete technology and live bodies. He has performed and designed with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Big Dance Theater, David Neumann/Advanced Beginner Group, and The Future of Death. Tei’s work has been featured at Hartford Stage, Dance Theater Workshop, PS122, Lincoln Center, The Kitchen, BAM, The Public Theater, The Broad Stage, MCA Chicago, MFA Boston, Kate Werble Gallery, Baryshnikov Arts Center, The Roundabout, The Wadsworth Atheneum, and at theaters around the world. He is the recipient of a 2019 Baryshnikov Arts Center Cage/Cunningham Fellowship, A 2016 NYSCA Composer's Grant, and a 2015 “Bessie” Award for Outstanding Sound Design for David Neumann/Advanced Beginner Group’s “I Understand Everything Better,”. Tei is 1/2 of Royal Osiris Karaoke Ensemble, whose ongoing multipart series “The Art of Luv” received the Creative Capital Award.
Tyler Kieffer (Sound Associate) is the Assistant Professor of Sound Design and Technology for LSU Theatre. His work is primarily new plays, opera, and immersive theatre and has been twice nominated for the New York Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Sound Design in 2019 for Will Arbery’s Plano and in 2021 for Tectonic Theater Project’s Seven Deadly Sins. Other recent credits include Craters (Swine Palace); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tribes (Le Petit Theater), Parcel From America (Smock Alley Theater, Dublin) and Of A Mind a new immersive headphone experience for Oklahoma City Repertory Theater. tylerkieffer.com
Kelsey Vivian (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to join this beautiful production! Most recently with FOOD at the Edinburgh International Festival, other credits include: Off-Broadway: Wet Brain (Playwrights Horizons & MCC), The Appointment (Lightning Rod Special), Montag (Soho Repertory Theater), Oratorio for Living Things (Ars Nova), The Mother (Atlantic Theater Company); Twelfth Night, We Rise: A Celebration of Resistance (The Public Theater). NYC: MEAT (The Tank), Hamlet Rehearsed, Lear’s Shadow (Smith Street Stage); The Mile-Long Opera (The High Line); 36 Juniper, Really Really (Wrong House); Larvae (The Alchemical). Regional: Long Wharf Theatre, Vermont Shakespeare Festival, Vermont Stage Company and Saint Michael’s Playhouse.
Ashton Pickering (Assistant Stage Manager) is a NYC-based Stage Manager originally from Georgia. Broadway: Here Lies Love, The Cottage, Parade, Into the Woods. Off-Broadway: Our Class (CSC), Merchant of Venice, Pre-Existing Condition, Staff Meal, Our Class (BAM), Illinoise (PAA), Here We Are, Kate, Parade. National Tour: Hairspray, 1776, Anastasia. Love and gratitude to her friends and family. @as.hton
Chris Swetcky (Technical Director/Production Manager) has held positions as the head of Technical Direction for the School of Theatre at Penn State University, and Technical Director for CalArts. In addition to his work in academics, Chris has worked at numerous venues across the country including most recently as Production Manager for Classical Theatre of Harlem’s First Noel at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. He was also Technical Director for the Ouroboro’s Trilogy, a compilation of three operas, Naga, Gilgamesh and Madame White Snake, performed at the Majestic Theatre in Boston. Chris previously worked for American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts as Associate Technical Director. While at A.R.T. Chris worked on numerous productions including a few Broadway hits, such as Porgy and Bess, Pippin, All the Way and most recently Finding Neverland.
Jecca Barry (Creative Producer) is an independent theatre, theatre, film, and music producer. She is the founder and creative producer of Fin Productions, and a co-founder of Up Until Now Collective. Jecca’s practice focuses on developing work with artists that are challenging the conventions of the performing arts industry. From 2012-2022, she served as Executive Director of the acclaimed production company Beth Morrison Projects (BMP) and was a Co-Director of New York’s annual PROTOTYPE Festival from 2017-2022. Jecca has overseen the commissioning, development, production and touring of over 30 new theatre, music-theatre, and opera works, and has toured those works to over 40 national and 15 international venues. Works Jecca has produced have won a Total Theatre Award and Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Bessie, Helen Hayes, Theatre Bay Area, and Elliot Norton Awards in cities around the US. The PROTOTYPE Festival was nominated for Outstanding Festival at the 2019 International Opera Awards. Jecca holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in avant-garde flute performance from the Royal Northern College of Music and New York University. Finproductions.org
FOOD is commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Arizona State University – Gammage, FringeArts Philadelphia, Allen & Meghan Thorpe, and Garth Patil. Additional support provided by the Wyncote Foundation. Developmental support provided by Mercury Store.
Special Thanks:
Adam Blumenthal, Sophie Bortolussi, Ryan Bourke, Violaine de Carné, Ernesto Collado, Joey Cosio-Mercado, John Del Gaudio, Jim Findlay, Will Frear, Tyler Gunther, Kevin Hanley, Hermitage Artists Retreat, Nate Lemoine, Jeremy Lydic, Dick & Liz Sobelle, Matthew Soltesz, Tannen’s Magic, UCDavis - and all of the cast/crew of the first FOOD show