On 23 March 2026, TORCHES continues with a conversation with creators Trey Lyford and Geoff Sobelle. Both are directors and performers who began collaborating in Philadelphia and whose work—together and separately—continued on to New York City, and all over the country and the world.
Trey Lyford is an actor, director, designer, and play fabricator who has been creating original works for the stage for over two decades—most recently with his company gimmick. Collaborations include the devised works KOAL with Jacinta Yelland and The Accountant. With rainpan 43 he co-created all wear bowlers (2005 Drama Desk Nomination, NY Innovative Theatre Award), Amnesia Curiosa, the OBIE award-winning machines, machines, machines, machines, machines, machines, machines, and the absurd magic extravaganzas Elephant Room and Elephant Room II: Dust from the Stars. He has performed his original works on four continents including venues across the U.S.—LA’s Center Theatre Group, Philadelphia FringeArts, HERE Arts Center, St. Ann’s Warehouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, Studio Theater, Arena Stage, and theaters throughout New York City. Lyford has also toured his works internationally to England, Germany, Korea, Italy, Scotland, and Australia. He was the founding co-artistic director of rainpan 43, a longtime Associate Artist with The Civilians, and a teacher of physical approaches to character, comedy, and devised performance. Currently, he is on the faculty at the Pig Iron / Rowan MFA program and has taught at universities throughout the east coast including NYU, SUNY Purchase, UArts, and Princeton. Recently, Lyford has been passionate about directing, developing, and guiding actor-generated material that pushes form and narrative. He continues to collaborate with artists in the U.S. and abroad.
Geoff Sobelle is an actor, director and creator of original performance works. A dedicated absurdist, he uses illusion, installation and home-spun mechanics to create surreal, poetic pieces that look for humanity where you least expect it. His most recent works include: Food (BAM Next Wave ’23), Home (BAM Next Wave ’17, Bessie Award) and The Object Lesson (BAM Next Wave ’14, Bessie Award). His partnership with Trey Lyford as Rainpan 43 includes: all wear bowlers, Amnesia Curiosa, machines machines machines machines machines machines, The Elephant Room (created with Steve Cuiffo), and its follow up, Dust from the Stars. Before coming to New York, Geoff was a member of Philadelphia’s Pig Iron Theater Company for twelve years. Geoff is a Pew Fellow and a Creative Capital grantee. He is a graduate of Stanford University and trained in physical theater at the Lecoq school in Paris.
