trey lyford
BIO / 2017
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TREY LYFORD recently moved to Philadelphia and is a theatre creator, director and performer. He is also a teacher and a founding Co-Artistic Director of the highly acclaimed physical theatre company rainpan 43 performance group. With longtime collaborator Geoff Sobelle, Lyford has co-created and performed in all five of their shows. Following a world tour of their first piece all wear bowlers (2005 Drama Desk Nomination, Innovative Theatre Award), rainpan 43 presented Amnesia Curiosa (2006) and the Obie award winning kinetic junk sculpture play machines, machines, machines, machines, machines, machines machines. Then, through a commission from LA’s Center Theatre Group in 2009 (and in collaboration with actor/magician Steve Cuiffo) they created and toured the mind bending Magic extravaganza Elephant Room. Currently in development is their dark meditation on space and consciousness SubOrbital.
In addition to his work with rainpan 43, Mr. Lyford develops and produces works as an individual artist and is an Associate with the Obie-Award winning company The Civilians (Gone Missing, Nobody’s Lunch, Paris Commune, The Great Immensity). He has created original pieces with Philadelphia’s Pig Iron and San Francisco’s Joe Goode Performance Group as well as Norway's Jo Strømgren Kompani. Internationally, Lyford's work has been seen in Australia, Italy, Germany, Korea, Norway and the United Kingdom, as well as in the U.S. at Philadelphia's FringeArts, LA's Center Theatre Group, La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, HBO Aspen Comedy Fest, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, The Public Theatre, St. Ann's Warehouse, HERE Arts Center and theatres throughout NYC. Trey is a Princess Grace Award and Fabergé Theatre Excellence Award recipient and his work has received support from NYSCA, Princeton Atelier, Creative Capital and NEFA. He has taught numerous workshops both domestically and abroad and has been a professor at the SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory, UCSD and Princeton University. Currently he is on the MFA faculty at the Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training. He lives in Philadelphia. He has a new dog. BA: Vassar, MFA: UCSD |
photo by Mark Osterman" I thrive on inventing mischievous universes where the rules are bassackwards and the subconscious can have a little fun. The work aspires to be out of tune, relevant, ridiculous and deeply honest. "
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machines machines machines machines machines machines machines photo by JJ Tiziou
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"I celebrate imperfection. I believe a character’s inadequacy is a gateway to grace; an inlet to everything that makes us hilarious, heartbreaking and distinct."
Wyatt in all wear bowlers photo by JJ Tiziou
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Daryl Hannah in Elephant Room photo by Greg Costanzo
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HOW I WORK
I celebrate imperfection.
The shows I like to create reverberate in and around the frailty of our human experience. I believe a character’s inadequacy is a vibrant gateway to grace; an inlet to everything that makes us hilarious, heartbreaking and distinct. As a self-described theater hooligan, I thrive on inventing mischievous universes where the rules are bassackwards and the subconscious can have a little fun. The work aspires to be “out of tune”, relevant, ridiculous and deeply honest. It aims to elevate comedy by remaining grounded, striving to challenge the comedic form by exploring serious themes such as climate change, the culture of war, the desire for fame, mortality, identity and where we turn to give life meaning. I start every project from ignorance and instability, discovering the process and structure in the dramaturgical elements of the work. Each new performance aims to be a reinvention of what it means to tell a story, explore a theme and engage an audience.
I want to be in the room.
I am drawn to wonder, tickled by silliness and inspired by precision and virtuosity. I adore the elegant poesy and simplicity of the mundane and am moved by chaos. I like to go too far and not far enough. And I believe that in performance - absurdity, rhythm, movement and design demand the same relevance as text and narrative. In the end, I use whatever I can - found objects, character, text, movement, magic and mechanics to create a playful kaleidoscope into the center of our human experience.
I celebrate imperfection.
The shows I like to create reverberate in and around the frailty of our human experience. I believe a character’s inadequacy is a vibrant gateway to grace; an inlet to everything that makes us hilarious, heartbreaking and distinct. As a self-described theater hooligan, I thrive on inventing mischievous universes where the rules are bassackwards and the subconscious can have a little fun. The work aspires to be “out of tune”, relevant, ridiculous and deeply honest. It aims to elevate comedy by remaining grounded, striving to challenge the comedic form by exploring serious themes such as climate change, the culture of war, the desire for fame, mortality, identity and where we turn to give life meaning. I start every project from ignorance and instability, discovering the process and structure in the dramaturgical elements of the work. Each new performance aims to be a reinvention of what it means to tell a story, explore a theme and engage an audience.
I want to be in the room.
I am drawn to wonder, tickled by silliness and inspired by precision and virtuosity. I adore the elegant poesy and simplicity of the mundane and am moved by chaos. I like to go too far and not far enough. And I believe that in performance - absurdity, rhythm, movement and design demand the same relevance as text and narrative. In the end, I use whatever I can - found objects, character, text, movement, magic and mechanics to create a playful kaleidoscope into the center of our human experience.
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"easily the most original and funny show this year" - The New York Times “Indeed, it’s hard to imagine the kind of daring and ingenuity in ALL WEAR BOWLERS in the commercial theater. It’s one more reason to feel foolish about spending money on a Broadway show.” - The New York Times “Enchantingly goofy.” – Village Voice “..one of the most enjoyable theatrical experiences in recent memory.”
- Philadelphia CityPaper Choice Award |
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all rights reserved 2017