Food

Geoff Sobelle

8-10/5 │ Thursday to Saturday │ 20:15
11/5 │ Sunday │ 14:15, 20:15
Box II, Macao Cultural Centre

Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, without interval
Performed in English with Cantonese interpretation and no surtitles

Please switch off all sound-making and light-emitting devices. Unauthorised photography or recording of any kind is strictly prohibited. Thank you for cooperating.

Creative and Production Team

Creator, Performer and Co-director: Geoff Sobelle
Co-creator and 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: Jessie Baldinger, Julian Crouch, Steve Cuiffo, Nathan (Pierre) Lemoine, Raphael Mishler, Connor O’Leary, Geoff Sobelle, Matthew Soltesz and Chris Swetcky
Associate Sound Design: Tyler Kieffer
Associate Lighting Design: Natalie Shipley
Stage Manager: Kelsey Vivian
Assistant Stage Manager: Ashton Pickering
Production Manager and Technical Director: Chris Swetcky
Creative Producer: Jecca Barry
Performance Interpreter in Cantonese: Chan Si Kei

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.

‘A quick caveat to the show’s crediting: while the people on the list absolutely did their 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 labour) has fuelled the integrity and delirium of this show.’ – Geoff Sobelle

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.

Programme Notes

Why do we eat what we eat? Where does it come from?

Food is an intimate dinner party of smell, taste and touch. The audience gathers around a dining table with sounds, scents and textures shaping a conversation about personal memories, consumption and the evolution of food production over generations.

Food is the latest creation by renowned theatre-maker and performer Geoff Sobelle. With a signature theatrical flavour combining rigorous design and stage illusion with an absurdist sense of humour, Sobelle pulls you into a poetic mystery, questioning everyday experiences that many of us take for granted.

Do we need what we eat? Do we eat what we need?

Biographical Notes

Geoff Sobelle, Creator, Co-director and Performer

Sobelle is a US-based actor and creator devoted to making original actor-driven performances. His shows include Home, The Object Lesson, The Elephant Room, All Wear Bowlers and Machines Machines Machines Machines Machines Machines Machines, among others. Sobelle has received commissions from the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Centre, Arizona State University, Centre Theatre Group, Edinburgh International Festival and New Zealand Festival of the Arts. His shows have been recognised with a Bessie Award, an Obie in design, two Edinburgh Fringe Firsts, the Best of Edinburgh Award, a Total Theatre Award , and an Innovative Theatre Award. He is a Pew Fellow and a Creative Capital Grantee. A member of Philadelphia’s Pig Iron Theatre Company from 2001-2012, Sobelle trained in physical theatre at the International Theatre School Jacques Lecoq in Paris and is a graduate of Stanford University.

Steve Cuiffo, Co-creator and Magician

Cuiffo is a magician and theatre maker who creates solo performances, as well as collaborative works with other artists, filmmakers and theatre companies. His work incorporates sleight of hand, misdirection, imitation and re-enactment concepts to create unique performance, art, theatre and magic. Most recently he was the illusion and lip sync consultant for Lucas Hnath’s Dana H. on Broadway, created sleight of hand for the feature film White Noise directed by Noah Baumbach, was the magic consultant for the new season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Other work includes the illusion design for Geoff Sobelle’s Home and The Object Lesson, magic for Thaddeus Phillips’ Zoo Motel and magic direction for David Blaine Live. He is an associate with The Wooster Group and the co-founder of Secret Arts.

Lee Sunday Evans, Co-director

Evans is a two-time Obie Award-winning director and 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 proceedings with transcripts arranged by Arian Moayed, now a feature film. Her work has been seen at The Public Theatre, Lincoln Centre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Playwrights Horizons, Steppenwolf, The Atlantic, WP Theatre, The Play Company, The Bushwick Starr, ArtsEmerson, Edinburgh International Festival, among others. She is also a co-creator of The Flores Exhibits.

Disclaimer
The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government provides liaison and technical support to the project only. Any views/opinions expressed by the project team are those of the project only and do not reflect the views of the Cultural Affairs Bureau.