A person with long brown hair faces the camera wearing a black shirt. They are standing against a brick wall.

Collaborator, Lighting Designer

Ayla Taffel

Ayla Taffel is a multidisciplinary artist with a love of light and shadow based in Philadelphia, PA. They are delighted to join the Lunar Retreat create team. Currently, Ayla is the Associate Production Manager/Head Electrician at FringeArts and Assistant Head Electrician/Resident Programmer at the Wilma Theater. Select credits include: Girl Dolls (Head LX/APM – FringeArts), The Comeuppance (Programmer – Wilma Theater), Rent (Lighting Designer – Yale University), and The Henriad (Stage Manager/Designer – Brown/Trinity MFA). Ever curious, Ayla seeks to find the magic of storytelling throughout the artistic process.

Projects

Nichole Canuso, wearing a long red coat, stands barefoot on a beach at dusk. She faces away from the camera, looking toward distant trees. The moon is visible overhead.

Lunar Retreat

Lunar Retreat performances will premiere September 9-20, 2026 at Leonard Pearlstein Gallery presented by the FringeArts festival. Lunar Retreat is an interactive, multi-sensory performance inspired by…