Derek Mclane

By: Abbey Helfen

Who is Derek McLane
¬ Derek McLane is a scenic designer who has designed
sets for Broadway, off-Broadway, internationally, film,
and live TV.
¬ Derek is credited with over 250 scenic designs within
his career
¬ Derek McLane is also credited with designing the Oscar
Awards set six years in a row (2013-2018), in which he
also functioned as the production manager
Derek McLane’s Education
¬ Derek McLane was born in 1958 in London England
to American Parents
¬ Derek went to Harvard University, originally as an
archeology major
¬ He created his first scenic design during his senior
year at Harvard, where his professor Michael Yeargan
urged him to to attend Yale’s School of Drama
¬ At Yale’s School of Drama, Derek studied with Ming
Cho Lee
Derek McLane’s Big Break
¬ Derek McLane’s first Broadway show was “What’s
wrong with this Picture” by Donald Margulies at the
Brooks Atkinson Theatre, however, the show closed
after only 9 days
¬ Derek McLane designed “How to Succeed in
Business without really trying” in which he worked
with producers Craig Zadan and Neil Maron.
¬ Craig and Neil had become the producers for the
Oscars in 2013 then recruited Derek to design the
show
Derek McLane’s Moulin Rouge
Performance Venue-
-Al Hirschfeld Theatre 302 W. 45th St.

Broadway Dates-
-Previews: June 28th, 2019
-Opening: July 25th , 2019
-Closing: N/A (covid)
Derek McLane’s Moulin Rouge
Derek McLane’s Hairspray Live
Performance Venue-
-Universal Lot in California

Date Aired on Television

-December 7th, 2016
Derek McLane’s Hairspray Live
Derek McLane’s Beautiful, The Carole King Musical
Performance Venue-
-Stephen Sondheim Theatre
-124 W 43rd, New York, NY

Broadway Dates-
-Previews: November 12th, 2013
-Opening: January 12th, 2014
-Closing: October 27th , 2019
Derek McLane’s Beautiful, The Carole King Musical
Derek McLane’s Gigi
Performance Venue-
-Uris (AKA Gershwin) Theatre
-222 W 51st St

Broadway Dates-
-Previews: November 6th , 1973
-Opening: November 13th, 1973
-Closing: After 103 performances
Derek McLane’s Gigi
Derek McLane’s Honorable Mentions
Ragtime
1998-2000

Anything Goes
2011-2012

Noises Off
2016

33 Variations
2009
Derek McLane’s Honorable Mentions
Into The Woods
1987-1989

American Son
2018-2019

The Parisian Woman

2017-Present

Burn This
2019
Recurring Partners & Theatres
¬ He has collaborated with renowned directors such as Alex Timbers, Kenny Leon, Rob
Ashford, Marc Bruni, Scott Elliott, Moisés Kaufman, Kathleen Marshall, Daniel Sullivan,
Mark Brokaw, James Lapine and Michael Mayer.
¬ McLane was the scenic designer for all the productions of the entire Sondheim Celebration
at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. in 2002.
Citations
¬ All Photos
¬ DEREK McLANE scenic design. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2021, from
http://www.derekmclane.com/
¬ Slide 2
¬ Derek McLane: Actors theatre. (n.d.). Retrieved March 02, 2021, from
https://www.actorstheatre.org/bios/derek-mclane/
¬ Slide 3 & 4
¬ Lampert-Greaux, E. (2014, September 16). From Broadway TO hollywood: DEREK Mclane’s
SCENIC Designs. Retrieved March 03, 2021, from https://www.livedesignonline.com/
¬ Slide 10
¬ Slide 14
¬ Hutchins, M. (n.d.). Sondheim guide / special Events (Part 3). Retrieved March 06, 2021, from
http://www.sondheimguide.com/concerts3.html