Profile

Theater Design

David received the 2011 Drama Desk Award for Best Lighting Design for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Moisés Kaufman, starring Robin Williams.  He was also nominated for the American Theatre Wing’s Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award.

David received a 2009 Tony Award Nomination for Best Lighting Design for 33 Variations, written and directed by Moisés Kaufman, starring Jane Fonda at the Eugene O’Neil Theatre.

Recent Broadway productions: Torch Song by Harvey Fierstein with Michael Urie and Mercedes Rhuel directed by Moisés Kaufman

Current Projects:

– The Flood, Opera Columbus, composer Korine Fujiwara and librettist/director Stephen Wadsworth
– The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical National Tour

Recent Projects:

–Torch Song by Harvey Fierstein at The Hayes Theatre, with Michael Urie and Mercedes Rhuel directed by Moisés Kaufman
-Hippolyte et Aricie by Rameau at Juilliard Opera
–The Cake at The Alley Theatre
–Mughal-E-Azam: Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, Dubai

–Wakey Wakey written and directed by Will Eno featuring Michael Emerson,  Signature Theater NYC

“David Lander’s lighting and Christine Jones’ design clue us to the inevitable changing realities: a suggestion of a tasteful institutional setting, packing boxes and piles of clothing indicating material things that aren’t that important any longer, and a door just off to the side waiting to be opened.”

 

–The Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams directed by Michael Wilson, A.R.T Boston

“Then David Lander’s lighting turns this one night in Mexico into a series of paintings. And the closing scene of Act 1 becomes an awe-inspiring theatrical effect.”
“All that said, a first-rate, terrifying, act-ending thunderstorm executed by McLane and lighting designer David Lander takes us into a wholly energized second half. “
“The sky, gorgeously then forebodingly lit by David Lander, is a show in itself.”
“Most infallible, though, is David Lander’s subtly magnificent lighting…”

Past Productions:

-Torch Song by Harvey Fierstein with Michael Urie and Mercedes Rhuel directed by Moisés Kaufman at Second Stage Theatre
–The Mad Ones by Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan at 59E59
–The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical TheaterworksUSA at the Lucille Lortel Theater
–Love Love Love by Mike Bartlett, directed by Michael Mayer, Roundabout Theater Company Laura Pels Theater
–This Day Forward by Nicky Silver, directed by Mark Brokaw, Vineyard Theater
–The Tempest and Cymbeline at The Delecorte Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival
–The Music Man at The Guthrie Theatre
–I Am Ann Hutchinson , I Am Harvey Milk an Oratorio, by Andrew Lippa with Andrew Lippa and Kristin Chenoweth.
-The Library directed by Steven Soderbergh with Chloë Moretz, at the Public Theatre

Lander has collaborated with many directors including:

Christopher Ashley, Stephen Brackett, Jo Bonney, Gregory Boyd, Stephen Brackett, Mark Brokaw, Marc Bruni, Oliver Butler, Frank Dunlop, Scott Elliott, Terry Kinney,  Michael Greif, Doug Hughes, Moisés Kaufman, Dan Knechtges, James Lapine, Arthur Laurents, Noah Himmelstein, Pam MacKinnon, Michael Mayer, Maria Mileaf, Larry Moss, Lindasy Posner, David Saint, Giovanna Sardelli, Scott Schwartz, Steven Soderbergh, Jonathan Silverstein, John Miller-Stephany, Daniel Sullivan, Steven Wadsworth, Michael Wilson, Henry Wishcamper.

And Actors including:

Elisabeth Ashley, Jane Atkinson, Tom Aldrich, William Atherton, Craig Bierko, Jason Biggs, Stephen Bogardus, Larry Bryggman, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Chenoweth, Kieran Culkin, Jim Dale, Tyne Daly, Olympia Dukakis, Deanna Dunigan, Richard Easton, Jennifer Ehle, Michael Emerson, Mia Farrow, Jane Fonda, Penny Fuller, Boyd Gains, Malcolm Gets, John Glover, Zach Grenier, George Grizzard, Dee Hoty, Judith Ivey, James Earl Jones, Eartha Kitt, Kevin Klein, Frank Langella, Linda Lavin, Hamish Linklater, Andrew Lippa, Logan Marshall-Green, Maureen McGovern, Rita Moreno, Chloë Moretz, Michael Nouri, Ana Paquin, Steven Pasquale, Mary Beth Piel, Amanda Plummer, Lily Rabe, Molly Ringwald, Chita Rivera, Mercedes Ruehl, Michael Rupert, Liev Schreiber, Douglas Sills, Jean Smart, Dan Stevens, David Strathairn, Richard Thomas, Michael Urie, Sam Waterston, Robin Williams, Karen Ziemba, Louis Zorich.

Architecture / Themed Attractions / Public Art

David designed the lighting and lighting system for Busch Gardens Tampa “Opening Night Critters.”  His completed projects include “Invitation,” a light-art installation for the Sam Hotel in Houston. “Luca et Vita Universae” with artist Lori Nozic, for Art-in-Public-Places, a sculpture and star field installation for Public School 58, Staten Island, NY. Sea World of Florida’s “Sea Port” waterfront, 3 themed restaurants, 4 retail shops and exterior waterfront, as old European Sea Port. Sea World of Florida and San Diego’s “Wild Arctic,” a themed arctic walk-through aquarium exhibit. Denver International Airport- Leni Schwendinger’s “Deep Time/Deep Space – a Subterranean Journey,” a light and sculpture installation in a one mile-long automated shuttle train tunnel. Pittsburgh Light Projects- Pittsburgh, PA. Lighting consultant to interpret and execute Robert Wilson’s public art light projects.

Education

MFA in Design, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
BFA in Design, The Ohio State University