MMARK NAYDEN has garnered a prestigious reputation and critical acclaim as a designer and design manager for film, television and live events. For Summer 2009, he is designing a production of Sweeney Todd, as well as preliminary designs for a new restaurant and a live music venue. Recently, he designed a workshop of a new musical based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer-Nights’ Dream- Midnight Madness at NJPAC and for The New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Nayden ‘s work in and around NYC includes designs for: Westbeth, The York Theatre Company, The Jewish Repertory, New York Performance Works, The Directors Company, as well as Manhattan School of Music. He was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Set Design of the Invictus Theater Company’s production of Murder in the First, directed by Michael Parva.
Mr. Nayden was the Associate designer on Broadway productions: Indiscretions (Les Parents Terribles), Tony Nomination; An Inspector Calls (Broadway and National Tour), Drama Desk Award and Tony Nomination; Translations and Wonderful Tennessee and at New York City Opera on The Visit of the Old Lady, directed by Joanne Akalitis. He has also collaborated with many Broadway designers including Richard Hudson on The Lion King and Paul Gallis on Cyrano the Musical.
As guest artist at Montclair State University in 2003, he designed The Shape of Things. He was also an adjunct faculty member in Department of Theatre and Dance (2000-2001), teaching and advising in their undergraduate programs, as well as designing a production of Cloud 9.
He has designed extensively for choreographer Paula Josa-Jones on "Wonderland" at Jacob’s Pillow and the Altogether Different Festival at the Joyce Theatre in NYC; "Raving in Wind" at the Majestic Theatre in Boston, MA; and for her performance works: "Eine Kliene Nachtmusik"; "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Ghostdanc"e for Lincoln Center Out of Doors.
In addition to his performance work, Mr. Nayden has an extensive resume of industrial and architectural projects including permanent installations with interactive/multimedia elements. He designed and is co-owner of Excelsior , a bar/cocktail lounge in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Zagat Survey’s Brooklyn Guide featured Excelsior as one of the top ten nightspots. It has also been featured in Time Out’s Best Bars 2001, The Best in NY 2000 by New York Magazine and The Village Voice.
Nayden was a designer with DMD Group, a full service design and management company for the entertainment industry founded by Duke Durfee. His industrial show design experience includes live events and videos designed for product introductions, press events and promotions for corporate clients around the world including:
Mr. Nayden received his MFA in Scene Design from Boston University in 1990; his BFA in Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design in 1987 and studied experimental photography in a program at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland.
He lives in New York City and is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.