Donyale Werle

Nationality|  United States
Known for| Scenic design
Awards| Tony Award for Best Scenic Design, Obie Award
Website| http://www.donyalewerle.com

Donyale Werle is a scenic designer from Nashville, Tennessee.[1]

## Biography

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Werle obtained her BFA in painting from the University of New Mexico and her MFA in set design from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She has designed for multiple Broadway shows, including Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson[2] for which she received a 2011 Tony nomination. Her design for Peter and the Starcatcher won her the 2012 Tony award.[3] She has also received 2011 Obie for Sustained Excellence of Set Design.[4]

Werle's designs focus on sustainability. She uses found objects, thrift shop finds, and many other materials she purchases second hand. She is the co-chair of the pre/postproduction committee for the Broadway Green Alliance. Her set design for the 2009 production of Broke-ology at the Lincoln Center featured a set built and decorated from products purchased at Habitat for Humanity's ReStores.[1]

In 2017 Werle began studying horticulture and pursuing a Certificate in Horticulture through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. In response to the COVID-19 shutdown of theatrical productions nationwide in 2020, Werle and her husband launched Theater/Gardens*NYC, a garden design and installation company.[5]

In June 2020 students and alumni from the Department of Design for Stage & Film issued a letter to NYU demanding greater diversity within the department. Noting that while 50% of the students in the department are students of color, or international, over 90% of the faculty are white. In response to the letter, Werle resigned from her position as adjunct professor at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in solidarity with Andromache Chalfant. The resignations were designed to make room for BIPOC faculty to take their place.[6]

## Personal life

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Werle's studio and home is in Brooklyn, New York, where she lives with her husband Paul Jepson, a stagehand at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.[7]

## Awards and nominations for theater

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Year  | Award  | Show  | Result

|
|
|

2022  | USITT Distinguished Achievement Award for Scene Design and Technology  | Achievement award  | Won
2019  | Broadway Green Alliance Green Broadway Award  | Achievement award  | Won
2016 | Hewes Design Award for Outstanding Scenic Design  | The Robber Bridegroom | Nominated
2014 | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design | The Explorers Club
Hewes Design Award for Outstanding Scenic Design
2012 | Tony Award For Outstanding Scenic Design  | Peter and the Starcatcher | Won
2011 | Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Scenic Design  | Nominated
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson | Won
Tony Award For Outstanding Scenic Design  | Nominated
Hewes Design Award for Outstanding Scenic Design  | Peter and the Starcatcher
2010 | AUDELCO Award for Outstanding Set Design  | Broke-ology
Hewes Design Award for Outstanding Scenic Design  | Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson | Won
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Scenic Design  | Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson | Nominated

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Kompanek, Christopher (September 2012). "For Donyale Werle, It's Easy Being Green". tcg.org. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
2. ^ Piepenburg, Erik (October 6, 2010). "Inside Old Hickory's Curio Cabinet". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
3. ^ Joy David, Cara (January 24, 2013). "Donyale Werle and David Korins: Creating a Show's Physical World". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
4. ^ "Ethan Hawke, Laurie Metcalf, Chad Deity & More Win 2011 Obie Awards". broadway.com. May 17, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
5. ^ Napolean, Davi (Sep 3, 2020). "When the Lights Went Out: Scenic Designer Donyale Werle". Live Design Online. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
6. ^ Handy, Vanessa (August 11, 2020). "Tisch Professors Resign in Protest Over Lack of BIPOC Representation". Washington Square News. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
7. ^ Finn, Robin (June 8, 2012). "Bargain Hunter on Two Wheels". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2013.

## External links

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* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Tony Award for Best Scenic Design in a Play

* Howard Bay (1960)
* Oliver Smith (1961)
* Scott Pask (2005)
* Bob Crowley (2006)
* Bob Crowley and Scott Pask (2007)
* Todd Rosenthal (2008)
* Derek McLane (2009)
* Christopher Oram (2010)
* Rae Smith (2011)
* Donyale Werle (2012)
* John Lee Beatty (2013)
* Beowulf Boritt (2014)
* Bunny Christie and Finn Ross (2015)
* David Zinn (2016)
* Nigel Hook (2017)
* Christine Jones (2018)
* Rob Howell (2019)
* Rob Howell (2020/21)
* Es Devlin (2022)
* Tim Hatley and Andrzej Goulding (2023)
* David Zinn (2024)

* Complete list

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