A Legacy That Transformed American Scenic Design
Ming Cho Lee, the influential scenic designer of the 20th and 21st centuries, died October 23, 2020, at age 90. His work changed the face of American stage design, and influenced generations of theatre artists through his innovative approach, as well as through his decades-long tenure as an educator.
Born in Shanghai in 1930, Lee immigrated to the United States in 1949 and studied at Occidental College and UCLA before launching a career that would redefine scenic design in America. In the 1960s, his breakthrough came with the stark, sculptural sets he created for Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival, introducing a bold new aesthetic into the American theater. Drawing from modernist influences and deeply knowledgeable about space, structure, and texture, the designs of Lee often concentrated on raw materials, large abstract forms, and deeply integrated set and lighting.
Lee’s influence went far beyond work on individual productions. He was the head of the design program for over four decades at the Yale School of Drama, teaching some of today’s most important designers. His former students are now today’s leading professionals, carrying on his vision, discipline, and commitment to telling stories in the theatre.
Accordingly, he won numerous awards: a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement, the National Medal of Arts, and several Drama Desk and Obie Awards. He did his work in theater, opera, and dance, working with important companies like The Metropolitan Opera, the Public Theater, and Arena Stage, among many others.
The influence of Ming Cho Lee on scenic design is immeasurable. His students, his designs, and the basic ways he rewrote the paradigm live on. He reminded us that scenic design is not merely decoration; rather, it’s the creation of a performative space as alive as the actors who move within and around it. The passing of this master truly signifies the end of an era; yet his artistic vision will go on to inspire theatre-makers for generations to come.