Mikhail Fiksel

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Mikhail Fiksel
Fiksel in 2022
Born (1980-03-21) March 21, 1980
Novosibirsk, Russia
OccupationSound designer

Mikhail Fiksel (born March 21, 1980)[1] is a Russian-American composer and sound designer. He won a Tony Award in the category Best Sound Design of a Play for the play Dana H.[2]

Early life

Fiksel was born in Akademgorodok, near Novosibirsk, Russia, and received early training in classical music. After immigrating to the United States, he became involved in underground electronic music and DJ culture. His work draws on a wide range of musical influences and frequently explores juxtaposition, re-contextualization, and experimental approaches to sound. He has collaborated with artists and theatre companies including Chay Yew, Les Waters, Robert Falls, Kimberly Senior, and Anne Kauffman. He plays piano and bass.[3]

Career

Fiksel began his career as a DJ under the name "DJ White Russian" before exploring sound design. He then gained experience in sound design in Chicago and New York City, working for theatres such as the Goodman Theatre and Playwrights Horizons.[4]

Mikhail Fiksel is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Sound Design at Columbia College Chicago[5] and has previously taught at Loyola University Chicago (2008–2015) and the University of Chicago. His teaching focuses on sound design for theatre, including both foundational and advanced techniques and their application in storytelling and immersive performance.[6]

He is a Resident Artist with Albany Park Theatre Project, Teatro Vista, and Strawdog Theatre Company, with sound design credits including “Blood and Gifts,” “The How and the Why,” “Inana,” and “A Disappearing Number.” He is also a company member of 2nd Story and has collaborated with Third Rail Projects on immersive works such as “Learning Curve” (2016) and “Port of Entry” (2023).[7] and an Artistic Associate with TimeLine Theatre Company[8]

His Broadway credits include Dana H., for which he won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Sound Design in a Play, the 2024 revival of Uncle Vanya, and the 2025 premiere of Little Bear Ridge Road.

Stage credits

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2007 Massacre Sound Designer Regional, Goodman Theatre [9]
2011 Dartmoor Prison
Chicago Boys
Ask Aunt Susan
2012 Fish Men
Black n Blue Boys
Song for the Disappeared
The World of Extreme Happiness
2014 Buzzer
Venus in Fur
The World of Extreme Happiness
Feathers and Teeth
The Magic Play
Carlyle
2015 The Upstairs Concierge
Feathers and Teeth
2016 A Life Off-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons [10]
2666 Regional, Goodman Theatre [11]
The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window
2017 The Treasurer Off-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons [12]
King of the Yees Regional, Goodman Theatre [13]
La Havana Madrid
2018 This Flat Earth Off-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons [14]
The Wolves Regional, Goodman Theatre [15]
We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time
Lady in Denmark
2019 Cambodian Rock Band Off-Broadway, Pershing Square Signature Center [16]
Dana H. Regional, Goodman Theatre [17]
2020 Off-Broadway, Vineyard Theatre [18]
Roe Regional, Goodman Theatre [19]
2021 Dana H. Broadway, Lyceum Theatre [20]
I Hate It Here Regional, Goodman Theatre [21]
Nightwatch – New Stages:
2022 Tambo & Bones Off-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons [22]
Good Enemy Off-Broadway, Minetta Lane Theatre [23]
2023 How to Defend Yourself Off-Broadway, New York Theatre Workshop [24]
2024 Uncle Vanya Broadway, Vivian Beaumont Theatre [25]
2025 Mexodus Off-Broadway, Minetta Lane Theatre [26]
Little Bear Ridge Road Broadway, Booth Theatre [27]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2017 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Sound Design A Life Won [28]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design in a Play Nominated [29][30]
2018 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Sound Design The Treasurer Nominated [31]
2020 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design in a Play Dana H. Nominated [32][33]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Sound Design Won [34]
Obie Award Design Award Won [35]
2022 Tony Award Tony Award for Best Sound Design in a Play Won [36]
2023 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Sound Design How to Defend Yourself Nominated [37]
2026 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Sound Design Mexodus Won [38]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Won [39]

References

  1. "Mikhail Fiksel". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. "Tony Awards Winners / 2022". Tony Awards. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  3. "About - Mikhail Fiksel". mikhailfiksel.com. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  4. "Interview – Mikhail Fiksel". Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. March 18, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  5. "Mikhail Fiksel". Columbia College Chicago. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  6. "CV – Mikhail Fiksel". mikhailfiksel.com. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  7. "Mikhail Fiksel". Albany Park Theater Project. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  8. "Mikhail Fiksel". TimeLine Theatre Company. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  9. "Mikhail Fiksel". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  10. "A Life". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  11. "Mikhail Fiksel". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  12. "The Treasurer". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  13. "Mikhail Fiksel". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  14. "Flat Earth". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  15. "Mikhail Fiksel". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  16. "A Look at Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band Off‑Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  17. "Mikhail Fiksel". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  18. "Dana H." Vineyard Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  19. "Mikhail Fiksel". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  20. "Dana H." Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  21. "Mikhail Fiksel". Goodman Theatre. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  22. "Tambo & Bones". Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  23. "Good Enemy". Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  24. "How to Defend Yourself". New York Theatre Workshop. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  25. "Uncle Vanya (Broadway, Vivian Beaumont Theater, 2024)". Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  26. "Mexodus". Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  27. "Little Bear Ridge Road Broadway Review". New York Theater. October 30, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  28. McPhee, Ryan (8 May 2017). "Ben Platt, Taran Killam, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and More at the 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  29. "2017 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  30. Variety Staff (June 5, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Full List of Winners". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  31. McPhee, Ryan (6 May 2018). "KPOP, Cost of Living, School Girls Among 2018 Lucille Lortel Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  32. "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  33. Dan Meyer (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  34. Clement, Olivia (May 11, 2020). "Moulin Rouge! Leads 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  35. "2020 Obie Awards Winners". Obie Awards. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  36. "2022 Tony Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  37. Logan Culwell-Block (May 7, 2023). "Wolf Play, Titaníque Lead 2023 Lucille Lortel Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  38. Rosky, Nicole (2026-05-17). "70th Annual Drama Desk Awards Winners - The Full List". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  39. Rosky, Nicole (2026-05-17). "70th Annual Drama Desk Awards Winners - The Full List". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-05-18.