DEREK VAN BARHAM is the Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions. Directing credits include Jekyll & Hyde (Broadway In Chicago), Amélie, Into the Woods, Alice by Heart, Sweeney Todd, American Psycho, Head Over Heels (3 Jeff Awards and 2 Jeff nominations, Kokandy); Spring Awakening (Flint Rep); Rock of Ages (Metropolis); The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre); Miracle by Dan Savage, Poseidon (Hell in a Handbag); Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Carrie, Bat Boy, Merrily We Roll Along  (CCPA/Roosevelt University). 

Choreography credits include The Civlity of Albert Cashier (Permoveo/PFP); Ghost Quartet, Evil Dead The Musical (Jeff nomination), Coraline the Musical, Goblin Market, Amour, Nevermore and Shockheaded Peter (Black Button Eyes). He has also choreographed for The Plagiarists, Inappropriate Theatre,  Brain Surgeon Theatre, and Salonathon. He also wrote, directed and choreographed BITE: A Pucking Queer Cabaret, Kill Your Boyfriends (PFP) and curated A Touch Unnatural and A Touch of Madness (CCPA).

He has performed with BoHo Theatre (Hauptmann), Red Tape Theatre (The Skriker, Stadium Devildare, The Life & Death of Madame Barker), and The Island Theatre (Wallace Shawn’s The Fever).He was named one of Windy City Times 30 Under 30, recognizing individuals from Chicago's LGBTQ community. He was named one of Newcity Magazine's 50 Players for 2023 and 2025. MFA: Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. BFA: University of Mississippi. 

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UP NEXT: ​

Sunday in the Park with George - Kokandy Productions (Director)

Jekyll & Hyde - Broadway in Chicago (Director)

The Coffin Builder (LA Workshop, Co-Director & Choreographer) 

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