Derek Anthony Klena (born October 3, 1991) is an American actor, singer, and professional baseball player. He is best known for his work on Broadway, including originating the roles of Nick Healy in Jagged Little Pill (2019–2021), Dmitry in Anastasia (2017–2018), and Michael in The Bridges of Madison County (2014). His breakthrough was in the original Off-Broadway production of Pasek & Paul's stage adaptation of Dogfight, and he made his Broadway debut as Fiyero in the 10th anniversary company of Wicked. Klena most recently portrayed Christian in the Broadway company of Moulin Rouge! replacing Aaron Tveit in the role on and off from 2022 to 2024. He has made appearances on several television series such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Code, and Pretty Little Liars.
In 2020, Klena was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Nick Healy in Jagged Little Pill.
Life and career Klena was born in San Dimas, California. He grew up with his two younger siblings in West Covina, California, outside of Los Angeles, where he attended South Hills High School. His brother, Dillon, is also an actor. He is from a Jewish family.https://www.instagram.com/dillon_scott_klena/p/DCPl9gdPrjf/?img_index=1
Klena attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he initially studied theater but switched his major to psychology. His freshman year he played baseball before seriously pursuing acting and auditioning. From 2009 to 2011, he took part in regional Southern California theater. He participated in American Idol's ninth season. Around 2010, Klena was invited to audition as a standby for Aaron Tveit in the Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can after show producer Marc Shaiman contacted Klena regarding a cover he did of its song "Goodbye" at a Los Angeles cabaret show. He did not get cast but was subsequently invited to audition for the workshop of Carrie. He took a leave of absence at UCLA in his junior year to take part in the 2012 Off-Broadway revival of Carrie.
He originated the role of Eddie Birdlace in the stage adaptation of Dogfight. In 2013, he played Fiyero in the 10th anniversary company of Wicked on Broadway. Subsequently, he played son Michael Johnson in the original Broadway musical The Bridges of Madison County.
In 2014, he was cast in the pre-Broadway musical adaptation of the 1982 film Diner at the Signature Theatre in Virginia. Adapted by original screenwriter Barry Levinson and with music by Sheryl Crow, the musical originally planned to open on Broadway but did not transfer.
In 2016, he was cast to star as Dmitry in the original production of Anastasia, the stage musical adaptation of the animated film of the same name. Premiering in Hartford, Connecticut, in March 2016, it opened on Broadway in April 2017. After a year with the production, he left to take part in the original Cambridge, Massachusetts, production of Jagged Little Pill, a musical based on the music of Alanis Morissette. The Broadway production opened in December 2019. Klena was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Nick Healy. The show went on hiatus in March 2020 and reopened in October 2021 but closed a few months later due to the Omicron surge in New York City.
In May 2022, he replaced Aaron Tveit as Christian in Moulin Rouge! on Broadway. He left the cast in January 2023 and returned in April that same year for three months.Aaron Tveit to Rejoin Moulin Rouge! on Broadway; Further Casting Changes Announced In February 2023, he starred as Joe Gillis opposite Stephanie J. Block as Norma in Sunset Boulevard at the Kennedy Center.Derek Klena, Auli'i Cravalho, and Nathan Gunn Join Kennedy Center's Upcoming Sunset Boulevard On 8 January 2024, it was announced Klena would return to Moulin Rouge! on 6 February replacing Casey Cott. He left the cast on 21 July.Derek Klena to Return to Broadway's Moulin Rouge! The Musical Klena returned to the role of Fiyero in Wicked for a limited engagement lasting from May 27-June 8, 2025.Derek Klena Will Return to Broadway's Wicked, 12 Years After He Left Playbill, May 23, 2025
In December 2025, it was announced that Klena had been selected as an Entertainment Player and Pitcher for the Savannah Bananas Banana Ball Championship League baseball team.
Personal life Klena resides in New York City. He married his longtime girlfriend Elycia Scriven in 2018. In April 2022, Klena and his wife announced that they were expecting their first child. The couple welcomed a son, Dax Arthur Klena, on September 8, 2022. Their second son, Otto, was born in 2024.
Stage credits Selected credits Year Title Role Venue Notes2009Big RiverHuckleberry FinnCandlelight Pavilion Dinner TheatreHigh School MusicalTroy Bolton Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre2010Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJosephPerformance Riverside2011 Glory Days Will Lillian Theatre Los Angeles Revival HairsprayEnsembleHollywood BowlLink LarkinCarpenter Performing Arts Center 2012 Carrie Tommy Ross Lucille Lortel TheatreOff-Broadway Dogfight Eddie BirdlaceSecond Stage Theater 2013 Wicked Fiyero Tigelaar Gershwin Theatre Broadway replacement 2014 The Bridges of Madison County Michael Johnson Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre Original Broadway cast2014–2015DinerBoogie Signature Theatre2015 Unknown Soldier Francis Grand Williamstown Theatre FestivalDinerBoogie Delaware Theatre Company2016AnastasiaDmitryHartford StageOut-of-town tryout 2017–2018Broadhurst Theatre Original Broadway cast2018Jagged Little PillNick HealyAmerican Repertory TheaterOut-of-town tryout 2019–2020Broadhurst TheatreOriginal Broadway cast 2021 2022–2023 Moulin Rouge! The Musical Christian Al Hirschfeld Theatre Broadway replacement2023 Sunset Boulevard Joe Gillis Kennedy Center Moulin Rouge! The Musical Christian Al Hirschfeld Theatre Broadway replacement2024 Glory Days Andy Symphony SpaceDerek Klena, Colton Ryan, Jordan Dobson, George Salazar Star in Glory Days Concert February 12 Off-Broadway Moulin Rouge! The Musical Christian Al Hirschfeld TheatreBroadway replacement2025 Wicked Fiyero Tigelaar Gershwin Theatre The Bridges of Madison County Michael Johnson Carnegie Hall Reunion concertCulwell-Block, Logan Paul Alexander Nolan Joins Bridges of Madison County Reunion Concert Playbill, November 20, 2025
Filmography
Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 The Tomorrow People Dylan Episode: "Pilot" 2014 The Carrie Diaries Pvt. Robert Watson Episode: "Date Expectations" 2015 Law & Order: SVU Connor Howell Episode: "Devastating Story" One Bad Choice Drew Episode: "Stephan Perez" 2016–2018 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Douglas Fingablast / DJ Fingablast 3 episodes 2016 Blue Bloods Cormac Phillips Episode: "Down the Rabbit Hole" Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Brandon Schmidt Episode: "Doping" Quantico Eric Boyer Episode: "Kubark"2019The CodeAdam Turnbull / Lt. Adam Turnbull5 episodes 2022–2024 Pretty Little Liars Wes Recurring role2022A Holiday SpectacularJohnTelevision Film2024Private Princess ChristmasRyan DouglasTelevision Film
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2012 Clive Barnes Award Clive Barnes Award for Theatre Dogfight 2020 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Jagged Little Pill 2023 Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Favorite Replacement Moulin Rouge
References
External links
Derek Klena at the Internet Off-Broadway Database Derek Klena at About the Artists