Donna Lawrence

Donna Lawrence founded Donna Lawrence Productions, an award-winning production company that creates immersive environments, 4D and 360-degree installations, soundscapes, theatrical experiences, documentary films, sound and light
shows, and other unique media attractions.

Lawrence leads a creative team with a track record of getting to the heart of stories as diverse as the science of future energy, African American and Native American history, the world of Thoroughbred racing, and the American Revolution. “Beyond her accolades and awards lies an artist with an innate ability to breathe life into narratives. Donna’s work transcends the conventional confines of museum films. She was a pioneer in taking films off the walls and plunging viewers into immersive journeys, a perfect blend of theater, immersion, live-action, and interactivity.”

The company has received top awards in almost every festival devoted to special format or non-fiction productions. These include the Sundance Film Festival, the New York Festivals, Cine Golden Eagle Awards, THEA Awards, the International Documentary Association, and AAM’s Muse Awards.

Donna has been a guest speaker at Walt Disney Imagineering’s series on inclusivity in storytelling in museums and public attractions and has also been a guest speaker and panelist at SEGD, AAM, SEMC, and other professional organizations. Donna was named to the Blooloop 50 Museum Influencer List, “celebrating the work of 50 key individuals whose creativity, passion, and drive has helped shape and improve the industry.”

Donna Lawrence Productions’ portfolio includes such projects as the King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh travelling exhibit, World War I Museum & Memorial, Statue of Liberty Museum immersive experience, the Witte Museum, San Antonio; the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago; the highly touted “Washington’s War Tent”
at the Museum of the American Revolution, and a 360 theater in the round production at the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia.

Much of Donna’s work is informed and inspired by theatrical experience, radio documentary production, an extensive background in audio production, and in North American, European, and world musical traditions. She works closely with acousticians, audio sound designers, and music specialists as projects require. She has a BFA, Music, University of Texas, Austin; MFA, Musicology, New England Conservatory; and Studies at the Institute of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, UCLA.