Derrell Lawrence is an American actor, filmmaker, writer, director, executive producer and upcoming author. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. Despite the obstacles he faced Derrell has made his mark in the film and theater industry. He is perhaps best known for his feature film debut, Life Isn’t Fair in 2007. He earned several awards including, “The Highest Achievement for New Filmmaker” at the Jokara-Micheaux Film Festival, as well as both “The Silver Award”and “The People’s Choice Award” from the Philadelphia International Film Festival and Market for Life Isn’t Fair. He is also known for his work with the independent feature film Happy Holidaze in 2008 that premiered in Philadelphia, PA and Arkansas. Mr. Lawrence received a citation form the City of Philadelphia presented by City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson for all his hard work and change that he is bringing to his community. He has also been inducted into The South Philadelphia Cultural Hall of Fame. Mr. Lawrence has directed and performed in shows at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix. Temple Performing Arts Center, and the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia and BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, Willet Hall in Virginia, Warner Theater in DC. Mr. Lawrence has also been at the Warner Theater in DC, The Davis Theater in Montgomery, Alabama, Bob Carr Theater in Orlando and Gilliam Hall in Baltimore. In His latest production The Funeral which is directed by Damien Wallace has received nothing but rave reviews regarding the writing, actors, and the way the production sheds light on issues impacting the community. The Philadelphia Daily News describes it as “Brilliantly Written” and the Courier “Best original play I’ve seen” giving it 4 stars. Mr. Lawrence has also appeared in TV interviews on Fox News Philadelphia, and DC, as well as ABC in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Virginia, Beach. He has performed with some of the best in entertainment such as Angela Winbush, Ann Nesbit, and “Tboz” of TLC, Tony Terry, Christopher Williams, Sean Blakemore and John Canada Terrell. In 2018 Mr. Lawrence formed the Lawrence Theatre Company a nonprofit designed to bring awareness to the community through the arts. Lawrence Theatre Company is committed to produce year round productions plays, musicals, readings, comedies, shows and arts of all forms to entertain, inspire, educate and develop interest in dramatic arts. Focusing on social issues such as drugs, sexual and mental abuse. The organization has offered free acting classes two years in a row to youth ages 12-18. His most recent production has received rave reviews from the critics as well as the attendees. THE FUNERAL is a phenomenal play, written and produced by the award winning Derrell Lawrence had for its initial sold out run in Philadelphia, Pa from Wednesday, January 24, 2018 to Sunday, January 28, 2018 at the historic Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5 and another sold out run June 15th and 16th at the Philadelphia Arts Bank. September 22, 2018 the funeral was performed at Auden Reid Auditorium in Philadelphia, PA. Since then it has been performed at the historic August Wilson Center in Pittsburgh, PA and the Landis Theatre in Vineland, NJ to rave reviews, They Symphony Space in New York City and at the DC Theatre and Arts Festival. Mr. Lawrence is currently set to debut The Funeral Part 2 and I love You to Death by the end of 2020.
