About

Donald Robert Fox is a theatre consultant and award-recognized scenic and lighting designer whose career spans higher education, professional theatre, touring work, opera, and symphonic performance. He has spent more than two decades helping organizations bring complex productions and performance spaces from concept to execution—balancing artistry with logistics, safety, and long-term operational sustainability.

As a consultant, Donald supports performance venue planning, renovation readiness, and technical needs assessments, with specific experience reviewing and recommending lighting, sound, rigging, and seating requirements, evaluating vendors, and assisting architectural and stakeholder review processes. He has also provided operational guidance through policy and procedure development, production calendar and budget alignment, and shop/venue safety evaluation, including air-quality assessment and equipment recommendations.

Donald has served as faculty and production leadership at institutions including Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Hillsdale College, University of Toledo, Michigan State University, University of the Incarnate Word, Baylor University, University of New Mexico, and University of Pittsburgh, alongside guest artist work such as narrative design master classes and integrated scenic/lighting/projection design. His creative credits include work at venues and events such as Carnegie Hall (with the Toledo Symphony), Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Fisher Theatre, San Pedro Playhouse, and productions spanning drama, musical theatre, opera, dance, and devised performance.

He holds an MFA in Theatrical Design from Wayne State University and a BFA in Directing & Design from Baylor University. Donald is a long-time member of USITT and has presented nationally on topics including shop workflow tools, outdoor scenery construction, and design practices. He has earned multiple distinctions for his contributions, including a Certificate of Merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, recognition for lighting design from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's “Best of Theatre,” as well as several regional awards in design and production.

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Special Projects

• Lighting & projection design for the New York Premier of Tom Stoppard's and Andre Previn's Every Good Boy Deserves Favor at Carnegie Hall with the Toledo Symphony. 2011

• Conceptualized the Henry Heymann Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA for the University of Pittsburgh which saw completion in 2001.

• "Instrumental in new inventory selection and in-house consultant for architectural firm for the Eisenberg Theatre at Detroit Country Day School." 2015

Awards

• Best of Scenic Design by the San Antonio Express-News for Journey's End, 2008.

• Alamo Theatre Arts Council Globe Award for Excellence in Scenic Design for Brigadoon, 2007

• Alamo Theatre Arts Council Globe Award for Excellence in Lighting Design for As You Like It, 2005

• Alamo Theatre Arts Council Globe Award for Excellence in Scenic Design for Far Away, 2005

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Best of Theatre for Lighting Design of Our Town & The Hudsucker Proxy, 1999

• Detroit Free Press Theatre Excellence Awards for Best Production for East Texas Hot Links for Lighting Design, 1997

• Detroit Free Press Theatre Excellence Awards for Best Production for The Thebans for Sound Design, 1997

Nominations​

• Pulse Award in East Laning, Michigan, for Lighting Design The Blue Door. 2011

• Wilde Award, in Detroit, Michigan, for Lighting Design The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Marigolds, 2009

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