press
meg jo beth amy and louisa
“Directed by Ariel Francoeur, meg jo beth amy & louisa is a splendid representation of family, personal strife, the agony of love, and the reality of death. I highly recommend this production. All of us suffer from the human condition, but there is art, such as this, that helps us identify and process these complex emotions from which we cannot escape.” Broadway World Arizona. Click HERE for full review.
“Louisa May Alcott is an American literary treasure, and I’m sure she would have loved this interpretation of her book, which is told from the POV of Alcott as she wrote the stories. Tier5 has created a masterpiece of theater that should appeal to just about every living, breathing human, and director Ariel Francoeur captures every nuance of the story, giving his amazing cast everything they need to bring it to life.” Bob Leggett, Indie Voice Blog, Los Angeles. Click HERE for full review.
Also, check out the glowing reviews from Fringe certified reviews. Highlights include, “this show broke me.”, and “This may be the best piece of theatre I have seen in my entire life.” ALL FRINGE REVIEWS
shelter in chicago
“I don’t want to give anything more away. Shelter is something you need to experience with little beforehand knowledge of. It’s tragic, and funny, and touching, and tense all at once. Shelter is the type of theater I love…I would also like to note the exceptional performance by Ariel Francoeur. Every actor in this show gave an excellent performance, yet the focus is on Ariel’s character, Izzy. Ariel plays it so believably and her acting is so fluid, as if this role was written to highlight her talents.” Robert Southgate, Southgate Media Group.
Click HERE for full review.
”I am not typically a sci-fi fan, but I found a lot to love in this particular show. Francouer gave a riveting performance as Izzy. I truly felt for her as she struggled through her broadcast, switching from over the top, happy-go-lucky DJ to a woman who has fought so long for survival that she’s not sure she can do it any longer in the face of such dire circumstances. I marveled at Izzy’s resilience and wept at her tragic circumstances. Most importantly, I appreciated the hope that Izzy conveys throughout the story, even in the face of death.” Kelly MacBlane, Chicago Ontstage.
Click HERE for full review.
Reviews for off-broadway directorial debut
“Ultimately Danny and the Deep Blue Sea is an examination of the emotional connection between people that have lost the ability to communicate. It is a moving and great show. Director Ariel Francoeur and her actors have created an intense experience - full of surprise, apprehension and unexpected tenderness. The show has been extended this week, see it if you can.” Reviews Off-Broadway. Click HERE for full review.
"A well-deserved praise goes to the play's director, Ariel Francoeur, who brilliantly orchestrates every element of this truly exquisite production. One wishes to see more of her works in The Seeing Place's future productions." Ron Covar, Best of Off-Broadway.
“A truly innovative theater company takes chances and goes the extra mile to entertain you. The Seeing Place Theater goes the extra mile by playing to the strengths of its members, from the actors Brandon Walker and Erin Cronican to the director Ariel Francoeur and the talented team who designed the sets and lights, in their repertory production of two short plays, The Lover by Harold Pinter and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley…the direction keeps the action lively, funny in the right places, and dramatic in the right places.” Cultural Capital. Click HERE for full review.
theatre du grand guignol
“Dismemberments, beheadings, and scalpings were just some of the more common torments one could witness at the Grand Guignol. Playing on themes of insanity, revenge, lust, drugs, death and the fear of outsiders, the theater continued to operate, despite rabid censorship, until World War II.
Ably directed by Ariel Francoeur, Theatre du Grand-Guignol seeks to maintain a similar thematic and tonal structure as its original source. All of the themes mentioned above are reflected in the five tales. And, in the Grand Guignol tradition, the production flips from a dramatic piece to a comedic piece, from dark to light, to allow a respite from the savage by mixing it with the frivolous.” Off-Off Online, full review HERE.
Director interview
Click HERE for a biographical interview in the Ask a Director blog.