Fran Soeder made his Broadway directing debut in 1991 with the Tony Award Nominated Revival of the musical PETER PAN.

For Off-Broadway's Tony Award honored York Theatre Company, he directed the first New York revivals of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, and PACIFIC OVERTURES - the latter critically acclaimed production was transferred by the Shubert Organization for an extended run at the Promenade Theatre and was nominated for the Best Musical of 1985 by the New York Drama Desk. For his work on PACIFIC OVERTURES , Fran Soeder received the Drama Desk's "Rosamund Gilder Award" for Outstanding Creative Achievement in the Theatre.

Other Stephen Sondheim directing credits include the West Coast premiere of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and the 1990 revival of FOLLIES for which he won a Los Angeles Drama-League Award for "Best Direction". The revival was also awarded "Best Musical".

He received the same double honor the previous year for his production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Also, for the York Theatre Company, Fran Soeder directed the first New York revivals of the Tom Jones/Harvey Schmidt musicals 110 IN THE SHADE, PHILEMON, and the New York Premiere of COLETTE COLLAGE.

Regional credits include The Alliance Theatre, The Actors Theatre Of Louisville, The Cleveland Play House, The Goodspeed Opera House, The George Street Playhouse, The Hartman Theatre, and The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center.

International credits include SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE for the Toho Theatre Company in Tokyo and SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM for the Rialto Teatret in Copenhagen.

For the past eleven years, Fran has served as a Stage Director and Consultant for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida where he created record setting attractions including THE LEGEND OF THE LION KING, THE VOYAGE OF THE LITTLE MERMAID, ALADDIN'S ROYAL CARAVAN, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. THE LEGEND OF THE LION KING recently completed an eight year run of a record 79,152 performances. Still running after 17 years, THE VOYAGE OF THE LITTLE MERMAID continues to be one of Disney/MGM Studios most popular live attractions.

He has founded and is currently serving as the Artistic Director of the STORYTELLER THEATRE OF WONDERMENT, an "environmental" not-for-profit Children's Theatre which will create and present a unique repertoire of classic literature introducing new generations to the incomparable experience, excitement, and energy of theatre performed by live actors and puppeteers.

Works in process include Washington Irving's THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, Hans Christian Anderson's THE TINDER BOX, a re-imagining of the Robert L. May classic RUDOLF THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, Fairy Tales from Japan by Lafcadio Hearn, and J. M. Barrie's rarely performed "prequel" to Peter Pan, THE BEGINNINGS OF PETER PAN.

For more information visit www.fransoeder.com or www.storytellertheatre.org .