ALEXANDER LaFRANCE DESIGN

Alexander LaFrance is a scenic designer, concept creator, and writer originally from New Hampshire. As a creator, Alexander's focus is to cultivate and strenghten the interconnected nature of theatrical multimedia while effectively collaborating with other artists. His background in performance, tech, and immersive theater, and a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College, inform his work by bringing professional on- and offstage experience and a deep analysis of the text and music, resulting in integrated and conceptually rooted visual storytelling.

 

Alexander received his MFA in Scenic Design and Technology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he studied under the esteemed scenic designer John Ezell, costume designer Lindsay Davis, as well as many guest professional artists including David Gropman and Karen Schulz Gropman, Carrie Robbins, John Corigliano, Rocco DiSanti, Victoria Morgan, and Ricardo Khan. In addition to his UMKC work, which included the world premiere of FREEDOM RIDER (Best of Kansas City 2015 -The Pitch), directed by Ricardo Khan, he has worked with local Kansas City professional companies such as The Coterie Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and Kansas City Actors Theatre. Outside of Kansas City, Alexander has worked in Boston at the American Repertory Theater (original cast member of SLEEP NO MORE - U.S. Premiere), Actors' Shakespeare Project, and Another Country Productions, and in NYC with Sightline Theatre Company, Ars Nova, Solo Nova, and The New York Fringe Festival. Other companies include the Texas Shakespeare Festival.

 

Due to his interest in directing and writing, while attending UMKC, Alexander was invited to take part in a private directing mentorship with Barry Kyle, Olivier Award Nominee and Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, England, as well as study playwriting under the tutalege of Frank Higgins, adding a fully integrated approach to his training.

 

Alexander is currently working with the Cincinnati Ballet on the world premiere production of THE SILVER SHOES: THE BALLERINA IN OZ (working title), for which he is the concept creator, librettist, and designer. The piece will feature an original score and will be choreographed by the Artistic Director and CEO, Victoria Morgan. He also completed the set design of THE GHOSTS OF LOTE BRAVO, a world premiere, which opened in the spring of 2016 at the Unicorn Theatre, in Kansas City, MO. The production was featured on the February 2018 cover of American Theatre Magazine.

 

Starting in January 2016, Alexander began work as an intern at Disney Parks Live Entertainment. Within a year he was offered the position of Associate Art Director. 5 months later, he was promoted to full-time Art Director at Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts. In a fast trajectory of 15 months, Alexander managed to to work his way up, competing with hundreds of applicants to a position that allows him to design fully staged theatrical productions, parades, and attractions, while partnering with Walt Disney Imagineering. Starting with the project of the opening ceremony of Shanghai Disneyland, Alexander has worked on projects in Shanghai, Hong Kong (Jedi Training Academy, Marvel Summer, The Nightmare Experiment), Hawaii, Denmark (Tivoli's 175 Anniversary Parade), California (Fantasmic!, Summer of Heroes, Disney Family Museum, Disney Junior Dance Party!), and Florida (Star Wars Galactic Nights).