Francine Michelle has been directing theatre for nearly three decades, delighting in the unique challenges and subtle nuances that make every production special. She holds a BFA in Directing from the University of Michigan and is passionate about storytelling. Francine directed at theaters all around Los Angeles across all genres, including Waiting for Lefty, Whatever, Sylia, and Baby with the Bathwater.  She has worked as an independent filmmaker on various projects big and small, including a documentary of the making of Ice T’s rap album, Black Ice, Urban Legends.  Her narrative feature film, Desertion, which she both wrote and directed, garnered much attention at the LA Femme Film Festival in Beverly Hills, took home the top feature award at The Valley Film Festival, and was nominated for best feature by a first time director at The Heart of England Film Festival. 

Francine was selected to be a part of the inaugural class in Directing at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.   In addition, she studied acting at the Lee Starsberg Institute in New York, and was accepted as the youngest ever Director Member of the famed Actor’s Studio.  She taught acting for over a decade at the New York Film Academy, the Lee Strasberg Institute, and was invited to teach a special Acting for Film Course in Salerno, Italy. Throughout her teaching, she directed students in scenes and short films with professional crews and equipment. Since moving to Austin, TX Francine Michelle has been an adjunct faculty member at Austin Community College as well as a teaching artist for Zach Theatre.