Author Profile:  Bill Francoeur

Bill Francoeur composed for the stage for well over 30 years.  As a result, professional and amateur theater groups alike perform Bill’s musicals on stages in all 50 states and all over the world.  His children’s musical OZ! had a successful run Off-Broadway in 2002 for its world premiere.  He published over 100 musicals with Pioneer Drama and is widely considered one of the most published musicians in musical theatre.  It is safe to say that not a day goes by that Bill doesn’t have at least one performance of a musical of his somewhere.

In addition to his prolific work with Pioneer, Bill is co-composer/lyricist with longtime collaborator, Scott DeTurk, for the acclaimed musical, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, with book by James Mellon (Dorian, Unfinished Song).  His efforts on that production garnished him nominations for both the L.A Stage Alliance Ovation Award and the North Hollywood Robby Award.  In addition, Backstage West presented him with The Garland Award for best music and lyrics in a musical.  His collaborative efforts with Mr. DeTurk also produced the musical, Western Star, with book by Dale Wasserman (Man of La Mancha, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), for which he won California’s prestigious Elly Award for Best Original Work.

Bill also worked professionally as an educator, actor and musician and taught and performed throughout the United States, Canada and Far East.  For the last several years of his life, he had great fun touring the United States with the Beach Boys tribute band he created, Kahuna Beach Party.  Besides entertaining crowds of thousands with more than two hours of music, they arranged other favorites for a 60-piece orchestra and performed with orchestras around the country, including the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

Bill Francoeur died unexpectedly at the age of 67 in February 2015.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Allie, and three grown children, all of whom have followed in his footsteps by pursuing careers in music or education.