“At the moment of commitment, results are possible.” —Christine Fournier
Christine Fournier grew up in the 40’s and 50’s, watching the great MGM movie musicals, learning the choreography, lip-synching to the original soundtracks and studying the stars of films like Singin’ In The Rain, The Band Wagon, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, and Kiss Me Kate, including Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd Charisse, Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Bob Fosse.
Having studied Russian ballet from a master as a child, and later adding modern and jazz dance training to her repertoire, she attended the University of Minnesota and danced under the tutelage of Loyce Houlton, founder of Minnesota Dance Theatre. Through the guidance and training of mentors Frank Whiting, Robert Moulton, Arthur Ballet, and Lee Adey, she performed on the University of Minnesota Centennial Showboat, the General John Newton, for two summer seasons in productions including Bloomer Girl, Rip Van Winkle, and The Merry Wives of Windsor, as well as in main stage productions of The Birds by Aristophanes, and Shakespeare’s Henry The Fourth, Part One, directed by Dr. Whiting.
In the fall of 1962, Ms. Fournier moved to New York City, where she was cast in the Broadway and two national tours of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, under the direction and guidance of Abe Burrows, Cy Feuer, Frank Loesser, and Bob Fosse, the originators.
An international company of West Side Story followed, playing the Nissei Gekijo’s first anniversary season in Tokyo, under the direction of Jerome Robbins and Tony Mordente.
Returning to New York, Ms. Fournier was cast in the original production of Sweet Charity, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, starring Broadway legend Gwen Verdon, and created by the collective efforts of Cy Coleman, composer, Dorothy Fields, lyricist, and Neil Simon, librettist.
In 1967, Ms. Fournier returned to the Twin Cities, becoming the first choreographer for Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, and a member of the original company.
She performed at the renowned Friar’s Dinner Theatre in
downtown Minneapolis in productions of Man of La Mancha, Gypsy, Hello, Dolly! and Salute to Cole Porter and Ethel Merman, all staged by John Command.
For seven years she was choreographer and staff instructor for the former Chimera Theatre in St. Paul’s Arts and Science Center.
Ms. Fournier’s versatility extended to on-camera commercials, industrial narration, and national voice-over spots for clients K-Mart, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and McDonald’s.
She has choreographed for many regional and community theatres, industrials, and fashion shows for clients in Washington, D.C., Detroit, Chicago, and the Twin Cities.
She served as a reconstruction dancer for “Rich Man’s Frug” from Sweet Charity for American Dance Machine, produced by Lee Becker Theodore in the 70’s, and remounted three original dances from Jerome Robbins’s West Side Story for the University of Minnesota Dance Theatre in 2002.
She has directed many musicals including The Boyfriend, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and West Side Story.
More recently, she has assisted Bloomington Civic Theatre’s artistic director, John Command on productions of Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, starring Sally Struthers, Follies, How To Succeed In Business, The Full Monty, Funny Girl, Pajama Game, and Fiorello.
Ms. Fournier began coaching actors for commercial and film work at the Weist-Barron Television Acting School in Detroit in the early 80’s, continuing private instruction in Chicago. In 1987 she began teaching one-on-one in Minneapolis as well as developing workshops. She free-lances at Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts and Bloomington Civic Theatre, among others
"Chrissy is a tremendous resource as an intuitive acting coach, director and choreographer. A consummate professional, Chrissy has been a great inspiration in my life for many years. She mentored me in the Bob Fosse Style which resulted in being "ready" for my New York audition where Fosse cast me in Pippin and gave me my Equity card. Chrissy is an endless fountain of positive energy, clarity and love. She has walked the walk as a New York Broadway veteran and generously passes on her gifts to her students. Chrissy is in love with theater and infuses that support and love into any actor desiring to try and willing to do the work."
Kerry Casserly
Artistic Director
Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts