Théâtre Du Rêve

Our Mission

The mission of Théâtre du Rêve, Atlanta’s unique French-language theatre company, is to bring the language and cultures of the French-speaking world to life on the American stage. We strive to create a true dialogue between American and French-speaking artists.

Théâtre du Rêve also strives to bring live theater and the French language and Francophone culture to students of all ages. With a team of highly professional, bilingual theater artists, the company has performed classical and contemporary plays and company-created productions, playing to sold out houses and to crowded museum theaters. We have served over 8,000 students from across the Southeast United States in recent years through our workshops, student matinee performances and educational programming for the High Museum of Art. We continue to develop new workshops and residencies to bring into the classroom, in addition to engaging and enriching theatre to extend learning to outside of the classroom!

We are committed to serving a wider audience because we feel strongly that Francophone theatre is not simply for French speakers. It is a strong artistic heritage shared and appreciated by all lovers of art. We have developed several innovations over the years to make our work more accessible. Beginning in 2008, we have produced bilingual performances that integrate both English and French in the text or use projected subtitles. We believe that neither language nor age nor disability should prevent anyone from enjoying our productions!

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Our Company

Park Krausen, Artistic Director

Park’s extensive experience with theatre and French includes a B.A. in Theater Studies and French from Emory University and a year’s study at the Conservatoire Supérieur de l’Art Dramatique in Paris. She has worked closely with actors from the Comédie Française and with esteemed European directors Walter Asmus and Arthur Nauzyciel. She recently performed NOT I by Beckett in Krakow, Poland. Her U.S. acting credits include the Hartford Stage, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Theater Emory, Out of Hand Theatre and Georgia Shakespeare Festival where she is an associate artist.

Liz Hartnett, General Director

Liz Hartnett joined Théâtre du Rêve in 2007 and was named General Director in 2008. She holds a B.A. in Theatre and French from Agnes Scott College and is pursuing a M.A. in French Studies at NYU. With TdR, Liz has acted on the U.S. tour of Voir un Ami Pleurer, and has recently worked for Georgia Shakespeare and 7 Stages’ U.S. Koltès Project.

Ariel de Man, Development Director

Ariel de Man directed Big Love and Les Parents Terribles (Indiscretions) and created and performed in 30 Below, The VD Show and Live Nude Bouffons with Out Of Hand Theater. With Théâtre du Rêve, she directed Vive La Fontaine! and associate directed Dissident, Il Va Sans Dire. Recently she has also directed at Theater Emory and Jewish Theatre of the South. De Man is also the Managing Director of Out Of Hand Theater. She holds a BA in Theatre Studies and French from Emory University.

Carolyn Cookk, Education Director, Founder

AIn addition to previously serving as artistic director of Théâtre du Rêve for 10 years, Carolyn performs at numerous other Atlanta theatres, including the Alliance Theatre Company, Seven Stages, Horizon Theatre Company, Theater Emory, Actors Express, and Theatrical Outfit. She is an associate artist and ten-year veteran of the Georgia Shakespeare Festival. She has been named Atlanta’s Best Dramatic Actress by Atlanta Magazine, Creative Loafing, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Adam Fristoe, Associate Artist

Has directed, acted, clowned, played accordian, guitar and sung a bit with Théâtre du Rêve since 2000. He has performed in Antigone, Le Marriage Forcé, Dissident Il Va Sans Dire, Vive La Fontaine, Les Précieuses Ridicules, and Trois Pieces Courts. Adam is the Co-Producing Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater. With Out Of Hand, Adam has co-created, co-directed and acted in the original shows HELP!, The VD Show, 30 Below and Live Nude Bouffons, three of which were so successful that they have been remounted. He has also performed in Big Love, Standard Time, Alcestis and Miss Julie. Adam has also worked with Actor’s Express, Center for Puppetry Arts, 7 Stages, ART Station, Horizon Theatre, Theatre Gael, and touring regionally with Georgia Shakespeare and the Academy Theatre. Adam teaches physical theatre at Actor’s Express. He earned a B.F.A. from SMU Meadow’s School of the Arts, and has studied at Dell ’Arte International School of Physical Theater, Celebration Barn, and with the Society of American Fight Directors.

Jessica Coale, Lighting Designer

Jessica has been illuminating and collaborating with artists, directors and choreographers in Atlanta for almost 13 years. As a free agent, Jessica is an artistic associate with Théâtre du Rêve, Synchronicity Performance Group, production electrician for the Atlanta Opera and the resident Lighting Designer at 7 Stagers Theatre. She has lit 3 productions for Walter Asmus’ direction of Samuel Beckett’s short and full length plays. She has also traveled as manager and master electrician with shows on tour to China and around the US.

Board of Directors

Sam Cherribi, Ph.D. - Department of Sociology, Emory University
Carolyn Cook - Education Director, Théâtre du Rêve
Helene Courault-Touré - Executive Director, Alliance Française d’Atlanta
Lynn Ezell, M.D. - Piedmont Hospital
Baxter Jones (Chair) - Attorney, Johnson and Ward
Park Krausen (Ex Officio) - Artistic Director, Théâtre du Rêve
Sallie P. Lawrence, C.P.A. - Senior Financial Analyst, Woodruff Arts Center
Claude Wegscheider - Former Executive Director, Alliance Francaise d’Atlanta
Loriann White, C.M.M. - Co-founder and President
Leavitt-White Consultants Christina Whitehead, C.M.P. - Owner, M.U.S.E. Productions