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Francine is a self-taught "natural" musician ... writing and singing songs since she was very little. She was closely involved with the Hollywood entertainment industry via her father, Abner J. Greshler (Diamond Artists), and has appeared in several films and TV productions. For sixteen years, Francine was a very close personal friend Mr. Frederick Loewe who, with Alan Jay Lerner as lyricist, wrote the music for Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Gigi, The Little Prince, and Camelot. Francine learned a great deal about music composition and arranging from this association. After the death of Mr. Loewe in 1988, she lived in Vienna, Austria for two years to further her studies in music. There she absorbed more music theory and became very involved in the world of opera and the staging of musical plays. In 1984 Francine created The Secret Of The Webbing Purple, and by 1987 had completed her second major work, Helena Grapevine. The Secret Of The Webbing Purple has been aired several times on public radio, delighting audiences ranging in age from preschool to adult. The Webbing has been produced professionally both in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, as well as seeing several productions in schools by students. Complete scripts, piano sheet music, and audio tapes in DAT format are available for this production. Her music is also used as models for teaching musical composition and staging by the faculty of New York University in New York City. In 1983, Francine formed her own company, Blue Dalmatian Productions, based in the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara. Besides being involved with productions ofher work, Blue Dalmatian Productions has also released both the above titles on CDs and audio cassettes. The production of Webbing Purple features the narration of international superstar Burgess Meredith, along with the singing of Francine and a cast of several other singers and musicians. Helena Grapevine, in its recorded version features narration by stage, film, and TV star Tony Randall, along with music performed by members of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Francine is now involved in the recording and release of her third major work, Baldur The Good, a musical fantasy / oratorio based on the Nordic myth of the same name.
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