Hans Friedrichs
Director, SDC
Hans Friedrichs is a New York-based stage director, and teacher working off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally. His shows have received The New York Innovative Theatre Award as well as multiple Wilde Awards (Michigan’s professional Theatre Awards) for Outstanding Production and Best Director.
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I am now a proud New Yorker. I was fortunate to grow up immersed in a vibrant arts community, with parents who nurtured my passion for the arts and introduced me to theater at a young age. The arts—especially theater—are essential to society and should be accessible and affordable to all, particularly young people. Theater provided me with a safe space to create, dream, and find purpose. I was incredibly fortunate to have early mentors and supportive adults who recognized and encouraged my passion, including Marilyn Heberling, Maria Ricossa, Jill Bowers, Laura Rosberg, Zelma Weisfeld, and Dr. Richard Burgwin. I remain forever grateful to them.
As a director, my goal is to bring a playwright’s text, a composer’s music, and a lyricist’s words to life for audiences as if experiencing them for the first time. For established works, I seek to uncover fresh dimensions, highlighting both their timelessness and contemporary relevance. With new pieces, I collaborate closely with playwrights to bring their visions to life. I tell stories through a rich blend of text, music, movement, visual elements, sound, and lighting. My role as a director is to unite actors and creatives to craft a cohesive, transformative experience that connects and inspires audiences.
I earned my B.F.A. in Acting and Directing from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), where I received the Robert Christie Award for Acting, the Faculty Scholarship for academic achievement, and was one of three students selected by the Chairman for a yearlong directing intensive. Prior to transitioning into directing, I worked professionally as an actor in Off-Broadway productions, regional theater, television, and film.
My NYC credits include Cole Porter’s Fifty Million Frenchmen for The York Theatre Company, the first NYC revivals of The Drowsy Chaperone for The Gallery Players, WINNER of The New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical, A Man of No Importance (NY IT Nom.) About which the star of the original production, Roger Rees called it; “One of the most magnificent evenings I have spent in the theatre”, and Parade. As well as Music for Michael Mouse with Armistead Maupin and the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus at Carnegie Hall.
Regionally, I have directed acclaimed productions such as Hank Williams: Lost Highway (with George Wendt), Hands on a Hardbody (starring Rex Smith), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Wilde Award for Best Musical), Sweeney Todd (with Robert Newman, Wilde Award for Best Musical), Steel Magnolias (Wilde Award for Best Comedy), The Lion in Winter, Sunset Boulevard (starring Emmy winner Kim Zimmer, Wilde Award Nomination), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Hello, Dolly!, Shrek, Evita, and Anything Goes, among many others. Associate directing credits include the national tour of State Fair (starring John Davidson), Arthur Laurents' Home of the Brave, and Big Potato Off-Broadway, as well as the Drama Desk-nominated revival of A Majority of One with Phyllis Newman and Randall Duk Kim.
I have taught/directed at Manhattan Marymount College and AMDA here in New York as well as The NSKI School in Oslo, Norway. I also do private coaching for actors.
I have also Co-Produced two sold-out Concert readings of Auntie Mame, starring the incomparable Charles Busch and an all-star cast for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. I am featured in the documentary film THE BARN THEATRE: STARS OF TOMORROW available on Amazon Prime. And also a proud member of SDC, AEA, and SAG-AFTRA.