Hans Friedrichs

Born and raised in Ann Arbor Michigan, I am now a proud New Yorker. I have directed productions in the United States, Canada, and Norway. My NYC credits include the revival 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.) the star of the original production, Roger Rees called it; “One of the most magnificent evenings I have spent in the theatre”, the sold-out New York premiere of the revised version of Parade and Music for Michael Mouse with Armistead Maupin and the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus at Carnegie Hall. I am committed to inclusive and diverse casting.

 

Regional productions include Hank Williams: Lost Highway (with George Wendt) Merry Go Round Playhouse Finger Lakes Music Theatre Festival (Broadway World Award Nom.), Hands on a Hardbody starring Rex Smith, Disney's The Little Mermaid (WILDE AWARD WINNER- BEST MUSICAL) The Lion in Winter, Sunset Boulevard with Emmy winner Kim Zimmer (Wilde Award Nom. for Outstanding production) The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Hello Dolly!, Spamalot, Peter Pan,Shrek, Run For Your Wife, Shakespeare in Hollywood and Escanaba in Love at The Barn Theatre in Michigan (where I am Associate Artistic Director). From 2003-09 I served as  Resident Director at The New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire; Anything Goes, Evita, Camelot, Chicago, Beauty and The Beast, Gypsy, Footloose, High Society, South Pacific, State Fair, Sondheim’s Saturday Night. I also directed the Canadian premiere of The Robber Bridegroom (with Stephan Sutcliffe). On the nonmusical side, I have directed productions of The Odd Couple, Mirandolina (with Eric McCormack), The Misanthrope, Ten Little Indians, Ashes, The Glass Menagerie, Overruled, The Skin of Our Teeth and Much Ado about Nothing. Developmental readings of Goodbye Barcelona, and Queen Jo at The York. Big To Do! at The Duplex.

 

I recently guest directed OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR for Marymount Manhattan College and The Norwegian Premiere of Christopher Durang’s The Marriage of Bette and Boo for NSKI (The Norwegian Acting Institute/Norsk Skuespilleristitutt) in Oslo.

 

I have served as an Assistant Director on the National tour of State Fair (starring John Davidson) as well as productions of Dial “M” for Murder (with Juliet Mills and Maxwell Caulfield) the OBIE nominated A Majority of One (with Phyllis Newman) as well as the Off-Broadway revival of the legendary Arthur Laurents’ Home of the Brave and the world premiere of Mr. Laurents’ Big Potato. I have also worked on the York Theatre Company’s salute to Kander and Ebb.

 

As an actor, I have appeared Off-Broadway, Regionally and National tours, as well as Television and Film. Some Favorite roles played; Mercutio Romeo and Juliet, The Emcee Cabaret, Albin La Cage Aux  Folles, Roger Debris, The Producers, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Kolenkhov in You Can't Take It With You and Simon in Hay Fever.

 

I hold a B.F.A. from the Ryerson Theatre School/Ryerson University in Toronto in Acting and Directing. I won both the faculty scholarship as well as the Robert Christie Award for acting.

 

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. Proud member of SDC & AEA (still!).