A Life Lived in the Theater

Hank Fitzgerald has devoted more than 35 years of his life to the art of musical theater. A graduate of Shenandoah University's prestigious BFA Musical Theater program, Hank launched his career in pursuit of the stage — and the stage answered. He went on to perform with Disney and joined the casts of several national touring productions, building the kind of professional foundation that only comes from years of working at the highest levels of the industry.

As his career evolved from performer to director, Hank brought that same rigor and passion to the rehearsal room. Over the course of his career, he has directed more than 30 productions nationwide — each one shaped by his deep understanding of the musical form and his commitment to honest, character-driven storytelling.

Most recently, Hank made his Off-Broadway debut directing The Housewives of Secaucus — one of the first productions to open Off-Broadway in the wake of COVID-19. The production was a testament to the resilience of live theater and to Hank's ability to bring a company together under extraordinary circumstances. After years based in New York City, that milestone marked both a culmination and a turning point.

Now, Hank has set his sights on Lynchburg. With Cadence Productions, he is assembling a talented company of performers to bring salutes to the great American songbook, original material, and intimate-scale musicals to audiences who deserve world-class live theater in their own backyard. His vision is simple: great stories, great performers, and a community that comes alive in the theater.