Who is Stephen Hanna? Broadway star Bret Hanna-Shuford's husband and family life explored following his death at 46

Image obtained from Instagram: @stephenrhanna
Image obtained from Instagram: @stephenrhanna

Broadway performer Bret Hanna-Shuford has passed away at 46, leaving behind a grieving family and the artistic world he helped shape with his husband, Stephen Hanna. Together, the couple co-ran BroadwayHusbands, where they document their lives as performers and parents to their son Maverick.

As he mourns his late husband, attention is focused on Stephen Hanna, whose own celebrated Broadway career stands as a testament to the couple's devotion to the arts.

Without further ado, here's what to know about Bret Hanna-Shuford's husband.


Stephen Hanna is a Broadway actor like his husband, Bret Hanna-Shuford

Stephen Hanna danced with the New York City Ballet, where he eventually became the principal dancer.

He has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, such as The Phantom Of The Opera, Hello, Dolly!, An American In Paris, On The Town, Off-Broadway in Silence! The Musical, Billy Elliot The Musical, and Come Fly Away.


He is a TV actor

Apart from his Broadway career, the Pittsburgh-born star also appeared in several TV series.

Stephen Hanna starred in Live from Lincoln Center, All My Children, Boardwalk Empire, Momsters: When Moms Go Bad, Forever, The Battery's Down, Pose, and Fourth Position.


He married Bret Hanna-Shuford in 2011

The Broadway actors tied the knot on April 18, 2011, in Connecticut.

The LGBTQ+ couple met in 2006 and got engaged in 2008. They exchanged vows in a ceremony at Greenwich Town Hall.

They moved to Florida to raise their family.


They have a son

Stephen Hanna and Bret Hanna-Shuford have a son named Maverick, who they welcomed in March 2022 via surrogacy.


They run the Broadway Husbands brand

As they are known as "The Broadway Husbands," this led the pair to launch the eponymous personal and lifestyle brand as their gateway to document their lives as artists and their journey to parenthood.

The label also has a significant presence on social media, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, assisting in the couple's advocacy in LGBTQ+ family building, documenting their experience with egg donors and surrogacy to help normalize same-sex parenting.

Stephen Hanna and Bret Hanna-Shuford also utilize the Broadway Husbands to coach branding and marketing and collaborate with other brands.


Bret Hanna-Shuford passed away on Jan. 3, 2026, after his battle with cancer, T-Cell Lymphoma. He was known for his works Wicked, Cirque Du Soleil’s Paramour, Beauty and the Beast, Amazing Grace, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Little Mermaid.

Stephen confirmed the sad news on Instagram, writing:

"It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that early this morning we said goodbye to the most amazing man, husband and Papa in the universe. Bret Hanna-Shuford left this world peacefully with love surrounded by his family. Our hearts are broken but we will continue to make him proud of us…"

The last photo of the couple posing together was on Christmas Day, with Stephen commemorating the occasion on their Broadway Husbands account with gratitude and excitement about the coming year.

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Edited by Gladys Altamarino