• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!We Are Presidential!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Emma Fitzpatrick Found Start in Marion

By MarionMade! on November 28, 2021

Emma Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick opened for Highway 101

Opportunities in Marion gave Emma Fitzpatrick the launchpad she needed in her career. Fitzpatrick, now located in Nashville, has traveled around the globe leaving her mark in the film, television, and music industries.

“I felt like growing up the arts were encouraged and valued,” Fitzpatrick says.

Fitzpatrick began school at River Valley and transitioned to Harding High School. With the Singers show choir, she participated in competitions, including one in New York. Fitzpatrick notes her education included a small-town feel, with a good base for building her craft.

Her first time singing on stage was at Trinity Baptist Church. She landed her first spot in a musical at the age of seven with River Valley.

“My mom bribed me to audition for the musical with an early Christmas present,” Fitzpatrick says of her start. “My dad has a beautiful singing voice, naturally. He taught me how to sing harmony. We had an exceptional musical inclination and would sing together at church. They saw a gift in me, and probably thought I didn’t even see it in myself at the time.”

Because she was in Marion, Fitzpatrick had access to many resources.

“Marion is a good place to get an education and dream the dreams of figuring out where you want to go. I was music motivated. I participated in Ms. Popcorn and was able to go to Ms. Ohio. Marion was a good place to grow and play around with those things to see what I liked,” says Fitzpatrick.

Outside of school, Fitzpatrick was able to take voice lessons and perform on the historic Marion Palace Theatre stage.

Emma Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick recently recorded Lose it All

“It was an awesome stage to grow up on doing community theatre. It felt like there was always something going on,” Fitzpatrick says. “It’s where I cut my teeth, where I learned that I love performing and learned how to navigate the stage.”

After Marion, Fitzpatrick went to Belmont University in Nashville for musical theatre. Right out of college, she sang in shows on Celebrity Cruise lines. After returning from the waters, she went to New York and auditioned for Tokyo Disney. She worked there for a year, then went on to Los Angeles for 10 years.

Fitzpatrick has been in film and television including The Social Network, CSI, and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. She has incorporated music into some roles.  Fitzpatrick also has a band whose music has been featured in film and television.

“It all melded into one beast,” Fitzpatrick says of her career.

Fitzpatrick has advice for anyone in Marion, specifically those interested in pursuing a similar path.

Emma Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick in fields across from her childhood home

“Study the thing that you love. Allow yourself to have experiences out of Marion. It’s a great safe space to grow and figure out what you want and who you are. What makes a good artist is a broad depth of experience and allowing yourself to see how other people do things,” she notes. “I feel like there was never any other option for me. It was so clear that this is what I love.”

Fitzpatrick found a lot of encouragement in Marion.

“I don’t remember naysaying,” Fitzpatrick says. “I think having a good foundation, feeling supported, and that the arts were important, set me up for a fearlessness in my career. I had expectation instead of hope, just expecting good things to happen. In hindsight, it all hinged on feeling like what I wanted was important enough.”

Fitzpatrick has something to note for those around anyone interested in theater.

“How powerful it is to support young people when they’re showing those interests and showing passion, is life-changing. If I didn’t have people support me, I don’t think I would have had the guts to go out and do these things,” she says.

Fitzpatrick says her biggest cheerleaders were her family, her voice instructor, her show choir director, Ms. Houk, and everyone at Marion’s Palace Theatre.

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • OJ McDuffie

    In the excitement of the football playoffs, it is a great time to share the story of someone, born in Marion, who played Big Ten college football and was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons.  His name is Otis James McDuffie. McDuffie played college football for Penn State University and […]Read More »
  • John Eberson

    JOHN EBERSON: DESIGNER OF THE PALACE THEATRE.  . Thousands of our MarionMade! boys and girls over the last 79 years would have no concept of what ‘Stage Right’ or ‘Break a Leg’ meant if it wasn’t for the efforts of John Eberson. This brilliant gentleman designed our own Palace Theatre in downtown Marion during the […]Read More »
  • Harding Memorial

    HARDING MEMORIAL CONTINUES TO CAPTIVATE AFTER NEARLY A CENTURY Marionites all know that special location for photos. Among the many attractive backdrops in Marion, the Harding Memorial is one of the popular places to make photographic memories. Although the Memorial provides the ability to capture those proud moments in time, it conveys a most endearing […]Read More »
  • Back to School with Jennifer Adams

    During the month of September, we will be featuring each of the school superintendent s in Marion County, asking them each the same set of questions.  We are using this as an opportunity to share their passion for education and their schools, as well as a little glimpse as individuals. Today, we visit with Jennifer […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image