Sutton Foster

25th Aug 2021

MEMORABILIA AVAILABLE

Sutton Foster

Sutton Lenore Foster (born March 18, 1975) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Foster is best known for her work on the Broadway stage, for which she has received two Tony Awards, in 2002 for the role of Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie and in 2011 for her performance as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. Her other Broadway credits include Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein and Shrek the Musical. She recently starred in the ABC Family television series Bunheads.

EARLY LIFE

Sutton Foster was born in Statesboro, Georgia, and raised in Troy, Michigan. At age 15, she was a contestant on the television show Star Search and also auditioned for the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club. She left Troy High School before graduating (she received her diploma via correspondence courses) to join the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies directed by Tommy Tune. She then attended Carnegie Mellon University for one year, but left to pursue a theatrical career full-time. In May 2012, she received an honorary doctorate from Ball State University. Her brother is actor Hunter Foster.

THEATRE WORK

Foster’s first Broadway role was as an understudy for Sandy Dumbrowski in Grease in 1996. She then appeared in The Scarlet Pimpernel and as Star to Be in Annie in 1997. Foster’s next Broadway role was understudying for Eponine in Les Misarables in 2000.[1]

Foster’s opportunity was reminiscent of 42nd Street when, during rehearsals of the pre-Broadway run of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, she replaced leading lady Erin Dilly.[2] Any apprehension about having an unknown playing the lead in a nearly $10 million Broadway production was proven unfounded when she opened at the Marquis Theatre to many positive reviews. The New York Daily News reviewer described her as “newcomer Sutton Foster, who has the pert look, the silver voice and the dazzling legwork to make an extraordinarily winning Millie.”[3] Clive Barnes, reviewing for the New York Post wrote “Newcomer Sutton Foster’s own star turn as Millie is perfectly charming, but as a star she doesn’t twinkle, glitter or light up Broadway like a Christmas tree defying a July noon. But she has a good voice and is cutely agreeable.”[4] The Newsday reviewer wrote: “She has a smile that may remind you of Mary Tyler Moore, the gawky comic precision of the young Carol Burnett, the lyricism of a romantic heroine and a smallish but vibrant voice as accurate as it is expressive. As [Millie], another of New York’s prototypical small-town girls with big-city dreams, [Sutton Foster] appears unfazed by the burden of a character created onscreen by Julie Andrews. The newcomer takes the big stage with an uninhibited what-the-heck comfort level and the discipline to go with her instincts.”[5] Time Magazine wrote: “she’s [Sutton Foster] got the full package: girlish gawkiness and Broadway brass, the legs and the lungs. Foster is a big reason the show is just about the cutest thing to hit Broadway since Annie’s dimples, with perkily retro songs by Jeanine Tesori and clever staging by director Michael Mayer…”[6] Foster went on to win the 2002 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical,[7] the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical,[8] and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance.[9][10]

In 2005, Foster starred as Jo March opposite Maureen McGovern as Marmee in the musical adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott classic Little Women, for which she was nominated for her second Tony Award.[11] She returned to the Marquis Theatre in May 2006 in The Drowsy Chaperone, a spoof of 1920s musicals. She played the role of Janet van de Graaff, a famous Broadway starlet who opts to forgo a stage career in favor of married life. Her performance earned her a third Tony nomination.[12] Foster starred in Mel Brooks’ musical adaptation of his film Young Frankenstein as the Swedish yodeling fraulein Inga from October 2007 to July 2008.[13]

She created the role of Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, which opened on Broadway December 14, 2008.[14] For this role Foster won her second Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical[15] and was nominated for her fourth Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.[16] She played her final performance on January 3, 2010, when the show closed on Broadway. Foster participated in a reading of a work-in-progress new musical, Bonnie and Clyde: A Folktale, in June 2009. Her brother Hunter is writing the music for this musical.[17]

Foster taught a Spring Semester class at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Undergraduate Department of Drama, beginning in January 2010, culminating in a cabaret performance at Joe’s Pub in May and taught a Fall Semester 2010 class also culminating in a performance at Joe’s Pub called Crazy for Gershwin (music directed by Deborah Abramson). She is now on the faculty of NYU’s New Studio on Broadway. She also taught a week long master class session at Ball State University (Muncie, IN) in January 2010.[17] September 2010, she continued her relationship with Ball State University by working with students in the classroom, teaching master class sessions, and performing workshops for students of the Department of Theatre and Dance. In the spring of 2012, she returned to Ball State where Foster spoke at commencement and received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from Ball State University for her continued engagement with Ball State students teaching classes at Ball State, mentoring the interdisciplinary team that wrote the musical “The Circus in Winter” and co-directing the Department of Theatre and Dance’s Spring 2012 production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Foster then continued her relationship with Ball State University in October 2012, performing in the staged reading of “The Circus in Winter” at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals at New World Stages in New York. [18]

Foster made her Off-Broadway debut in Paul Weitz’s new comedy, Trust which began previews July 23, 2010 with an official opening August 12, running through September 12, 2010 at Second Stage Theatre. The play also starred Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, and Ari Graynor.[19]

She most recently played Reno Sweeney in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes, which began performances on March 10, 2011 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre and officially opened on April 7, 2011.[20] For this role Foster won her third Outer Critics Circle Award and second Drama Desk Award and Tony Award for her performance.[21][22][23] Foster played her final performance March 11, 2012, when she was replaced by Stephanie J. Block. Foster left to film her new television series, Bunheads, which premiered on ABC Family on June 11, 2012.[24][25] Sutton stared in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of the musical Violet starting in 2014 on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre.[26] In 2020 Sutton will join Hugh Jackman, Jefferson Mays in The Music Man Opening September 2020 at the Shubert Theatre.

TELEVISION AND FILM

In 2007, Foster appeared on television in Johnny and the Sprites, a children’s musical puppet show,[27] and in a three-episode story arc on the HBO series Flight of the Conchords.[28] She also guest starred on an episode of Law & Order SVU, which aired on March 3, 2010 opposite comedian Kathy Griffin.[29]

Foster played the leading role in the 2012 ABC Family drama series, Bunheads. Developed by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls, Sutton played former Las Vegas showgirl Michelle, who impulsively marries a man, moves to his small town, and begins teaching ballet lessons at her new mother-in-law’s dance studio. She received a nomination at the 3rd Critics’ Choice Television Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.[30]

In December 2013, Foster appeared in the film Gravy [31] written and directed by Psych actor James Roday. She plays Kerry, not much else is known about the film or her role except that it is a comedic thriller. Sutton stars in Younger from 2015 – Present, see full list below.

CONCERT PERFORMANCES

Wish, Foster’s debut solo album, was released on the Ghostlight Records label in February 2009. The songs range from jazz to pop to cabaret to Broadway.[32] In 2010, Foster promoted the album with concert performances in Boston, New York, Chicago, the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Orange County, California, and Washington, D.C.[33]

Foster starred as Nurse Fay Apple in the New York City Center’s Encores! production of Anyone Can Whistle, which played from April 8 to April 11, 2010.[34]

Foster and Seth Rudetsky participated in the one night only Actors Fund benefit concert of They’re Playing Our Song on August 30, 2010 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater, John Jay College, New York. The full cast included Efé, Kaitlyn Davidson, Alex Ellis, Maynard, Matt Loehr, and Jesse Nager, and was directed by Denis Jones.[35]

Foster performed at the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors in a tribute to Jerry Herman, singing “Before the Parade Passes By.”[36] She then performed at the Kennedy Center Honors the following year in a tribute to Barbara Cook.[37]

Foster is currently on a concert tour which began on September 7, 2012 in Omaha, Nebraska. She will continue her nationwide tour unti her last stop on May 18, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. Foster will be performing both songs from her Broadway career as well as her solo album.

PERSONAL LIFE

Foster met actor Christian Borle in college,[38] and married him on September 18, 2006. During a radio interview in 2010, it was confirmed that Borle and Foster had gone their separate ways.[39][40] Foster and Borle still remain good friends and continue to support each other’s work.[41][42] In 2010, Foster dated actor Bobby Cannavale.[43] In April 2012, Foster confirmed their split.[44] On September 19, 2013, Foster confirmed that she is engaged to screenwriter, Ted Griffin.[45]

WORK

2007201420162002Thoroughly Modern Millie2005Little Women2006The Drowsy Chaperone2009Shrek2011Anything GoesBunheadsNominated
2013Critics’ Choice Television AwardBest Actress in a Comedy SeriesNominated

REFERENCES

  1. “Sutton Foster Listing” PlaybillVault.com
  2. Ehren, Christine and Jones, Kenneth.No More Dilly Millie: Sutton Foster Takes La Jolla Role” playbill.com, September 25, 2000
  3. Kissel, Howard. “You’ll Flip For Sprightly Flappers Piece”New York Daily News, April 19, 2002
  4. Barnes, Clive.Abstract THOROUGHLY MUDDLED ‘MILLIE’ HITS THE BOARDS”New York Post, google.archive, April 19, 2002
  5. Winer, Linda. “Abstract: She’s Gonna Make It After All / Sutton Foster breaks out in inspired ‘Millie’”Newsday, google.archive, April 19, 2002
  6. Zoglin, Richard.”Kid, You’re Gonna Come Back a Star!”Time, April 29, 2002
  7. “Tony Award, ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’, 2002” tonyawards.com, accessed July 26, 2010
  8. “Press release, Drama Desk Awards, 2001-2002” dramadesk.com, May 19, 2002, accessed July 26, 2010
  9. Outer Critics Circle Awards, 2001-2002 outercritics.org, accessed July 26, 2010
  10. Pogrebin, Robin. “At Tonys, ‘Millie’ Is Tops, but Its Book and Score Aren’t” The New York Times, June 2, 2002
  11. Gans, Andrew.2004-2005 “Tony Nominations Announced; Spamalot Garners 14 Nominations” playbill.com, May 10, 2005
  12. “Just the Facts: List of 2006 Tony Award Winners and Nominees” playbill.com, June 11, 2006
  13. “Foster’s Roll in the Hay in Young Frankenstein Is Over July 6” Playbill
  14. Gans, Andrew.”Seattle Goes Green: Shrek the Musical Makes World Premiere Aug. 14″ playbill.com, August 14, 2008
  15. Gans, Andrew.”Billy Elliot, Carnage, Ruined and Avenger Are Outer Critics Circle Award Winners” playbill.com, May 11, 2009
  16. Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth.”Nominations for 2009 Tony Awards Announced; Billy Elliot Earns 15 Nominations” playbill.com, May 5, 2009
  17. Clawson, Kerry “Broadway star Sutton Foster coming to Cleveland” ohio.com, February 2, 2010
  18. Hetrick, Adam [1] playbill.com, September 19, 2012
  19. Gans, Andrew.Braff, Cannavale, Foster and Graynor Cast in Second Stage’s Trust “Braff, Cannavale, Foster and Graynor Cast in Second Stage’s ‘Trust’” playbill.com, June 1, 2010
  20. “Bon Voyage! Anything Goes, With Sutton Foster and Joel Grey, Opens on Broadway” playbill.com
  21. War Horse, Book of Mormon, Other Desert Cities, The Kid Are Outer Critics Circle Winners
  22. Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz
  23. Jones, Kenneth “War Horse, Book of Mormon, Anything Goes, Normal Heart Win 2011 Tony Awards” playbill.com, June 12, 2011
  24. She’s ‘De-Lovely’ and She’s Coming Back! Stephanie J. Block to Return to ANYTHING GOES March 15th
  25. “Sutton Foster Trades Broadway for ‘Bunheads’” channelguidemag.com
  26. Purcell, Carey. “‘Violet’, Starring Tony Winner Sutton Foster, Will Play Broadway in March 2014” playbill.com, November 25, 2013
  27. Kalafatas, Greg Sutton Foster Guest Stars on ‘Johnny and the Sprites’” playbill.com, January 16, 2007
  28. Listing imdb.com, accessed July 26, 2010
  29. Sutton Foster Guest Stars on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ March 3
  30. http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/06/06/bunheads-sutton-foster/
  31. Listing imdb.com, accessed August 2013
  32. Gans, Andrew.”Shrek’s Sutton Foster Releases Solo CD “Wish” Feb. 17″ playbill.com, February 17, 2009
  33. “Concert tour schedule” suttonfoster.com
  34. “Sutton Foster to Star in Encores! ‘Anyone Can Whistle’”, playbill.com
  35. Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew.”Full Cast of Sutton Foster-Seth Rudetsky ‘They’re Playing Our Song’ Announced” playbill.com, August 18, 2010
  36. Sutton Foster, Matthew Morrison, Chris Rock, Laura Benanti, Carol Channing, The Obamas and More at Kennedy Center Honors
  37. STAGE TUBE: Sutton Foster, Glenn Close, Patti LuPone & More Honor Barbara Cook at Kennedy Center Honors – The Musical Tribute!
  38. Kathy Henderson (January 15, 2005). “Broadway Buzz: Sutton Foster (interview)”.
  39. “Mary Poppins” stars Christian Borle and Laura Michelle Kelly playbillradio.com
  40. Lee, Luaine (February 25, 2012). “With NBC’s ‘Smash,’ Christian Borle has arrived”. Press of Atlantic City.
  41. “Christian Borle on the Thrill of Jumping from Smash to Peter and the Starcatcher”. broadwayworld.com. April 9, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  42. “Q&A: Christian Borle”. timeout.com. April 11, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  43. http://www.broadway.com/buzz/156463/tony-nominee-bobby-cannavale-on-love-fatherhood-and-getting-the-last-laugh-in-motherfker/
  44. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303592404577361932595550946
  45. http://www.broadway.com/videos/155087/sutton-foster-on-living-the-la-dream-sharing-the-foster-home-movies-keeping-her-feet-clean-for-the-fancy-folk-at-cafe-carlyle/
  46. http://www.tv.com/people/sutton-foster/trivia/

EXTERNAL LINKS

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