Broadway Divas 101: Lesson 5: Sutton Foster

Sutton Foster took Broadway by storm in 2002 with her Tony-Winning performance as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie.  This wasn't her Broadway debut, however.  She had previously appeared as Sandy in the 1994 Revival of Grease, various roles (including the Star to Be) in the 1997 Revival of Annie, ensemble in the original production of The Scarlet Pimpernel and as Eponine in Les Miserables.  Since her award-winning turn in Millie, Sutton has had a wonderful career on the Broadway stage.  Her credits include:  Jo in Little Women: The Musical (Tony Nomination), Janet van de Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone (Tony Nomination), Inga in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, and Princess Fiona in Shrek: The Musical  (Tony Nomination).  She has just signed on to play Reno Sweeney in the upcoming revival of Anything Goes! with the Roundabout Theatre Company.

Sutton was born in Georgia and raised in Michigan.  She won Star Search at age 15.  She completed high school via correspondence because she was touring with the Tommy Tune-directed production of Will Rogers Follies.  Her brother, Hunter, is also a Broadway star.

Sutton is a classic "triple-threat".  She's a great singer, actor, and dancer!  Her solo album, "Wish" was released in 2009.

Other fun Sutton Trivia:

*She broke her wrist during The Drowsy Chaperone.  In order to stay in the show, she learned how to do one-armed cartwheels so she could still perform her stunts in "Show-Off".

*She is known for staying outside at the Stage Door after her shows until everyone who wants her autograph can get it.

*She performed in early workshops of Wicked, but has never performed in the actual show.

*She taught a class at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in the Spring of 2010.

My personal experience with Sutton (although I've never met her in person) dates back to 1999.  I saw her in the national tour of Les Miserables.  I remember thinking two things:  "Wow, the girl who played Eponine is AMAZING!!!!" and "Sutton...that's an interesting name."  Fast forward to Tony Night, 2002.  Sutton Foster wins the Tony and I'm thinking "Sutton Foster...that name sounds familiar."  I dug out my Les Miz program from 3 years earlier.  Lo and behold...SAME PERSON!!!!  I haven't seen her perform live again, but I'm sure I will someday!  I have geeked out on national tours of shows she was in, but that's a story for another day.  (Ask me later about "The Millie Incident" and the "Geek Trip.")

Homework:
Watch these videos:










Sources:  http://www.suttonfoster.com/home.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton_Foster
http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=70151