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Sutton Foster

Birth Place: Georgia

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BIO

Sutton Foster is a two-time Tony winning actress, singer and dancer most recently seen Broadway in the highly anticipated revival of The Music Man, opposite Hugh Jackman in the fall of 2020. She previously starred in the title role of the New Group’s 50th anniversary revival of Sweet Charity, for which she earned Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk and Drama League nominations. Directed by Leigh Silverman, the show ran at the Pershing Square Signature Center in November 2016. Sutton previously starred in the title role of Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley’s Tony-nominated Broadway revival Violet, earning Tony, Drama League, Drama Desk, Outer Critic Circle and Broadway.com Audience Choice Award nominations. Sutton first performed the role of Violet in the acclaimed concert performance at City Center Encores! Off-Center in July 2013. Sutton also appeared on stage as Queenie in New York City Center Encores! Off-Center’s production of The Wild Party in July 2015.



Perhaps best-known for her role as Reno Sweeney in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of Anything Goes, Foster earned a 2011 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, the Fred and Adele Astaire, and Broadway.com's Audience Favorite Awards for her performance as a former Evangelist, now nightclub singer, aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London.

Under the direction of Michael Mayer, Sutton starred as Millie Dillmount, a young, modern woman from Kansas who travels to New York City intending to marry for money, in the 2002 Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Originating the role, Sutton established herself as one of the greatest talents in the industry and earned a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards.

In addition to her Tony-winning performances, Foster originated numerous notable roles, including Princess Fiona in Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Shrek The Musical. Starring opposite Brian d'Arcy James, she won her second Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and was nominated for a Tony, Drama League, and Drama Desk Awards. Foster also originated the role of Inga, the yodeling lab assistant to Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, in Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s parody of the horror film genre, Young Frankenstein.

Her performance as Janet Van De Graaff in Casey Nicholaw’s The Drowsy Chaperone in 2006 earned her Tony Award, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Ovation Award nominations. Previously, Sutton took on the role of Jo, the brassy tomboy and aspiring writer, in the 2005 Broadway production of Little Women, directed by Susan H. Schulman. For this role, she earned Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Her other theater credits include: Les Miserables, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Annie, and Grease. Foster made her Off-Broadway debut as Prudence in Paul Weitz's comedy Trust at Second Stage Theatre, also starring Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, and Ari Graynor.

As a solo artist, Sutton has toured the country with her hit solo concert featuring songs from her debut solo CD “Wish” as well as her follow up CD “An Evening With Sutton Foster: Live at the Cafe Carlyle.” She has graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, Feinstein's, Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series and many others. Sutton released her third solo album, ‘Take Me to the World’, through Ghostlight Deluxe in 2018. Sutton recently concluded a sold out run at New York City’s famous Café Carlyle in the summer of 2019, and will appear as the ‘Baker’s Wife’ in the upcoming Hollywood Bowl production of Into the Woods, set to run from July 26-28, 2019.

Foster currently stars as Liza in the critically-acclaimed TV Land series, “Younger.” Created by "Sex and the City's" Darren Star and styled by the iconic Patricia Field, the series centers around a 40-year-old suburban single mother, Liza, who re-invents herself as a 26-year-old in order to get a job at a publishing company. Also starring Hilary Duff, Nico Tortorella, Miriam Shor and Debi Mazar, the series returned for its sixth season in 2019.

Previously, Foster starred as Michelle Simms in Amy Sherman-Palladino’s ABC Family series, “Bunheads”, about a former ballerina turned Las Vegas showgirl who gets married and winds up teaching at her new mother-in-law’s ballet school in a sleepy costal town. Sutton earned a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance. Sutton recently reunited with Sherman-Palladino in a guest starring role on the highly-anticipated Netflix revival “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life”, which was released on November 25, 2016.

Foster was first seen on television on “Star Search” at the young age 15, and has more recently appeared in HBO’s comedy series “Flight of the Conchords,” USA Network’s “Royal Pains,” “Law & Order: SUV” and “Elementary.” She has also made guest appearances on the well-known children series Disney’s “Johnny and the Sprites,” and PBS’s “Sesame Street.”

In 2014, Sutton made her feature film debut in Phil Alden Robinson’s The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, alongside an all-star cast including Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, Robin Williams, Melissa Leo and James Earl Jones. Sutton also appeared as Kerry in James Roday’s comedy-horror film Gravy.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2024
Princess Winnifred

[Off-Broadway]
Encores! Concert Revival Production, 2024
Princess Winifred

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2023
Mrs. Lovett [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2022
Marian Paroo

[West End]
2021
Reno Sweeney

[Los Angeles]
Hollywood Bowl Revival, 2019
Baker's Wife

[Off-Broadway]
Roundabout Theatre Company One-Night-Only Benefit, 2018
Edith Herbert

[Off-Broadway]
The New Group Off-Broadway Revival, 2016
Charity Hope Valentine

[Off-Broadway]
City Center Encores Off-Center Production, 2015
Queenie

[Broadway]
Roundabout Production, 2014
Violet

[Broadway]
Roundabout Revival, 2011
Reno Sweeney

[Off-Broadway]
Second Stage Theatre Production, 2010
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2008
Princess Fiona

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2007
Inga

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2006
Janet Van De Graaff

[Los Angeles]
US Premiere, 2005
Janet Van De Graaf

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2005
Jo

[New York]
New York Concert, 2004
Peppermint Patty

[Broadway]
Actors' Fund Concert, 2003
Svetlana

[Broadway]
Actors' Fund Concert, 2002
Fanny Brice

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2002
Millie Dillmount

[San Diego, CA (Regional)]
World Premiere, 2000
Millie Dillmount

[Chester, CT (Regional)]
World Premiere, 2000
Ensemble

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1997
Ensemble

Ensemble

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1997
Ronnie Boylan

Ensemble

Dog Catcher

Cecille

A Star to Be

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1994
Sandy Dumbrowski [Replacement]

[US Tour]
1st National Tour, 1992
Ensemble

[US Tour]
2nd National Tour, 1988
Eponine (Understudy) [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1987
Female Ensemble [Replacement]

Eponine (Understudy) [Replacement]

[New York]
Workshop, 2006
Inga

Productions

 
[New York, 2004]
Producer

Movies

Shrek the Musical
[ 2013 ] Fiona
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
[ 2014 ] Adela Tommy's Girlfriend
Gravy
[ 2015 ] Kerry
Anything Goes
[ 2021 ] Reno Sweeney

TV Shows

Bunheads
Michelle Simms
Doc McStuffins
Frida
Ridley Jones
Mama Jones, Mrs. Sanchez
Younger
Liza Miller

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2022 - Distinguished Performance Awards

Sutton Foster, The Music Man

Tony Awards - 2022 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, The Music Man

Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Sweet Charity

Drama League Awards - 2017 - Distinguished Performance Award

Sutton Foster, Sweet Charity

The Lortels - 2017 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Sweet Charity

Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Violet

Drama League Awards - 2014 - Distinguished Performance Award

Sutton Foster, Violet

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Violet

Tony Awards - 2014 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Violet


winner
BroadwayWorld Awards - 2011 - Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Anything Goes


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2011 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Anything Goes


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2011 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Anything Goes


winner
Tony Awards - 2011 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Anything Goes


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Shrek the Musical

Tony Awards - 2009 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical

Drama Desk Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Shrek the Musical

Tony Awards - 2006 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, The Drowsy Chaperone

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2005 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster , Little Women the Musical

Tony Awards - 2005 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Little Women


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Thoroughly Modern Millie


winner
Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sutton Foster, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Videos

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Video: Sutton Foster Says Princess Winnifred is One of the Most Physical Roles She Has Played

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Sutton Foster been in?

Sutton Foster has appeared on Broadway in 16 shows.

How many West End shows has Sutton Foster been in?

Sutton Foster has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.

What was Sutton Foster's first West End show?

Sutton Foster's first West End show was Anything Goes which opened in 2021

What awards has Sutton Foster been nominated for?

Sutton Foster has received numerous nominations for her outstanding performances in musical theater. She was nominated for the Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for The Music Man and for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Music Man. Additionally, she received nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) and Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Sweet Charity, as well as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (The Lortels) for the same production. For Violet, she earned nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards), Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards), and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards). In Anything Goes, she was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards), and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards). Her work in Shrek the Musical garnered her nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards), and Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards). Foster was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Drowsy Chaperone, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Little Women the Musical, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Little Women. Lastly, she received nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Thoroughly Modern Millie and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Thoroughly Modern Millie.

What awards has Sutton Foster won?

Sutton Foster has won several prestigious awards, including: - Best Leading Actress in a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Anything Goes - Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Anything Goes - Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Anything Goes - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Anything Goes - Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Shrek the Musical - Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Thoroughly Modern Millie - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Thoroughly Modern Millie.

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