Sutton Lenore Foster (born March 18, 1975) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for her work in stage musicals on Broadway and has received numerous accolades including two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, a Drama League Award, and three Outer Critics Circle Awards as well as nominations for a Grammy Award and Laurence Olivier Award.
She has received two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for playing the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and as sultry nightclub singer Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (2011), the latter of which she reprised in 2021 at London's Barbican Theatre for which she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was also Tony-nominated for Little Women (2005), The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), Shrek the Musical (2009), Violet (2014), and The Music Man (2022). She has also starred in Young Frankenstein (2008) and Once Upon a Mattress (2024).
On television, Foster played the lead roles in the short-lived ABC Family comedy-drama Bunheads (2012–2013) and in the TV Land comedy-drama Younger (2015–2021), both of which earned her nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
Early life and education Foster was born on March 18, 1975 in Statesboro, Georgia, and raised in Troy, Michigan. At age 15, she was a contestant on the reality competition show Star SearchTommasini, Anthony. "A Big Belter Who Found a True Voice" The New York Times, May 5, 2011"Sutton Foster: Really Anything Goes" npr.org, September 9, 2015 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.Botsford, Andrew. "Sutton Foster brings a few of her ingenue friends for a show at Bay Street Theatre" 27east.com, May 25, 2010"Sutton Foster Interview" broadway.com, January 15, 2005
Foster then attended Carnegie Mellon University for one year,"Interview" donshewey.com, May 10, 2002 but she left to pursue a theatrical career full-time.
In May 2012 she received an honorary doctorate from Ball State University, "in recognition of her outstanding career in theater, television and music and for her contributions to the educational experience and professional growth of Ball State students.""Trustees approve honorary degree for Tony Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Sutton Foster" cms.bsu.edu, January 27, 2012 In May 2019, she also received an honorary doctorate from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, which introduced a merit scholarship in her name to be awarded to one student every four years. Her older brother, Hunter Foster, is also an actor.
Career 1995–2001: Early career After touring in the role of Sandy Dumbrowski in the musical Grease throughout 1995, Foster transferred to the Broadway production in 1996.Grease ibdb.com, accessed March 30, 2016"'Grease' Replacements" ibdb.com, accessed March 30, 2016 She left to appear in the ensemble of the Broadway musical The Scarlet Pimpernel in 1997, and after that closedThe Scarlet Pimpernel IBDB.com, accessed March 30, 2016 she returned as the Star to Be in the revival of Annie. In 1998, Foster appeared in What the World Needs Now at the Old Globe Theatre, before she began touring with Les Misérables as Eponine Thenardier. She then understudied the same role on Broadway in 2000."Sutton Foster Listing" PlaybillVault.com, accessed April 1, 2016
Foster left Les Misérables to join the ensemble of Thoroughly Modern Millie in its pre-Broadway run at the La Jolla Playhouse. Original leading lady Kristin Chenoweth landed a television series shortly after rehearsals began and was replaced with Erin Dilly as Millie and Foster as her understudy. After apparent clashes between the creative team, a "mutual" decision was made for Dilly to leave the production. With only nine days remaining before the first preview, Foster took over the role of Millie Dilmount.Ehren, Christine and Jones, Kenneth.No More Dilly Millie: Sutton Foster Takes La Jolla Role" Playbill, September 25, 2000Ehren, Christine and Jones, Kenneth. "'Thoroughly Modern Millie' Exits La Jolla Dec. 10; Begins Journey to Bway" Playbill, December 10, 2000 During a hiatus (before Millie was set to open on Broadway), Foster appeared in Dorian at Goodspeed Musicals, The Three Musketeers at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, and South Pacific at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.
2002–2010: Breakthrough and stage success Thoroughly Modern Millie finally opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in 2002, to positive reviews. The New York Daily News reviewer said: "newcomer Sutton Foster, who has the pert look, the silver voice and the dazzling legwork to make an extraordinarily winning Millie."Kissel, Howard. "You'll Flip For Sprightly Flappers Piece" New York Daily News, April 19, 2002 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."Barnes, Clive. Abstract "Thoroughly Muddled 'Millis' Hits The Boards" New York Post, google.archive, April 19, 2002, 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."Winer, Linda. "Abstract: She's Gonna Make It After All / Sutton Foster breaks out in inspired 'Millie'" Newsday, google.archive, April 19, 2002, 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..."Zoglin, Richard."Kid, You're Gonna Come Back a Star!" Time, April 29, 2002, Foster went on to win the 2002 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical,"Tony Award, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', 2002" tonyawards.com, accessed July 26, 2010 the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical,"Press release, Drama Desk Awards, 2001-2002" dramadesk.com, May 19, 2002, accessed July 26, 2010, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance.Outer Critics Circle Awards, 2001-2002 outercritics.org, accessed July 26, 2010Pogrebin, Robin. "At Tonys, 'Millie' Is Tops, but Its Book and Score Aren't" The New York Times, June 2, 2002 During the run, Foster appeared in concert versions of Chess and Funny Girl, before leaving in 2004.
Upon leaving, Foster did a concert version of Snoopy! The Musical and returned to the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera for a production of Me and My Girl to wrap up the year. In May 2005, Foster co-starred as Jo March opposite Maureen McGovern as Marmee in the musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women, for which she was nominated for her second Tony Award.Jones, Kenneth. "'Little Women' Will Be Silenced May 22" Playbill, May 17, 2005 The production closed after just a few months. She returned to Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in May 2006 in The Drowsy Chaperone, a spoof of 1920s musicals. She played Janet van de Graaff, a famous Broadway starlet who opts to forgo a stage career in favor of married life. The musical had a pre-Broadway run at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles in November to December 2005.Jones, Kenneth. "Sutton Foster Confirmed to Star in 'Drowsy Chaperone' Musical, Bowing Nov. 10 in L.A." Playbill, September 9, 2005 Her performance earned her a third Tony nomination.Staff. "Just the Facts: List of 2006 Tony Award Winners and Nominees" Playbill, June 11, 2006 Foster left the musical in 2007 and co-starred in Mel Brooks' musical adaptation of his film Young Frankenstein as the yodeling fräulein Inga, first at the Paramount Theatre and then on Broadway from October 2007 to July 2008.Jones, Kenneth. "Puttin' on the Glitz: 'Young Frankenstein' Opens on Broadway" Playbill, November 8, 2007
In 2007, Foster guest-starred on the children's musical puppet show Johnny and the SpritesKalafatas, Greg Sutton Foster Guest Stars on 'Johnny and the Sprites'" playbill.com, January 16, 2007 and in a three-episode story arc on the HBO sitcom Flight of the Conchords.Listing IMDb, accessed July 26, 2010 She left the show to play Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, which opened on Broadway on December 14, 2008.Gans, Andrew."Seattle Goes Green: Shrek the Musical Makes World Premiere Aug. 14" playbill.com, August 14, 2008 For this role, Foster won her second Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a MusicalGans, Andrew."Billy Elliot, Carnage, Ruined and Avenger Are Outer Critics Circle Award Winners" playbill.com, May 11, 2009 and was nominated for her fourth Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth."Nominations for 2009 Tony Awards Announced; Billy Elliot Earns 15 Nominations" playbill.com, May 5, 2009 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.Clawson, Kerry "Broadway star Sutton Foster coming to Cleveland" ohio.com, February 2, 2010
Foster's debut solo album Wish was released by Ghostlight Records in February 2009. The songs range from jazz to pop to cabaret to Broadway.Gans, Andrew."Shrek's Sutton Foster Releases Solo CD "Wish" Feb. 17" playbill.com, February 17, 2009 In 2010, Foster promoted the album with concert performances in Boston, New York City, Chicago, the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Orange County, California, and Washington, D.C."Concert tour schedule" suttonfoster.com 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 11, 2010.Gans, Andrew. "Esparza, Hibbert, Conlee and Blumenkrantz Join Cast of Encores! 'Anyone Can Whistle'" Playbill, March 17, 2010 Foster made her Off-Broadway debut in Paul Weitz's comedy Trust with Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale and Ari Graynor which began previews July 23, 2010, with an official opening August 12, running through September 12, 2010, at Second Stage Theatre.Gans, Andrew.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 Foster and Seth Rudetsky participated in the one night only Actors Fund benefit concert version 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.Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew. "Full Cast of Sutton Foster-Seth Rudetsky 'They're Playing Our Song' Announced" Playbill, August 18, 2010