Sutton Foster is amazing, and that is an undisputed fact. For those of you who don't know who the powerhouse that is Sutton Foster is, she's an actress onstage and on television. Her credentials include such shows as "Anything Goes," "Shrek the Musical," "Bunheads," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Younger," and many more. To be honest, I think she is one of the best actresses of our generation and I believe that more people should know about her. So, I've compiled a list of clips and pictures from some of Sutton's biggest roles to give everyone a glimpse into the wonderful world that is Sutton Foster.
"Thoroughly Modern Millie"
"Thoroughly Modern Millie" is a musical set in the 1920's, and tells the tale of small-town girl Millie, who moves to New York City to marry for money instead of love. When she starts to take part in the flapper lifestyle, problems arise. Foster played the part of Millie, winning her first Tony award in 2002. This performance was the one that really grabbed the eye of reporters and the theatre community. You can watch her Tony Awards performance here.
"Little Women"
"Little Women" is based off Louisa May Alcott's novel of the same title. It tells the story of four sisters living in Massachusetts during the Civil War, with Foster playing the tomboy writer Jo. This performance earned Sutton her second Tony Award nomination.
"The Drowsy Chaperone"
"The Drowsy Chaperone" is one of my favorite shows, and it's no surprise that Sutton Foster was one of the leads in its original production. It is a musical within a musical, with a man in his chair (Literally the character name-- Man In Chair) sits on the edge of the stage and tells the audience of his favorite (fictional) 1920's musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone." The show the audience watches is what the Man In Chair is imagining. Foster plays the role of Janet van de Graaf, a famous Broadway starlet who plans to leave the stage to marry the man she loves. Her performance earned her third Tony Award nomination.
"Young Frankenstein"
Foster played the role of Inga, the Swedish yodeling fraulein. You can see her hilarious performance here.
"Shrek the Musical"
"Shrek the Musical" is another one of my absolute favorite shows, which just so happens to star Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona. This hilarious show basically follows the same plot as the first movie in the Shrek franchise, giving more of a story to the fairy tale creatures such as Pinocchio and the Three Little Pigs. The hilarious script and flawless performance by Foster earned her fourth Tony Award nomination. You can also watch the whole show on Netflix!
"Anything Goes"
For me, this is one of the most iconic of Foster's performances. Her take on Reno Sweeney in the Broadway revival of "Anything Goes" is astonishing (which is funny, because that was one of the songs her character sang in "Little Women"). Her performance won her second Tony Award, and rightfully so.
"Bunheads"
Along with being a powerhouse onstage, Foster has also been in a couple television shows. In 2012, she starred in the ABC Family original show "Bunheads," playing a Las Vegas showgirl who gets married on a whim and moves to a small town to become a ballet instructor alongside her new mother-in-law. Though canceled after only one season, Foster will be returning as her "Bunheads" character in the new "Gilmore Girls" series on Netflix.
"Violet"
In 2014, Foster returned to the stage playing the title character in "Violet." Her performance earned Sutton her sixth Tony Award nomination.
"Younger"
In 2015, TV Land released the first season of "Younger," starring Sutton Foster and Hillary Duff. Foster plays a 40-something divorced mother who lies about her age (by about half) and lands a job as an assistant at a publishing firm.
"The Wild Party"
Most recently, Sutton was involved in Encores!'s production of "The Wild Party," playing the lead role of Queenie. The story is set in the 1920's, and the production ran briefly in July. You can see a clip of different songs in the show here.
So, to put it briefly, Sutton Foster is amazing and you're better off now that you're aware of her immense talent. You're welcome.
