BWW Interviews: SUTTON FOSTER - From 'Millie' to 'Sweeney'

Arguably one of Broadway's most beloved, sought-after talents, Sutton Foster is returning to Southern California this week to make her highly-anticipated Orange County Performing Arts Center debut for a series of concerts, as part of the Center's very Broadway-centric 2010-2011 Cabaret Line-Up. Performing at the Samueli Theater from January 6 through January 9, Foster's intimate set will feature many of her hits from her stellar Broadway career as well as a few personal favorites and selections from her debut solo album Wish, available on Sh-K-Boom Records.

Many Southland theatergoers will no doubt remember Foster when she originated the role of Janet Van De Graaff in the hit musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which made its U.S. premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in 2005. She would later receive Tony and Drama Desk nominations for that same role when it later transferred to Broadway.

But her ultimate star-making role was as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie, which earned her a 2002 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since then, she's been quite the go-to lead in many high profile shows, including memorable turns in Little Women: The Musical (earning her another set of Tony and Drama Desk nominations), Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, and, most recently, as Princess Fiona in the stage version of Shrek: The Musical (no surprise... she was once again honored with Tony and Drama Desk nominations, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award).

Foster's other Broadway credits include Les Misérables, Annie, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Grease! Her regional productions include What the World Needs Now (Old Globe), Dorian (Goodspeed), The Three Musketeers (San Jose Musical Theater), Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Sally in Me and My Girl (both at Pittsburgh CLO). She has also toured nationally in The Will Rogers Follies, Les Misérables and Grease! She has appeared as Svetlana in Chess in Concert and as the "I'm the Greatest Star" Fanny Brice in Funny Girl in Concert—both Actors Fund of America benefit shows.

Next up for Foster: playing Reno Sweeney in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of ANYTHING GOES, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. The show begins previews in March with an official opening set for April 7 on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. (Originally, her OCPAC concerts were previously scheduled for February, but has been moved to this week to accommodate her rehearsals for this new starring role).

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BWW: Can you tell us a little bit about what we can look forward to with your cabaret set at the OC Performing Arts Center?

Foster: The concert is basically a combination of songs and material from shows I've done here in New York, as well as songs from my debut album Wish... plus a couple of surprises along the way!

You've had such tremendous success originating roles in some amazing musicals since your Tony-winning part in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Now you're about to return to Broadway this time in the revival of ANYTHING GOES...Can you tell us a bit about your role in the upcoming revival? 

Well, we don't start rehearsals until January 25th so I am very much in the beginning stages. The character of Reno Sweeney has always been a role I've dreamed of playing. The score by Cole Porter is unbelievable... I mean every song is incredible... and I'm thrilled to be able to work with Kathleen Marshall.

You seem to thrive in musical comedy... do you enjoy them more over dramatic roles? 

I was always the goofy kid, who was too tall or too skinny with bad permed hair and braces, so I think I had to develop of sense of humor... I love comedies and I love to make people laugh, but I also really enjoy the dramatic stuff.  

Growing up, did you know you wanted to be a musical theater actor?

Not necessarily. I knew that I really enjoyed performing but I don't think I actually thought one could make a living doing it. I'm really glad it's all working out though because I really had no other interests.

Who were some of your idols/influences growing up?

Well I was obsessed with Patti LuPone, and still am... Lea Salonga... Liz Callaway... Carol Burnett.

Was there any particular musical show that was a huge influence for you?

I saw Me and My Girl at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit when I was 14 or 15... it was the first professional show I had ever seen... and there was an understudy on for the first time—and he was incredible. When the curtain came down I heard everyone cheering for him backstage, and I thought... "I want to be a part of that!"

Can you tell us a little bit about your very first time on the stage?

Oh Lord. Well it was probably A Christmas Carol when I was like 8 or so in Augusta, Georgia... I don't really remember it. Although, I do remember at age 10 playing Annie at the Augusta Players Community Theatre in Augusta... and, honestly, I think that show is where I got bitten by the bug and everything changed after that.

Are there any other roles from other musicals you'd like to perform someday?

I'd love to play the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods some day...

You have a lot of fans, particularly those who wish to have a career in musical theater much like yours... and you've taught and conducted classes in the subject as well. Quickly, what's your one piece of advice to these young people?

Don't be an asshole.

Some of our readers would love to know if we can look forward to you voicing a Disney animated role someday. Is there a character in the Disney cannon you wish you could have spoken/sang for?

Oh, my goodness... this is a dream of mine and I hope someday it will happen... I grew up with Ariel and Belle... I always dreamed of being Belle, but I was too tall. I hope that there is one out there being written that I could sing!  :-)

Now, if I may, I'd like to throw you a few rapid-fire questions, and I would love it if you could just tell me the first thing that pops into your head. Okay, what's your favorite musical of all time?

Sweeney Todd.

What song do you like belting in the shower or when you're all alone in the car?

"There Won't Be Trumpets" [from Anyone Can Whistle].

Who is the person you admire the most? 

Beth Leavel.

What scares you the most?

Snakes!

What do you prefer doing on your day off?

Going to my lake house...

What is your one guilty pleasure?

One?  :-)  Ice cream!

What or Who irritates you the most?

Impatience or lack of compassion

What instantly puts a smile on your face?

My dog!

If you weren't an actor, what other career do you see yourself doing?

I'd be a teacher.

Watch BWW's Behind-the-Scenes look at Foster's ANYTHING GOES Photo Shoot HERE.

Top Photo by Laura Marie Duncan. Middle Photo: Brian D’Arcy James, Daniel Breaker, and Foster in SHREK THE MUSICAL by Joan Marcus. Bottom Photo: Foster in ANYTHING GOES by Andrew Eccles.

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Sutton Foster performs at Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center as part of the 2010-2011 Cabaret Series from January 6 – 9, 2011, with shows Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a final show on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $74 and can be purchased online at OCPAC.org, by calling 714.556.2787, or by visiting the Box Office in person at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. A limited amount of Student Rush tickets are also available for $15, 1 hour before showtime, ID required, 1 ticket per ID, cash only.

The Samueli Theater is located at 615 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.

For more information on this, visit OCPAC.org. Visit Sutton Foster's web site at www.suttonfoster.com.