SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS: DAY 3 - Sutton Foster Shows Off

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies (and subsequent seasons on Broadway) with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!

Today, we set our sights on one of the biggest Broadway-bred stars of the 21st century who is the recipient of a 2002 Best Actress In A Musical Tony Award for her work as the titular character in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE - the one and only Sutton Foster. Besides her creation of original roles in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE and LITTLE WOMEN, she was also recently nominated for her work in SHREK and today's special spotlight on her exceptional gifts is coming in anticipation of her nomination this year for her across-the-board-raves-winning take on Reno Sweeney in the Roundabout revival of Cole Porter's ANYTHING GOES. As in olden days - ten years ago - and now, she is one of our best-loved Broadway beacons who will never be out of fashion.

Don't Forget About The Girl

It is a rare occurrence indeed that a genuine marquee name is born and bred on Broadway these days - particularly in the musical theatre. Yet, here she is: Ms. Sutton Foster. Coming after her Tony-winning work in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE - and implicit eleventh-hour understudy-rising-up-the-ranks story to beat the band if there ever were any, even on Broadway - she has cemented herself as one of the musical theatre's foremost stars with her subsequent turns in Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, as well as LITTLE WOMEN, SHREK and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. Scoring some of the highest praise of the new century - out of anybody, male or female - for her work in Kathleen Marshall's new production of ANYTHING GOES - her first revival role on Broadway - a smash hit production that has just been extended into 2012 - is just the delicious icing on the cake for this Broadway baby who is carving out quite a career for herself all the while.

Now, check her out truly terrific tapping and brassy, piercing belt coming from none other than our leading lady of the day in this extended performance of "Forget About The Boy" - one of the new songs written for the Broadway adaptation of the musical by Jeanine Tesori - from THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, which also took the 2002 big prize for Best Musical.

For further proof of the exciting and enduring vocal and athletic talent possessed by Ms. Foster, enjoy this awe-inspiring clip from five years later when she played a featured role in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, which won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score at that year's ceremony. She can certainly do it all - and then some! "Show Off", indeed.

Lastly, going back ten years, here is her heartfelt acceptance speech for her win as Best Actress for MILLIE.

That's all for today. Be sure to stay tuned to BroadwayWorld for all things Tony Awards and subscribe to this column to be the very first to check out the clips, commentary and take part in the conversation in our deluxe toast to the Antoinette Perry every day until June 12 - and, especially, on that day! Until then…