Sutton's Biography
Foster was born in Statesboro, Georgia and raised in Troy, Michigan. At the age of fifteen, she was a contestant on the television show Star Search and also auditioned for the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club. She left Troy High School, where she had been active in the Troy Theatre Ensemble, before her senior year (she received her diploma via correspondence courses) to be in the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies directed by Tommy Tune. She then attended Carnegie Mellon University for one year, but left to pursue a theatrical career full-time.
Foster's big break was reminiscent of 42nd Street when, during rehearsals of the pre-Broadway run of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, she was pulled from the chorus to replace the leading lady. Any apprehension about an unknown playing the lead in a nearly $10 million Broadway production was proven unfounded when she opened at the Marquis Theatre to primarily rave reviews. Foster went on to win the 2002 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance.
In 2005, Foster starred as Jo March opposite Maureen McGovern as Marmee in the short-lived musical adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott classic Little Women, for which she was nominated for her second Tony Award.
Foster returned to the Marquis Theatre on Broadway in May 2006 in The Drowsy Chaperone, a spoof of 1920s musicals. She played the role of Janet van de Graff, a famous Broadway starlet who opts to forgo a stage career in favor of married life. Her performance in Chaperone earned her a third Tony nomination.
In 2007, Foster was offered two television acting roles. The first as the sister of host Johnny on Johnny and the Sprites, a children's musical puppet show. Next came the role of Coco, the girlfriend of central character Bret, in a three episode story arc on the HBO television series Flight of the Conchords.
Foster is currently starring in Mel Brooks' new musical theater production of Young Frankenstein. She plays the German yodeling fraulein Inga until July 6, 2008.
Her next role will be Fiona in the musical adaptation of Shrek, according to New York Post theatre columnist Michael Riedel (playbill.com article, Feb. 8, 2008)
In 2008, as a thank you to her former high school, Foster returned to her hometown to help future budding stars in their own local production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Foster's big break was reminiscent of 42nd Street when, during rehearsals of the pre-Broadway run of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, she was pulled from the chorus to replace the leading lady. Any apprehension about an unknown playing the lead in a nearly $10 million Broadway production was proven unfounded when she opened at the Marquis Theatre to primarily rave reviews. Foster went on to win the 2002 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance.
In 2005, Foster starred as Jo March opposite Maureen McGovern as Marmee in the short-lived musical adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott classic Little Women, for which she was nominated for her second Tony Award.
Foster returned to the Marquis Theatre on Broadway in May 2006 in The Drowsy Chaperone, a spoof of 1920s musicals. She played the role of Janet van de Graff, a famous Broadway starlet who opts to forgo a stage career in favor of married life. Her performance in Chaperone earned her a third Tony nomination.
In 2007, Foster was offered two television acting roles. The first as the sister of host Johnny on Johnny and the Sprites, a children's musical puppet show. Next came the role of Coco, the girlfriend of central character Bret, in a three episode story arc on the HBO television series Flight of the Conchords.
Foster is currently starring in Mel Brooks' new musical theater production of Young Frankenstein. She plays the German yodeling fraulein Inga until July 6, 2008.
Her next role will be Fiona in the musical adaptation of Shrek, according to New York Post theatre columnist Michael Riedel (playbill.com article, Feb. 8, 2008)
In 2008, as a thank you to her former high school, Foster returned to her hometown to help future budding stars in their own local production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Sutton's Official Biography (from Shrek)
(Princess Fiona). Broadway: Inga in Young Frankenstein,
Janet Van De Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Tony® and Drama Desk Award nominations, L.A. Ovation Award), Jo in Little Women (2005 Tony®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations), Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Awards), Eponine in Les Misérables, the 20th anniversary of Annie, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Grease. Other New York: performed concerts at Carnegie Hall (NY Pops), Lincoln Center (American Songbook series), Town Hall, Joe’s Pub; Actors’ Fund benefit performances of Funny Girl and Chess. TV: Disney Channel’s “Johnny and the Sprites,” HBO’s “The Flight of the Conchords.” Proud Equity member.
Janet Van De Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Tony® and Drama Desk Award nominations, L.A. Ovation Award), Jo in Little Women (2005 Tony®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations), Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Awards), Eponine in Les Misérables, the 20th anniversary of Annie, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Grease. Other New York: performed concerts at Carnegie Hall (NY Pops), Lincoln Center (American Songbook series), Town Hall, Joe’s Pub; Actors’ Fund benefit performances of Funny Girl and Chess. TV: Disney Channel’s “Johnny and the Sprites,” HBO’s “The Flight of the Conchords.” Proud Equity member.
