Sutton Foster

Sutton Lenore Foster, born March 18, 1975, is an American actress. She is also a singer and dancer. Her work on Broadway is what made her famous. She won the Tony Award in 2002 for Millie Dillmount’s role in Thoroughly Modern Millie and 2011 for her role in Anything Goes as Reno Sweeney. This role was a reprised role that she played in London in 2021, where she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award as Best Actress for a Musical. Other Broadway credits include Little Women and Young Frankenstein, Shrek the Musical Violet, Shrek the Musical, Shrek the Musical, Violet, as well as Shrek the Musical. Foster was the lead in the ABC Family comedy-drama Bunheads, which ran from 2012 to 2013. She starred in TV Land’s comedy-drama Younger from 2015 to 2021.

Education and early life

Foster was born in Statesboro, Georgia on March 18, 1975 and was raised in Troy, Michigan. Foster was 15 when she appeared on Star Search, a reality show where contestants competed. She also auditioned to be part of The Mickey Mouse Club’s cast. After graduating from Troy High School, she received her diploma through correspondence courses. She then joined the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies under Tommy Tune. After completing her one-year at Carnegie Mellon University, she decided to pursue a full-time career in theatre. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by Ball State University in May 2012. This was “in recognition for her outstanding career as a performer and television producer, and her contributions to the education and professional development of Ball State students.” Hunter Foster, her older brother, is also an actor.

1995-2001: Early career

Foster was the Sandy Dumbrowski role in Grease 1995. She toured the country and then transferred to Broadway in 1996. Foster left to join the Broadway musical The Scarlet Pimpernel, where she starred in 1997. She returned to Annie as the Star to Be after the show closed. Foster was seen in What the World Needs now at the Old Globe Theatre in 1998. She then began touring with Les Miserables, as Eponine Thonardier. In 2000, she was the understudies for the same role at Broadway.

Foster quit Les Miserables in order to join Thoroughly Modern Millie’s pre-Broadway run at La Jolla Playhouse. Shortly after rehearsals started, Kristin Chenoweth, the original leading lady, was offered a series on television. Foster was replaced by Erin Dilly as Millie. Dilly was forced to quit the production after apparent conflicts between the creative team. Foster assumed the role of Millie Dilmount with only nine days to go before the first preview. Foster took over Millie Dilmount’s role during a hiatus, just nine days before Millie opened on Broadway. They perform a musical in the Summer episode about Stars Hollow’s history. In June 2016, she appeared on ABC’s game show Match Game. She has also appeared on Mad Dogs and The Good Wife.

She returned to Ball State in 2017 to direct the Department of Theatre and Dance’s Spring production of Shrek: The Musical.

She was a guest artist at the annual Christmas concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in December 2017.

Foster and Jonathan Groff performed a selection from various shows in December 2017. This is the “Live From Lincoln Center”, performance that was originally broadcast on PBS April 20, 2018.

Personal life

Foster met Christian Borle, an actor, in college. He was then married to Foster on September 18, 2006. They divorced in 2009. Foster and Borle are still friends. They continue to support one another’s work. Foster announced her engagement to Ted Griffin on September 19, 2013. Griffin and Foster were married on October 25, 2014. Foster and Griffin were married on October 25, 2014.

Foster, a self-described dog lover, has three dogs since her Broadway debut: Linus Mabel, Brody, and Brody.

She creates artwork that she sells online, and sometimes at art shows. Julien Havard is her visual artist. He was her dresser since Thoroughly Modern Millie began nine years ago.

Foster was diagnosed with COVID-19 in December 2021. She had to miss performances of The Music Man because she was positive. To stop the show’s closure, Foster was assisted by Kathy Voytko (swing).