Career Timeline of Sutton Foster: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Sutton Foster built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Sutton Foster is a highly acclaimed American actress, renowned for her Broadway performances. She has twice won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, first in 2002 for Thoroughly Modern Millie and again in 2011 for Anything Goes, a role she reprised in London, earning an Olivier Award nomination. Her extensive Broadway credits include Grease, Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone, Shrek the Musical, and The Music Man. Foster has also starred in television, notably in the lead role of ABC Family's Bunheads (2012-2013) and the TV Land comedy-drama Younger (2015-2021).
1995: Touring in Grease
Throughout 1995, Sutton Foster toured in the role of Sandy Dumbrowski in the musical Grease.
1996: Broadway Debut in Grease
In 1996, Sutton Foster transferred to the Broadway production of Grease.
1997: The Scarlet Pimpernel
In 1997, Sutton Foster appeared in the ensemble of the Broadway musical The Scarlet Pimpernel.
1998: What the World Needs Now at the Old Globe Theatre
In 1998, Sutton Foster appeared in What the World Needs Now at the Old Globe Theatre.
2000: Understudy in Les Misérables
In 2000, Sutton Foster understudied the role of Eponine Thenardier in Les Misérables on Broadway.
2002: Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie
In 2002, Sutton Foster won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
2002: Broadway Opening of Thoroughly Modern Millie
In 2002, Thoroughly Modern Millie opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre to positive reviews, with Sutton Foster receiving praise for her performance.
2004: Departure from Thoroughly Modern Millie
In 2004, Sutton Foster left the Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. During the run, she appeared in concert versions of Chess and Funny Girl.
May 2005: Little Women on Broadway
In May 2005, Sutton Foster co-starred as Jo March in the musical adaptation of Little Women on Broadway, receiving a Tony Award nomination.
December 2005: Pre-Broadway Run of The Drowsy Chaperone
In December 2005, The Drowsy Chaperone had a pre-Broadway run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, featuring Sutton Foster.
May 2006: The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway
In May 2006, Sutton Foster returned to Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, playing Janet van de Graaff and earning a Tony nomination.
October 2007: Young Frankenstein on Broadway
In October 2007, Sutton Foster co-starred in Mel Brooks' musical adaptation of Young Frankenstein as Inga.
2007: Guest Starring Roles
In 2007, Sutton Foster guest-starred on Johnny and the Sprites and in Flight of the Conchords.
July 2008: Departure from Young Frankenstein
In July 2008, Sutton Foster left the Broadway production of Young Frankenstein.
December 14, 2008: Opening of Shrek the Musical
On December 14, 2008, Shrek the Musical opened on Broadway, with Sutton Foster playing Princess Fiona.
February 2009: Release of Wish
In February 2009, Sutton Foster's debut solo album, Wish, was released by Ghostlight Records.
June 2009: Reading of Bonnie and Clyde: A Folktale
In June 2009, Sutton Foster participated in a reading of Bonnie and Clyde: A Folktale.
January 3, 2010: Final Performance in Shrek the Musical
On January 3, 2010, Sutton Foster played her final performance as Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, which closed on Broadway.
January 2010: Master Class at NYU and Ball State
In January 2010, Sutton Foster began teaching a Spring Semester master class at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and taught a week-long master class session at Ball State University.
March 3, 2010: Guest Star on Law & Order: SVU
On March 3, 2010, Sutton Foster guest-starred in an episode of the NBC legal drama Law & Order: SVU.
July 23, 2010: Previews for Trust
On July 23, 2010, Sutton Foster's Off-Broadway debut in Paul Weitz's comedy Trust began previews.
August 30, 2010: Actors Fund Benefit Concert
On August 30, 2010, Sutton Foster and Seth Rudetsky participated in the Actors Fund benefit concert version of They're Playing Our Song.
September 12, 2010: Closing of Trust
On September 12, 2010, Sutton Foster's Off-Broadway debut in Paul Weitz's comedy Trust closed at Second Stage Theatre.
September 2010: Continued Relationship with Ball State
In September 2010, Sutton Foster continued her relationship with Ball State by working with students in the classroom, teaching master classes, and performing workshops.
September 2010: Concert Tour Begins
In September 2010, Sutton Foster's concert tour, An Evening With Sutton Foster, began, featuring songs from her Broadway career and solo album.
March 10, 2011: Anything Goes Broadway Revival - First Performance
On March 10, 2011, Sutton Foster started performances as Reno Sweeney in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
April 7, 2011: Anything Goes Broadway Revival - Official Opening
On April 7, 2011, the Broadway revival of Anything Goes officially opened, starring Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney. She won her third Outer Critics Circle Award, second Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award for her performance.
May 2011: End of Concert Tour
In May 2011, Sutton Foster's concert tour, An Evening With Sutton Foster, concluded.
2011: Tony Award for Anything Goes
In 2011, Sutton Foster won her second Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes.
March 11, 2012: Final Performance in Anything Goes
On March 11, 2012, Sutton Foster gave her final performance in Anything Goes and was replaced by Stephanie J. Block.
June 11, 2012: Premiere of Bunheads
On June 11, 2012, Bunheads, starring Sutton Foster, premiered on ABC Family.
October 2012: Performance at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals
In October 2012, Sutton Foster performed in the staged reading of The Circus in Winter at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals.
2012: Lead role in Bunheads
In 2012, Sutton Foster played the lead role in the ABC Family comedy-drama Bunheads.
2013: Guest Starred in Psych and Starred in Gravy
In 2013, Sutton Foster guest-starred in an episode of Psych and starred as Kerry in the film Gravy.
2013: Kennedy Center Honors Performance
In 2013, Sutton Foster performed at the Kennedy Center Honors for the tribute to Shirley MacLaine.
August 2014: Starred in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of the musical Violet
From March to August 2014, Sutton Foster starred in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of the musical Violet at the American Airlines Theatre and received her sixth Tony Award nomination.
January 13, 2015: Younger Release Date Delay
Originally set to be released on January 13, 2015, Sutton Foster announced a delay for the release of Younger during an interview on January 31, 2015.
March 31, 2015: Premiere of Younger
On March 31, 2015, the TV Land series Younger, starring Sutton Foster, premiered.
April 2015: Carnegie Hall Debut
In April 2015, Sutton Foster made her Carnegie Hall debut with guest appearances from Joshua Henry and Megan McGinnis as part of a new tour effort An Evening With Sutton Foster: Broadway In Concert, which continued through 2016.
July 2015: The Wild Party
In July 2015, Sutton Foster returned to Encores! to play Queenie in Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party.
2015: Stars in Younger
In 2015, Sutton Foster began starring in the TV Land comedy-drama Younger.
January 2016: Younger Season 2 Airs
In January 2016, the second season of Younger began airing.
June 2016: Appearance on Match Game
In June 2016, Sutton Foster appeared on the game show Match Game, broadcast on ABC.
July 2016: Filming of Younger Season 3
In July 2016, filming for season three of Younger began.
November 2, 2016: Sweet Charity Off-Broadway Revival
On November 2, 2016, Sutton Foster began previews for the Off-Broadway revival of Sweet Charity as Charity Hope Valentine at the Pershing Square Signature Center.
January 8, 2017: Sweet Charity Ended
On January 8, 2017, Sutton Foster concluded her run in the Off-Broadway revival of Sweet Charity at the Pershing Square Signature Center.
December 2017: Christmas Concerts with Mormon Tabernacle Choir
In December 2017, Sutton Foster performed as a guest artist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual Christmas concerts.
2017: Airing of Younger Season 4
In the summer of 2017, season 4 of Younger aired to positive reviews.
April 20, 2018: Live From Lincoln Center Concert Airs
On April 20, 2018, the concert featuring Sutton Foster and Jonathan Groff, which was recorded in December 2017, aired on PBS's "Live From Lincoln Center".
October 2021: London Theatre Debut in Anything Goes
In October 2021, Sutton Foster made her London theatre debut reprising her role as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre.
October 2021: Publication of Memoir Hooked
In October 2021, Sutton Foster published her memoir, Hooked, where she discusses using crafts to overcome challenges.
December 2021: Broadway Return in The Music Man
In December 2021, Sutton Foster returned to Broadway, starring as Marian Paroo in a revival of The Music Man opposite Hugh Jackman.
December 2021: Anything Goes Broadcast in UK Cinemas
In December 2021, the production of Anything Goes starring Sutton Foster was broadcast in UK cinemas.
2021: Anything Goes in London
In 2021, Sutton Foster reprised her role as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes for a production in London and received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
2022: Anything Goes Played at US Cinemas
In 2022, the recorded performance of Anything Goes also played at US cinemas, and later aired on the PBS series Great Performances.
January 15, 2023: The Music Man Final Performance
On January 15, 2023, The Music Man, starring Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman, played its final performance.
March 2023: Faculty at Ball State University
As of March 2023, Sutton Foster is on the faculty of Ball State University as an instructor of theatre, focusing on internships.
February 2024: Replaced Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd
In February 2024, Sutton Foster replaced Annaleigh Ashford in the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Mrs. Lovett.
May 2024: Once Upon a Mattress Transfer to Broadway
In May 2024, it was announced that the concert production of Once Upon a Mattress, in which Sutton Foster stars as Princess Winnifred, would transfer to Broadway's Hudson Theatre for a limited engagement lasting from July through November, followed by a four-week engagement in Los Angeles in December.
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