Life is a cabaret, and a musical, and artwork, and TV, and a CD for Sutton Foster

By Diana Nollen

Iowans are in for a rare treat.

Broadway star Sutton Foster, 35, is bringing her cabaret show to the intimate Temple Theatre in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m. May 13, 2010.

Foster shot to fame in 2002 in the title role in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” on Broadway. Her sparkling portrayal earned her every major award that year, including the Tony for best lead actress in a musical.

Now one of Broadway's hottest leading ladies, she has continued to dazzle audiences as Jo in “Little Women,” Janet Van De Graaff in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Inga in “Young Frankenstein” and Princess Fiona in “Shrek the Musical.” In April, she starred in “Anyone Can Whistle” in New York City Center's Encores concert series.

Her name also has been mentioned for an upcoming production of “Anything Goes,” still in talks for New York's Roundabout Theatre.

In between all of her stage roles, she creates and sells artwork, sings in concerts and benefits, teaches master classes, was seen in a recent episode of “Law & Order: SVU” starring Kathy Griffin and has recorded her first solo CD, “Wish.”

Her odyssey began in Georgia, where she discovered community theater. At age 13, her family moved to Troy, Mich.

She auditioned for “Star Search” at 15, but didn't make it past her first appearance.

Undaunted, she left high school to join a touring production of “The Will Rogers Follies,” directed by the legendary Tommy Tune, then finished school through a correspondence course.

She's never looked back.

More regional and touring shows followed. She moved to New York in 1996 and landed the role of Sandy in “Grease.”

Here are excerpts from a recent e-mail interview with The Gazette.

Q: Was it a hard decision to make - leaving school early to pursue theater? 

A: It was a no brainer for me to do the tour. I definitely wanted to perform, and the opportunity was one I couldn't pass up. But I did grow up very fast. I made a lot of my “growing up mistakes” in front of colleagues as opposed to fellow teenagers.

Q: What was your very first stage role as a child? 

A: I played Fan in “A Christmas Carol” when I was 9 I think. At the Augusta Community Theatre in Augusta, GA:

Q: When did you know you wanted to be an actress? 

A: I think I always WAS an actress :) I started dancing when I was 4, and then got involved in community theater when I was 9 and I just got bitten by the bug. I honestly never thought I could make a career out of it. I still can't believe that I get paid to do what I love. 

Q: Were you raised in an artistic household?

A: My mom loved the movies and music. But neither my mom or dad were involved in theater or acting. But they were both and are still very supportive and encouraging of my creative and artistic pursuits.  

Q: Were you and Hunter dramatic kids? (Older brother Hunter Foster also is a professional actor, singer and playwright.)

A: Oh yes. Hunter was always making movies with his friends. He also had a band called “Hunter Jackson and the Knights of Jam.” I was always making my friends dress up and do crazy stuff. 

Q: How did you first hone your craft? Did you take dance, piano, singing or other arts lessons as a child?

A: I started dancing at 4. I think mainly because I was such a spazzy, full-of-energy kid. And I really LOVED dancing. I remember taking piano, but only for a couple of years. Now I continue to study in New York.

Q: I saw you in “Young Frankenstein” (so much fun!) and can't wait to see your cabaret show in Des Moines. What will audiences see and hear in this show? 

A: In February 2009 I released a solo CD titled “Wish.” A lot of the concert features music from that CD, as well as highlights from all the shows I've done on Broadway - including “Young Frankenstein.” 

Q: Why did you decide to do a tour? 

A: In February 2009 when I released the CD I did a concert in New York at Lincoln Center as a part of their American Songbook Series. A producer friend of mine approached me about doing the concert around the country and I thought it was a great idea. Michael Rafter and I have been doing concerts since February. Currently I'm writing to you from Los Angeles where we have a concert tonight. It's been so wonderful to travel, and also to have the CD reach more people.

Q: When and where did it launch? 

A: Feb. 4 in St. Louis

Q: Do the venues vary much in size or are you working mostly intimate settings? 

A: Primarily intimate settings, between 200- and 700-seat theaters.

Q: It looks like you're putting several weeks between performances, rather than going to sleep in one city and waking up in another. Was this a deliberate choice to allow to time for other obligations or work between cabaret shows? 

A: Yes definitely. Michael Rafter and I have lots of other stuff going on in the city, so we wanted to be able to come back and forth.

Q: I also love the eclectic mix on “Wish.” “Sunshine on my Shoulders” was a real favorite from my high school years. How did you decide what songs to include in that CD?

A: I grew up listening to John Denver. I definitely wanted to include one of his songs on the album.

Q: What prompted you to cut a CD and what are you hoping to give to listeners? 

A: It's something that I always wanted to do. I was obsessed with Liz Callaway's solo CD “The Story Goes On,” and I dreamed of someday having a CD of my own. Michael and I began meeting once or twice a week and combing through songs and trying to put together basically our point of view through song. It took us about four years to come up with the song selections on the CD. I'm so proud of it. It's my proudest accomplishment and also my most personal.

Q:

You've played so many rich, luscious and/or fun characters on Broadway - any favorites?

A: Oh my. Probably Fiona in “Shrek.” I loved playing a bi-polar princess.

Q: Any you'd play again in a heartbeat?

A: I'd love to tackle Millie again, although I'm a little old for her now. But I'd love to be able to take all of the things I have learned and apply that to the character.

Q: Any particular roles you'd love to tackle someday?

A: Someday I would LOVE to play Mama Rose in “Gypsy.”

Q: We know you mostly as a musical theater ingénue, but you also took a terrific dramatic turn on “Law & Order: SVU” this season. Are you hoping to explore more dramatic roles on stage or screen?

A: Absolutely. I'm always up to any and all challenges. I'm always attracted to material. So if something crosses my path that looks fun and exciting I'll definitely go for it.

Q: What's the best piece of advice you've been given as you've carved out your career?

A: Don't be an asshole.

Q: Does life in the spotlight leave you time for a personal life?

A: It's definitely hard to balance it all. I love what I do and am a bit of a workaholic, but I think all things in life should be balanced. It's something I'm actively working on.

Q: What do you like to do to kick back and relax?

A: I LOVE spas - and I just recently bought a lake house. So that will be where I kick back and relax :)

Q: Your artwork is very cool and detailed - how does that reflect your personality?

A: I'm a bit colorful and whimsical, yet detailed and meticulous. I'm a mess of contradictions. :)

Q: What medium do you use and how long does it take to complete a drawing/painting?

A: It depends, but usually each piece takes weeks to months to complete. I'm a fan of pen/ink and also collage. I love exploring with paper and texture.

Q: The website doesn't list dimensions - do you have a basic size you typically work with?

A: Depends. Most of the ink drawings are 11 inches by 14 inches or so.

ARTS EXTRAInformation: www.civiccenter.org and www.suttonfoster.com

What: “An Evening with Sutton Foster”

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2010

Where: Temple Theatre, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines

Presented by: Civic Center of Greater Des Moines

Tickets: $40 at the Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, 1-(800) 745-3000 and www.civiccenter.org

Ticket lottery: Day-of-show lottery for selected seats begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at the Temple Theatre Ticket Office. Names drawn at 6:30 p.m. for $20 cash-only tickets, limit of two per person.