Sutton Foster is one of the few performers whose name alone can still sell out a Broadway revival. From Thoroughly Modern Millie to The Music Man and Sweeney Todd, she has defined the past two decades of musical theatre. This long-form guide covers her Broadway shows, awards, legacy, and why she remains essential to the stage in 2025.
Why Sutton Foster matters on Broadway
Broadway has always had powerhouse leading ladies, but Sutton Foster’s career combines star power with longevity. She broke through in 2002 as Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie, a performance that won her first Tony Award. A decade later, she returned with Anything Goes and won again. Few actors maintain that kind of dominance across multiple eras, which is why she is frequently mentioned alongside names like Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald.
Complete Broadway credits
Here’s a breakdown of Foster’s Broadway career, including musicals, revivals, and awards:
| Year | Production | Role | Awards/Nominations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Grease | Sandy (replacement) | – |
| 1997 | Les Misérables | Eponine (replacement) | – |
| 1997 | Annie revival | Star-to-Be, understudy | – |
| 2000 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Ensemble | – |
| 2002 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Millie Dillmount | Tony Award for Best Actress |
| 2005 | Little Women | Jo March | Tony nomination |
| 2006 | The Drowsy Chaperone | Janet Van De Graaff | Tony nomination |
| 2007 | Young Frankenstein | Inga | – |
| 2008–2009 | Shrek The Musical | Princess Fiona | Tony nomination |
| 2011 | Anything Goes | Reno Sweeney | Tony Award for Best Actress |
| 2014 | Violet | Violet Karl | Tony nomination |
| 2022 | The Music Man | Marian Paroo | Tony nomination; Drama League Distinguished Performance Award |
| 2024 | Sweeney Todd | Mrs. Lovett | – |
| 2024 | Once Upon a Mattress (Encores/transfer) | Princess Winnifred | – |
Verified credits via IBDB and Playbill.
Awards and recognition
- 2002: Tony Award, Best Actress in a Musical (Thoroughly Modern Millie)
- 2011: Tony Award, Best Actress in a Musical (Anything Goes)
- 2022: Drama League Distinguished Performance Award (The Music Man)
- Multiple Tony nominations for Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone, Shrek The Musical, Violet, and The Music Man
Highlights of her career
Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002): Her breakthrough. Foster was famously plucked from the ensemble during out-of-town tryouts and turned into an overnight star. This Cinderella story is now a Broadway legend. Anything Goes (2011): A star vehicle that confirmed her mastery of Golden Age musical comedy. Foster’s Reno Sweeney was bold, brassy, and irresistible. The Music Man (2022): Co-starring with Hugh Jackman, Foster brought elegance and wit to Marian Paroo. Her performance earned a Drama League award and solidified her as a comeback queen post-pandemic. Sweeney Todd (2024): Her turn as Mrs. Lovett demonstrated she could tackle darker, grittier material. Opposite Aaron Tveit, the run was hailed as one of the year’s theatrical highlights.
Why Broadway still needs her
At 50, Foster is not stepping back — she is stepping into more varied roles. Her trajectory mirrors Broadway itself: evolving, resilient, and increasingly inclusive. While television (Younger, Bunheads) gave her mainstream visibility, her greatest artistic home remains the stage. Producers know casting Foster is still a guarantee of strong ticket sales, as shown by The Music Man revival’s box office dominance.
Frequently asked questions about Sutton Foster Broadway
She has won two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical — for Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Anything Goes (2011).
Her Broadway debut was in Grease in 1996 as Sandy, though her first major lead was in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002).
Her most famous Broadway roles include Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes, The Music Man, and Sweeney Todd.
Yes. She co-starred with Hugh Jackman in the 2022 Broadway revival of The Music Man.
