Sutton Foster News

Tony-winner Sutton Foster will depart the hit production of ANYTHING GOES on March 11th to begin filming ABC Family's new drama series BUNHEADS. Here's a look back at highlights, both on stage and in rehearsal!

It is a rare enough occurrence for a genuine born and bred Broadway star to emerge post-millennium, but one as astonishingly versatile as Raul Esparza, having scored accolades since his blazing debut in a string of hit plays and musicals, ranging from Mamet and Sondheim and Pinter to CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and his aforementioned Broadway bow in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, is a downright cause for celebration. Esparza makes his grand return to the Broadway stage in a musical with his upcoming starring role in Alan Menken & Glenn Slater's adaptation of the Steve Martin film LEAP OF FAITH, featuring a country and gospel influenced score and a spirited, energetic production by Christopher Ashley (who, incidentally, helmed Esparza's first Broadway show, ROCKY HORROR). While Esparza has been seen in many - most, if not quite all - Broadway seasons in the decade since 2001, he has also scored in leading roles in regional productions such as 2002's spectacular SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG revivals, part of the unprecedented Sondheim Celebration, as well as the Cincinnati Playhouse COMPANY, directed by John Doyle, which transferred to Broadway and was subsequently preserved on DVD and Blu-ray, in addition to being presented on PBS as part of Great Performances. Besides Esparza's many notable musical revival performances (lest we forget his essaying of the Emcee in CABARET), he also created the Broadway iterations of his roles in the controversial and brilliantly scored TABOO, produced by Rosie O'Donnell and composed by Boy George, as well as the stage adaptation of the hit family classic CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, as well as originating the lead role in TICK, TICK...BOOM! Having played three of Sondheim's most memorable male roles was not enough, though, apparently, for Esparza recently took on the part of the hapless Hapgood in Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE when it was revived at City Center's Encores! - with Tony-winners Donna Murphy and Sutton Foster his co-stars, no less - with much success. Yet, in one of a myriad of examples of the broad spectrum of Esparza's abilities, it is instructive to remember he first made a name for himself with the role of Che in an Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice show, directed by no less than the ultimate man of the theatre himself, Harold Prince - EVITA, which, of course, is being revived this season with Ricky Martin in the role of Che. Besides Esparza's many musical roles throughout the past decade and prior, he has also carved out a seriously impressive straight drama resume, having appeared in plays by the great playwrights of our age, such as Pinter (THE HOMECOMING), Mamet (SPEED-THE-PLOW), Stoppard (ARCADIA) and, the greatest of all, Shakespeare (AS YOU LIKE IT, part of Shakespeare In The Park). ROCKY HORROR to ARCADIA to, now, with LEAP OF FAITH, Esparza constantly and consistently surprises fans and audiences alike with his audacious choice in roles and electrifying performances that are indelibly enjoyable in their uniqueness, variety and sheer breadth of emotion - time and time again. Yes, indeed, Raul Esparza is the best of the best Broadway has to offer, so let us hope LEAP OF FAITH is the ideal star vehicle for one of the most charismatic and multi-talented leading men of the 21st century and that it brings him his well-deserved Best Actor Tony at last.

BroadwayWorld has just confirmed that Colin Donnell, who plays the role of 'Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, is currently out of the show to film a pilot. Bill English is filling in until he returns on April 3rd.

Jana Robbins and Craig Haffner will present industry-only staged readings presentations of The Jazz Age, a new play by Allan Knee (FINDING NEVERLAND, LITTLE WOMEN).

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers on March 18, 2012.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 15th and grand finale edition of The Broadway Bears, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by well-known designers.

Jana Robbins and Craig Haffner will present industry-only staged readings presentations of The Jazz Age, a new play by Allan Knee (FINDING NEVERLAND, LITTLE WOMEN).

According to TVGuide.com, actress Georgia Engel will appear as a guest star in an upcoming episode of CBS's TWO AND A HALF MEN.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced Thomas Mygatt will join the company on March 5th, 2012 as Director of Marketing & Sales Promotion.

Jana Robbins and Craig Haffner will present industry-only staged readings presentations of The Jazz Age, a new play by Allan Knee (FINDING NEVERLAND, LITTLE WOMEN).

Producers Andrew Asnes and Timothy Schmidt have announced the New York Premiere of the new musical comedy Rated P for Parenthood.

Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley was the special surprise guest at the Broadway Artists Alliance 2011 Winter Workshop. Ripley had a Q&A with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance. She surprised the students with a performance of her new single 'Beautiful Eyes,' and a song from Next to Normal.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: February 11-17.

All the excitement of the Broadway stage was broadcast into viewers' homes last night, as Broadway Week continued on LATE NIGHT WITH Jimmy Fallon (12:35 a.m. ET on NBC). Last night, Fallon featured Roundabout Theatre Company's 2011 Tony Award winning musical 'Anything Goes.' Sutton Foster took the 'Late Night' stage to sing a rousing selection from this saucy production set on the S.S. American. The show was the recipient of three 2011 Tony Awards including Best Revival and Best Actress in a Musical (Foster). Check out her performance on Fallon last night below!

On hand to celebrate Broadway with Fallon were 'Book of Mormon's' Tony-nominated actors Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad as well as William Shatner, currently starring in 'Shatner's World: We Just Live in It'. Click below to re-watch the funny!

ASKING FOR IT, a one-woman show by Joanna Rush, will play on Thursday, March 29 at 8:30 pm at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center as part of the Target® Free Thursdays program to mark Women's History Month. Admission is free.

Roundabout Theatre Company announced tonight that Stephanie J. Block will return as "Reno Sweeney" to the 2011 Tony® Award winning musical comedy Anything Goes on March 15, 2012, replacing Sutton Foster in the iconic role.

The supernatural power of love came to studio 6B Wednesday, February 22 when Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy, who will reprise their starring roles as Sam and Molly, which they originated in London's hit West End production stopped by to sing from the new musical!

Reprise Theatre Company presents "Seth Rudetsky's Deconstructing Broadway," a night of musical theatre stand-up comedy,for one performance only on Thursday, February 23at 8:00 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

Roundabout Theatre Company's Anything Goes will perform on NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" between 12:35AM-1:35AM tomorrow night. Tune in to see Sutton Foster and company members from Anything Goes perform the tap dancing finale of Act 1!