TV Alert - Sutton Foster

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 4/20/18 at 9:03pm

now on PBS "Live at Lincoln Center" in the great Northeast and elsewhere.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/20/18 at 9:08pm

Watching! Loved the opening medley.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 6:52am

Liked it but didn't love it.  For me, Sutton's strength is the personality that she infuses into her characters but in a concert, it's just one song into the next and we don't get the same amount of personality. Even though their banter was cheesy, I enjoyed the duet with Jonathan Groff the most.

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 06:52 AM

[theaterdarling]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 8:45am

DramaTeach said: "Liked it but didn't love it. For me, Sutton's strength is the personality that she infuses into her characters but in a concert, it's just one song into the next and we don't get the same amount of personality. Even though their banter was cheesy, I enjoyed the duet with Jonathan Groff the most."

My exact thoughts. As to the duet with JG, for me, they knew the banter was cheesy -- and watching them sell it was part of the fun. 

Am now reconsidering my purchase of tickets to see her with the Boston Pops in June. Giving consideration to the LFLC broadcast possibly being  a one-off in that her appeal just didn't translate to TV in this instance, can anyone who has seen her in a concert setting tell me it is well worth going?

[JBC3]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 9:37am

Love her, but this concert was good, not great.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 9:50am

I've seen her live before, and I do think this is how she comes across in concert. Others may disagree.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 10:02am

If you've got tickets to one of her upcoming symphony dates, this is nearly the identical show you're going to see.  I saw her a couple of weeks ago in Dallas and aside from Groff and Roberts, that was her show.

Her encore was Gimme, Gimme.  And while the audience loved it, I felt she's now employing a wide variety of vocal tricks to get the song out.  It's not balls-out belting like it used to be.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 10:08am

When was this originally recorded?  I saw her at Strathmore in 2013, and she sang some of the same songs, but I don't think it was everything she sang last night.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 10:22am

I saw her live a few years ago in Chicago and loved it - I "liked" this tv concert.  I felt a little confused that she "shared" her most famous songs, I mean a duet version of Gimme Gimme with the "other" singer doing the heavy lifting was odd.  It was still lovely to see her - and my gosh what a great dancer.  

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 10:46am

DottieD'Luscia said: "When was this originally recorded? I saw her at Strathmore in 2013, and she sang some of the same songs, but I don't think it was everything she sang last night."

It was recorded this past December I believe. 

I went to the Stephanie Block one in December and thought it was much better and more engaging. That's coming on in two weeks. 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 12:32pm

I've seen Sutton live before, too, and she's sensational and so charming. And this ''Stars in Concert'' focused rightfully on her vibrant vocals and song selections. Among her solos (of things I haven't heard her sing), my favorite was her beautiful version of ''It All Fades Away'' from Jason Robert Brown's ''The Bridges of Madison County.'' And Jonathan Groff was a great guest performer. Who would've ever guessed that they'd complement and compliment each other with ''Flattery'' from ''Whoop-Up,'' and then get a standing O for their fun tap duet of ''Fit as a Fiddle''?

Maybe Sutton had more patter at the actual Lincoln Center show (taped Dec. 21, 2017); I imagine it might've been edited from the broadcast. Frankly, I go to a concert (or cabaret) for the singing, not the talking. (I also usually hate those CDs where they've recorded all the patter between the songs.) If I had a quibble, I'd say that ''Gimme, Gimme'' works better as a solo, not mashed up with ''I Got Love'' from ''Purlie.'' And I would've loved to see Sutton do ''Show Off'' from ''The Drowsy Chaperone.'' Otherwise, brava to her!

Next up in this PBS Friday-night series: Leslie Odom (April 27), Stephanie J. Block (May 4) and Andrew Rannells (May 11).

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 12:32 PM

[TorontoBroadwayFan]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 2:45pm

KathyNYC2 said: "DottieD'Luscia said: "When was this originally recorded? I saw her at Strathmore in 2013, and she sang some of the same songs, but I don't think it was everything she sang last night."

It was recorded this pastDecember I believe.

I went to the Stephanie Blockone in December and thought it was much better and more engaging. That's coming on in two weeks."

 

I just saw Stephanie Block in Toronto a few weeks ago, she and Ramin Karimloo performed Broadway tunes with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She was a powerhouse. We gave her multiple standing ovations and her charisma was off the charts! I shall be sure to watch her special.

i just watched Sutton Foster’s concert. It was nice but I tend to agree with some on here that I wasn’t blown away. She is always a pleasure to hear from however IMO.

[LetTheSunshineIn2]

Posted: 4/21/18 at 8:54pm

I've seen Sutton in concert twice and this concert is very similar to what I saw both times.  She sings beautifully, but she doesn't entertain and engage her audience with stories in between songs the same way Laura Benanti, Audra McDonald or Kristin Chenoweth do as examples.  Love her and am always happy to listen to her sing, but she's not as strong in this type of setting as she is when she's playing a role.

Updated On: 4/21/18 at 08:54 PM