My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Review: OPENING NIGHT: AN EVENING WITH SUTTON FOSTER at MPAC Mayo Performing Arts Center

By:

Review: OPENING NIGHT: AN EVENING WITH SUTTON FOSTER at MPAC Mayo Performing Arts Center ImageFew people can bring a packed audience to the edge of their seats and keep them there with just a trio of musicians and a microphone. On Friday night, October 6th, I had the privilege of experiencing Sutton Foster cast a spell on the captivated audience at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown. Crooning songs old and new, the selections weaved and spun together perfectly.

I was struck by the range of her song choices, "The Nearness of You", which in my humble opinion is the most romantic song ever written, was sung with delicacy and care. The way she created a mash up of some broadway favorites; all so different yet so cohesive. I was particularly enthralled with her choice to sing "It All Fades Away" from the underrated musical Bridges of Madison County. A bittersweet song written for the male lead translated beautifully to a woman's voice.

I've been a Sutton Foster fan for quite some time. Back more than a decade ago when I was just a broke college student at NYU spending her last cent (and I do mean last) on a Broadway show called Thoroughly Modern Millie. I promised myself I would take advantage of all New York City had to offer even if that meant spending every last bit of my work study paycheck on expensive Broadway shows and concerts. Boy was it worth it. Sutton dazzled as Millie. She was a true revelation. I'm not the only one who felt that way, Sutton took home the first of her two Tony Awards for her portrayal of a small town girl in the big city. I spent the rest of the year pouring over the original cast album, studying every note, marveling at the memory of her flawlessly signing while feverishly tap dancing. Makes me winded just thinking about it! To this day I've only seen one other person dance and sing with such rigor and her name starts with a B and ends with a eyoncé. Yeah, I said it.

This concert felt like a full circle moment for me. Ending with a group of talented young actors and actresses singing one of my favorite Sutton Foster songs, "On My Way" mixed with "I'm On My Way" from the brilliant musical Violet. I was so moved to see her impact reaching into the next generation of performers. Students of the craft who undoubtedly spend hours and days listening to original cast albums, memorizing every note and every breath. Who may one day end up on the MPAC stage performing their own solo act for a bright-eyed kid who just spent their very last dollar on that ticket.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown, NJ offers a wide range of entertainment throughout their 2017-2018 season. You can visit their website for more information, their events calendar, and ticketing: https://www.mayoarts.org.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of MPAC

Reader Reviews

To post a comment, you must register and login.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Featured Performer in a Musical - Top 3
1. Ali Louis Bourzgui - The Lost Boys, A New Musical
18.7% of votes
2. Bryce Pinkham - Chess
10% of votes
3. Ben Levi Ross - Ragtime
6.8% of votes

Don't Miss a New Jersey News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


Monty Python's Spamalot in New Jersey Monty Python's Spamalot
Barn Theatre (5/15-6/06) PHOTOS VIDEOS
Not the Right Mom Written & Performed by Megan Dolan in New Jersey Not the Right Mom Written & Performed by Megan Dolan
Avenel Performing Arts Center (5/30-5/30) PHOTOS VIDEOS
Hey! I Heard You're Black in New Jersey Hey! I Heard You're Black
Unidentified Stages (6/05-6/06)
Girls Night: The Musical in New Jersey Girls Night: The Musical
Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center (8/07-8/07)
Great Ladies of Jazz in New Jersey Great Ladies of Jazz
Morven Musuem & Garden (6/19-6/19)
Grease the Musical in New Jersey Grease the Musical
Music Box at the Borgata (7/12-8/09)
MrBallen: Lights out Live in New Jersey MrBallen: Lights out Live
Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center (10/08-10/08)
Magical Mystery Doors Presents: Beatles/Zeppelin/Doors in New Jersey Magical Mystery Doors Presents: Beatles/Zeppelin/Doors
State Theatre New Jersey (5/29-5/29)
Alexis Morrast in New Jersey Alexis Morrast
Morris Museum (7/02-7/02)
Nat Adderley, Jr. Quartet in New Jersey Nat Adderley, Jr. Quartet
Morris Museum (6/20-6/20)