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Hunter Foster

Hunter Foster
Hunter Foster (left) in 2006, with
John Treacy Egan of The Producers
Born (1969-06-25) June 25, 1969 (age 55)
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Occupation(s)Musical theatre actor, singer, librettist, playwright, director
Years active1992–present
Spouse
(m. 1998)
FamilySutton Foster (sister)

Hunter Foster (born June 25, 1969) is an American musical theatre actor, singer, librettist, playwright and director.

Career

After touring in several shows and playing on Broadway, in 2001 he was cast in his breakthrough role of Bobby Strong in Urinetown, for which he received a Lucille Lortel Award and a nomination for an Outer Critics Circle Award. In 2003, Foster starred as Seymour in the Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, for which he received his first Tony Award nomination.[1]

Foster appeared as Leo Bloom in The Producers on Broadway, Ensign Pulver in Mister Roberts at the Kennedy Center, and Ben in Modern Orthodox off-Broadway. He also starred as Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.[2]

Foster's writing includes the libretto for an off-Broadway 2002 musical based on the motion picture Summer of '42 and writing an adaptation of the film Bonnie and Clyde with Urinetown co-star Rick Crom.[3] "Bonnie & Clyde: A Folktale" was workshopped in residency at the Academy for New Musical Theatre, through the ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund Fellowship, a Producer-Writer Initiative granted through the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.[4] Foster was one of the writers for Rosie O'Donnell's 2008 NBC series Rosie Live, which was cancelled after the first episode.

Foster played the role of music producer Sam Phillips in the musical Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre, which opened on April 11, 2010.[5] Foster then portrayed Richard Hoover in the musical Little Miss Sunshine at the La Jolla Playhouse until March 27, 2011. He appeared on the ABC Family show Bunheads as Scotty Sims, the brother of main character Michelle, who is portrayed by his real-life sister Sutton Foster. He originated the role of Bud in the musical The Bridges of Madison County in 2014.[6]

He has directed plays and musicals at the Bucks County Playhouse as well as at regional theaters. He directed Company in 2015 and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story in June 2016 at Bucks County Playhouse.[7]

Personal life

Foster is the older brother of actress Sutton Foster. He is married to actress and occasional co-star Jennifer Cody; they have lived in Teaneck, New Jersey.[8]

Stage credits

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1992 Cats Rum Tum Tugger US National Tour [9]
1994 Grease Roger; Danny u/s Broadway [10]
1997 King David Ensemble; Jonathan u/s; Absalom u/s Broadway [11]
Children of Eden Abel/Ham Regional [12]
1998 Les Misérables Joly; Marius u/s Broadway [11]
Footloose Bickle; Ren u/s Broadway [10]
1999 Martin Guerre Victor Broadway [13]
2001 Urinetown Bobby Strong (original) Off-Broadway [14]
Broadway
2002 Earth Girls Are Easy Mac Off-Broadway [15]
2003 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Broadway [16]
2004–2006 The Producers Leo Bloom Broadway & US Tour [17]
2005 Mister Roberts Ensign Pulver Regional [18]
Modern Orthodox Ben Off-Broadway [19]
2007 The Producers Leo Bloom Broadway [20]
Frankenstein – A New Musical Victor Frankenstein Off-Broadway [21]
2008 Kiss of the Spider Woman Luis Alberto Molina Regional [2]
Dust Zeke Off-Broadway [22]
2009 Happiness Stanley Off-Broadway [23]
Into the Woods The Baker Regional [24]
2010 Million Dollar Quartet Sam Phillips Broadway [5]
Ordinary Days Jason (original) Off-Broadway [25]
2011 Burning Performer Off-Broadway [26]
2012 Hands on a Hardbody Benny Perkins (original) Regional [27]
Broadway [28]
2014 The Bridges of Madison County Bud (original) Broadway [6]
2015 Spamalot King Arthur Regional [29]
2016 The Music Man Harold Hill Regional [30]

Awards and nominations

Year Award ceremony Category Show Result
2002 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actor Urinetown Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
2004 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Little Shop of Horrors Nominated
Tony Awards Best Actor in a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
2009 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Happiness Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Little Shop of Horrors Tony Awards Info". BroadwayWorld.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Kenneth (January 9, 2008). "Dressing Them Up: Hunter Foster Will Be Molina in DC Spider Woman". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Simonson, Robert (July 2, 2008). "PLAYBILL.COM'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER With Hunter Foster". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "New Musical News". anmt.org. April 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008.
  5. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (January 21, 2010). "Foster and Stanley Will Join Original Chicago Quartet for Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Hetrick, Adam (March 3, 2014). "Cast of Jason Robert Brown's The Bridges of Madison County Heads to the Recording Studio March 3". Playbill.
  7. ^ "John Dewey to Lead Bucks County Playhouse's Hunter Foster-Helmed BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY". BroadwayWorld. June 8, 2016.
  8. ^ Wong, Wayman. "The Leading Men: Hunter Green", Playbill, September 2, 2003. Accessed February 8, 2024. "Foster is married to Jennifer Cody (Urinetown, Taboo); the cute couple live in Teaneck, N.J., with Zach, their Yorkshire terrier."
  9. ^ "Jennifer Cody & Hunter Foster". Broadway.com. February 9, 2006. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Hunter Foster". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Hunter Foster Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  12. ^ Daniels, Robert L. (November 29, 1997). "Review: Children of Eden". Variety. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  13. ^ Phillips, Michael (February 25, 2000). "'Martin,' Is That You?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  14. ^ Jones, Kenneth (March 14, 2003). "Hunter Foster Sticks With Urinetown Til March 20; Pollock Joins March 21". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  15. ^ "Deven May, Hunter Foster Join Earth Girls Are Easy Reading Sept. 30". Playbill. August 16, 2002. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (February 7, 2003). "Casting for Broadway Little Shop Confirmed: Hunter Foster and Alice Ripley Head Company". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  17. ^ Jones, Kenneth (July 5, 2005). "Together Again, Tony Nominees Foster and Oscar Are The Producers on Broadway July 5". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  18. ^ Gans, Andrew (March 12, 2005). "Mister Roberts Begins Limited Engagement at Kennedy Center March 12". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  19. ^ Simonson, Robert (April 12, 2005). "Hunter Foster and Sarah Chalke Join Modern Orthodox April 12". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  20. ^ "The Producers: Hunter Foster to reprise his role as 'Leo Bloom'". New York Theatre Guide. January 23, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  21. ^ Jones, Kenneth (August 17, 2007). "The Doctor Is In! Hunter Foster Will Manage a Fresh Shop of Horrors in Frankenstein". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  22. ^ Saltz, Rachel (December 8, 2008). "Across a Class Divide, a Grudge Match Easily Festers Into Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  23. ^ "Hunter Foster Completes the Cast of Lincoln Center Theater's Happiness". Broadway.com. January 13, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  24. ^ PHOTO CALL: Into The Woods, with Leavel and Foster, Rehearses at Pittsburgh CLO
  25. ^ Jones, Kenneth (August 19, 2009). "Hunter Foster Is One of Four in NYC Premiere of Musical Ordinary Days". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  26. ^ Hetrick, Adam (November 14, 2011). "Burning, Starring Hunter Foster and Stephen Tyrone Williams, Opens Off-Broadway Nov. 14". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  27. ^ Stevens, Rob (May 14, 2012). "Review: Hands on a Hardbody". TheaterMania. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  28. ^ Ng, David (October 3, 2012). "'Hands on a Hardbody' sets March opening on Broadway". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  29. ^ Peterson, Tyler (July 28, 2015). "Broadway Couple Hunter Foster & Jennifer Cody Will Lead SPAMALOT at Geva Theatre Center". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  30. ^ Music Man Muny