Hunter Foster (born June 25, 1969) is an American musical theatre actor, singer, librettist, playwright and director.
Hunter Foster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 25, 1969 Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation(s) | Musical theatre actor, singer, librettist, playwright, director |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | |
| Family | Sutton Foster (sister) |
Career
editAfter 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
editFoster 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ "Little Shop of Horrors Tony Awards Info". BroadwayWorld.
- ^ a b Jones, Kenneth (January 9, 2008). "Dressing Them Up: Hunter Foster Will Be Molina in DC Spider Woman". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Simonson, Robert (July 2, 2008). "PLAYBILL.COM'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER With Hunter Foster". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "New Musical News". anmt.org. April 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "John Dewey to Lead Bucks County Playhouse's Hunter Foster-Helmed BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY". BroadwayWorld. June 8, 2016.
- ^ 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."
- ^ "Jennifer Cody & Hunter Foster". Broadway.com. February 9, 2006. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Hunter Foster". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Hunter Foster Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Daniels, Robert L. (November 29, 1997). "Review: Children of Eden". Variety. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Phillips, Michael (February 25, 2000). "'Martin,' Is That You?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (March 14, 2003). "Hunter Foster Sticks With Urinetown Til March 20; Pollock Joins March 21". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Deven May, Hunter Foster Join Earth Girls Are Easy Reading Sept. 30". Playbill. August 16, 2002. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (February 7, 2003). "Casting for Broadway Little Shop Confirmed: Hunter Foster and Alice Ripley Head Company". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (July 5, 2005). "Together Again, Tony Nominees Foster and Oscar Are The Producers on Broadway July 5". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (March 12, 2005). "Mister Roberts Begins Limited Engagement at Kennedy Center March 12". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Simonson, Robert (April 12, 2005). "Hunter Foster and Sarah Chalke Join Modern Orthodox April 12". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "The Producers: Hunter Foster to reprise his role as 'Leo Bloom'". New York Theatre Guide. January 23, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Saltz, Rachel (December 8, 2008). "Across a Class Divide, a Grudge Match Easily Festers Into Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Hunter Foster Completes the Cast of Lincoln Center Theater's Happiness". Broadway.com. January 13, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ PHOTO CALL: Into The Woods, with Leavel and Foster, Rehearses at Pittsburgh CLO
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (August 19, 2009). "Hunter Foster Is One of Four in NYC Premiere of Musical Ordinary Days". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (November 14, 2011). "Burning, Starring Hunter Foster and Stephen Tyrone Williams, Opens Off-Broadway Nov. 14". Playbill. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Stevens, Rob (May 14, 2012). "Review: Hands on a Hardbody". TheaterMania. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Peterson, Tyler (July 28, 2015). "Broadway Couple Hunter Foster & Jennifer Cody Will Lead SPAMALOT at Geva Theatre Center". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Music Man Muny