Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson - SUTTON FOSTER — on being a showgirl at 17 and mothering herself

Episode Date: April 1, 2025

Broadway powerhouse and “Younger” star Sutton Foster joins the show. Over a Parisian style omelet and nicoise salad, she tells me about starting her career with a lie, overcoming on-stage anxiety and growing up with an agoraphobic mother. This episode was recorded at Simonette at the Palihotel in Culver City, CA Want next week’s episode now? Subscribe to Dinner’s on Me PLUS. As a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, but you’ll also be able to listen completely ad-free! Just click “Try Free” at the top of the Dinner’s on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. A Sony Music Entertainment & A Kid Named Beckett production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Fizz loyalty program, you get rewarded just for having a mobile plan. You know, for texting and stuff. And if you're not getting rewards like extra data and dollars off with your mobile plan, you're not with Fizz. Switch today. Conditions apply. Details at fizz.ca. Hi Georgia. Hi David. What do you think the world needs more of? Well, the world always needs more podcasts.

Didn't you used to have a podcast? Not only did I used to have a podcast, Georgia, it's coming back. David Tennant does a podcast with. Season 3 is coming at ya. Okay, and who are your guests? Who are my guests? What about Russell T. Davis? What about Jamila Jamil? What about Stanley the Tooch Toochie? So it's really just you hanging out with your mates then?

Yeah. Come, join me. David Tennant does a podcast with. Bye. Hi, it's Jesse. Today on the show, we have one of the brightest Broadway stars of our generation from Thoroughly Modern Millie to Anything Goes, from the drowsy chaperone to Once Upon a Mattress, from Sweeney Todd to young Frankis. Okay, honestly, I could do this all day.

It's Broadway and television star and author Sutton Foster. I've always been a leaper. And my dad, when I was a kid, said I would leap into the pool, but I didn't know how to swim, so I would just, like, jump in and I'd be drowning. This is Dinners on Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. I remember the exact moment This is Dinners On Me, and I'm your host, Jussie Tyler Ferguson.

I remember the exact moment I met Sutton Foster. Now, she wasn't Sutton Foster, the Broadway icon, yet. She wasn't Sutton Foster, the two-time Tony Award winner, or Sutton Foster, the TV star. She was just my friend Hunter's sister. She was crashing in town on a break from the National Tour of Les Miserables, and she decided to help him out she was just my friend Hunter's sister. She was crashing in town on a break from the National Tour of Les Miserables, and she decided to help him out with a reading

of his new musical, The Summer of 42. She walked into the rehearsal room, I think I remember her wearing overalls and sensible shoes, but she had this energy, this effortless charm that instantly warmed the space. And then she opened her mouth and sang. And oh my God, I thought this girl is a star. Now Broadway fans know the rest of the story.

She went on to lead Thoroughly Modern Millie, won her first Tony, and cemented herself as one of the most beloved musical theater performers of our time. Watching her rise has been nothing short of exhilarating. And while she's conquered Broadway, television, and beyond, one thing has remained unchanged, the overalls and the sensible shoes.

And it's my favorite part of Sutton. Now, if you're someone who doesn't follow Broadway, which frankly I don't understand, you might know Sutton from her TV roles in Younger or Bunheads. Now, while preparing for this episode, I revisited her memoir, Hooked, How Crafting Saved My Life. It's brutally honest, deeply personal,

and absolutely worth reading, not just for Sutton fans, but for anyone who has ever faced anxiety or trauma. So when I heard she was in LA starring in Once Upon a Mattress with Michael Urie, another recent podcast guest, I knew we had to sit down and catch up over a meal. Hi! I'm so good. Let's sit me out and give you a hug without knocking anything. Oh my God, how are you? I'm great. So good to see you.

I brought Sutton Foster to Simonette in Culver City. It's this charming little all day cafe, bar, and bistro tucked inside the Pali house. Oh, and side note, I absolutely love the cafes and the Pali house properties. Simonette truly feels like a little slice of Paris right here in LA. The vibe is effortlessly cool. You can grab an espresso and a croissant in the morning,

enjoy a martini and oysters at happy hour, or settle in for some steak frites at dinner. They have an adorable vintage-inspired dining room and bar, and if you like to sit al fresco like we did, they have a really cute patio that's equally Instagrammable, if you care about those things, which I do. There's lush greenery and the walls are this gorgeous shade of blue. Perhaps cerulean? Devil Wears Prada reference, anyone?

Simunet has that warm and inviting energy that makes for great conversation. And trust me, Sutton and I have plenty to talk about. Okay, let's get to the conversation. I brought you yarn. You don't have to take it. Oh, I'm taking it. And I'm gonna make you something with it. Thanks for coming over here.

Oh, it's easy. Are you gonna do more things while you're on the side of town? No. You just came over for me? Yeah. Oh, it's easy. Are you gonna do more things while you're on the side of town? No. You just came over for me? Yeah. Oh, thanks. I think I'm gonna do an E-SWA salad actually.

Okay, I have to put on glasses because I can't see. Yeah, me same. When did that happen for you? Everyone, look, I can't even turn my phone off. Wait, can I see the font in your phone? No, I'm still normal. Oh, really?

Do you wanna see the font on mine? Yeah, are they real big? I don't think it's that big, but then people see it and they're like, oh, Jessie. Does that seem big to you? That's pretty big, yeah. Yeah, that's pretty big. But then the moment I changed it to this,

like if it's even a tiny bit smaller, I can't see it at all. I always wanted glasses. I always wanted to be the kid to wear glasses. So when I would get eye exams, I would sort of fake it a little bit in the hopes they would, and then I couldn't see because the glasses, I had like perfect vision.

And then when I turned- You actually got them to think that you had needed glasses? Oh, sure, because I really wanted to be the kid with glasses, but. That's so funny. Yeah, and then I was like, damn it, I can't see. And then when I turned 40, around 40, everyone's like, oh, your eyes are gonna go to shit. And then I was like, damn it, I can't see. And then when I turned 40, around 40,

everyone's like, oh, your eyes are gonna go to shit. And then they sort of, I was okay. And then it just, it was like a slow decline. And now I can't see in the morning at all. Like if I, or at night, I have to use glasses to read, like read a book or anything. And then there's sometimes I just, a menu, I'm like. Oh, well, I mean mean the menus are ridiculous now.

They're ridiculous, it's insulting. Hi. Hi. How are you? I think we just decided. What do you think? I'm gonna have the omelet. Omelet, good choice.

Can I also get a coffee? Of course, we can go for the omelet. Can I just, can I have a cappuccino? Cappuccino? Whole milk's okay? Yes, please. Whole milk's great. Got it. I'm gonna do an iced coffee with a little bit of milk. Whole milk's fine.

Sure. And I'm gonna do the nicoise salad, please. Got it. Can I also get some sparkling water? Of course, absolutely. Thank you. Of course. You're in town doing Once Upon a Mattress.

Yes, at the Amundsen. At the Amundsen. What's your normal like, while you're doing a show schedule? Cause you're also a mom, so I know that you have to get up early. I do, but my daughter's not with me yet. She'll get here late tonight, but I'll tomorrow. I'll be like, mom. Emily, right?

Emily, she's seven. Seven, okay. So I've had like 10 days, no dog, no child. Kind of nice. 50, 50. So it's sort of really nice cause I can sleep and I don't have any responsibilities. And I'm also like not in my apartment,

but I'm like super lonely and miss him like crazy. Of course, yeah, yeah, for sure. But when you're doing a show, do you like to sleep in and wake up when your body wakes you up? If I can. If you can, yeah. But I've sort of trained Emily, this is crazy,

to if it's a school day and I'm taking her to school, then she can't wake me up till seven. But even seven is like- That's when my kids wake up, yeah, and that's early. Did you put one of those lights in Emily's room that like turns green when she can get out of bed? I attempted it, but it was insulting. She was, it was like pouring hot acid on her face.

She was completely incensed by it. Really? Yes, she felt betrayed that there was something controlling her in the room. Oh man, it's so funny. Beckett, so my older son Beckett, Beckett really is a rule follower, so he really does pay attention to the green light,

but the minute, and he'll like sit on the edge of the bed waiting for it to turn green, but the minute it turns green, you just hear it in the whole house. It's green, it's green, it's green. It's really cute. Go, go, go. Yeah, and so now he's like trying to,

he's doing this thing where he like, we'll come out and see if he can like maybe get us to like let him come out earlier. We're like, no, we gotta like really stick with this, not until it's green. So now he's using the time, cause he wakes up like around 6.15. Now he's using that time to like just do things in his room.

But he's also started to get dressed himself, which is very cute. How old is he? He's four and a half. Oh, he's young. Wow, that's big. I know. Yeah, I know, it's really impressive.

But today he got dressed and he's put on seven shirts. Okay, what was his plan? I think he just thought it was funny. Okay. He's like, let's layer some looks. That's worthwhile. Yeah. Or he like-

Already going for the comedy. Right, truly. I appreciate that. Listen. Yeah. Whatever makes him happy. Yeah. Why I read your book when you brought,

when you sent it to me, a hoax. It's so good. Thanks. And I just love the early stories of you navigating your interest in musical theater. It's so relatable to me. And it's so similar to how I grew up. When did you grow up?

In Albuquerque, New Mexico. Okay. Was your family involved in the arts at all? No. Okay. Similar to yours. Yeah. Although it sounds like your mom was really super supportive of you and your brother.

She was, but my mom and I had a very complicated relationship, but, and in many ways, I think my mom was living out her unrealized dreams through her children. So for many years, I was, I didn't even know if it was my own dream or hers, even though I was, I didn't even know if it was my own dream or hers. Even though I was too young to know. But she was incredibly supportive and loved it. And when she was young, she wanted to be a model.

She was really beautiful. And her father was like, absolutely not. So she eloped to marry my dad when she was 19 years old. And she's so crazy. I know. Can you imagine now? First of all, I can't, I don't even remember who I was dating when I was 19.

Let alone like being married to them. I was like, what? But yeah, so they got married and had my brother when I think she was 21 and then had me at 27. That's crazy. I know. I was like, what was my mom doing when she was 50? Do you ever do the math too?

Like, cause I, so my mom, my mom passed away a few weeks ago, which is why you're getting all this yarn because I was cleaning out her place and she has all this yarn. Yeah. Oh, Jesse, I'm so sorry. Thank you.

Thank you. I appreciate it. But I've been doing the math a lot. Like what was she doing when she was 50? It's very humbling because I feel like I've been afforded such a wonderful life to do so many things that I never dreamed I would be able to do.

And seeing how like, she was a registered RN and seeing how like little she made and how much she did with that. And I don't know, I found it very moving that she obviously did things to the best of how she could do them with what she was given, but also just so grateful that, I don't know that I've been able to forge my own path

without my history sort of telling me where that's gonna be. It's a brave, blazing trail. My mom didn't work and my dad, he worked for Chevrolet and I think he made like $46,000 a year. And they always gave us like this huge blowout for Christmas and I'm like, how did they do it? They do it.

I know, I know. Your kid, so your oldest is four and then your youngest. Youngest just turned two in November. Amazing. Is Beckett in pre-care? He's gonna be in kindergarten in the fall. So this was the thing I just wasn't prepared for is that your entire life is scheduled

around your child's school. Yes. Do you think that there's a spark in her to do this? To be an actress? She definitely has an interest in creative arts. She loves to sing. She definitely has an interest in creative arts. She loves to sing. She loves to write. Like her dad's a writer too.

So she like is really creative and she loves to write and create stories. She loves to come with me to the theater. So when I was doing Mattress in New York, she would spend Saturday matinees with me at the theater. And like, as soon as the show would start, she was like, turn it up, mommy, turn it up. And she didn't want to see it again.

She just wanted to listen to it. It was really sweet. You talk about your mom in your book so much about the struggles that she had with mental health and, is my saying this right, agoraphobia? Oh yeah, agoraphobia. Yeah, I think. Agoraphobia? That's what I. Yeah, agoraphobia. Agoraphobia.

That's what I always say, but I don't know. I can only imagine how difficult that must have been. You know, as a kid, what's fascinating to me is that as a kid, it gradually got worse as I grew up. But as a kid, it was all I knew. I think that my mom only knew what she knew. And I didn't know like, oh, my mom doesn't have any friends or oh, they never go out or they never,

people never come over. She didn't work, she was a stay at home mom, you know, but she didn't have a life beyond that. But I didn't know that that was. Not normal. Not quote normal. I just didn't know. I mean, my parents didn't have a lot of friends too

when I really think about it, but like they had a few. But like I never had a babysitter, like ever. And when I was younger, like she would come and see stuff at school. But then as I got older, it just gradually got worse and worse. And again, I didn't really know. And my mom never got help.

And I think that's the thing that makes me the most sad is like she never got help. And maybe if that generation, she didn't know she could. Excuse me. Yeah. Yes, thank you. Virtual omelet. Thank you, that looks awesome.

Thank you. It's perfect, I'm so excited. And then it's wasabi. Thank you. Gorgeous. Thank you. Anything else I can get you? This is good right now.

This is great, thank you. Thank you so much for having me come out. I don't go out much, so this is really nice. I know you don't. I actually do know that. I don't go out at all, so this is a big deal. Thank you. That's so funny.

I love that you know that. No, I do know that. I've always known that about you. But it's funny, and it's being the daughter of an agoraphobic, that's really interesting. But you're not, but you're, I mean, you. I live such a public life. What's fascinating to me is that I've chosen a career

where I am so out in the world, and I live in a city where you can't. You can't disappear. You can't disappear, even though I have tendencies. I'm a bit of a hermit, I'm a bit of a loner. Like, I love my home, but I'm aware of that. I go, ooh, okay, I'm a bit of a hermit, I'm a bit of a loner, like I love my home, but I'm aware of that. I go, ooh, okay, I gotta be careful here.

I gotta make sure I'm like of the world. I think being a stage actor, I think a lot of people don't understand how demanding that is. They look at it as, oh, you work for two hours a night. I mean, that's really not the case. It's a 24 hour job. The realities of being almost 50, I'm not 25 anymore.

And I'm running around like a crazy lady. And it's incredibly physical and demanding. And there's a lot of pressure of being on the poster. And I don't think of myself that way, but I go, oh, wow, yeah, people are expecting me to be there and to show up. But I go, oh, wow, yeah, people are expecting me to be there and to show up. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Sutton tells me how her career started

with a lie, okay, a white lie, and skipping senior year of high school to become a show girl. Okay, be right back. I don't know about you, but when I was a kid, one of my favorite errands was going to the deli counter with my parents. I'd press my nose against the glass, watching as they sliced the perfect cut of turkey or ham.

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to take a moment and breathe. Learn more about the all new Nissan Murano at NissanUSA.com. Panoramic moonroof, ambient lighting, and massaging leather-appointed seats are optional features. And we're back with more Dinners on Me. How do you, you know, have this career that you have and still be present in the world? Yeah, still be a mom, you know.

My mom really did instill the importance of independence. She raised me to be an independent, career driven person. And I think I've just latched onto that for so many years and it's served me very well. I mean, I feel so grateful and lucky. And then as I head into like the second half of my life. Yeah, yeah, act two. I know.

It's sort of taking this opportunity to really evaluate like how I want to spend my time and what like really excites me and just evaluating the balance and just making sure I'm choosing, everything that I'm choosing is something I really, really want to do and that is worthwhile. Well, I mean, it's also when the first 50 years

of someone's life are as full as I think yours and mine have gotten to be, you know, it is sort of that thing of like, okay, how you, one of the questions is like, how do I top that? But also, and how do I maintain that? But also like, how do I grow as a person and not just spin the wheels and do the same things over and over?

Which is, you know, maybe why you had such a crazy year last year. I mean, you were doing Once Upon a Mattress at City Center Enchores. And while you were doing that, you were rehearsing one of the most difficult roles in all of musical theater, Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd. Went right into that. I don't know how you did that.

Like literally you finished Once Upon a Mattress and then when you were performing like the next Monday or Tuesday, and then you started Once Upon a Mattress again. You know, those opportunities aren't gonna come along again. And here they are, they're being presented to you at the same time and it's not convenient. I remember just thinking, God, the resilience that you had

to get through that and then do it so, what seemed so effortlessly when I watched you was really remarkable. But I mean, I find the way you entered into, you know, being a professional musical theater actor, so fascinating because it happened so young. It started with deceit. You were, you were,

you lied about your age. Yes, I lied about my age. It was on the national tour of Will Rogers Follies. And they were looking for people. You had to be at least 18. And you would just turn 17. So you lied about your age. My mom, my mom told me to lie.

But you left high school to do it. I did. It's so crazy. I was 17 and just watched it on the Tony Awards. It was the year that it was Will Rogers. I remember Miss Saigon and Will Rogers Follies. Secret Garden, once on the silent. And Will Rogers Follies. I remember watching the Tonys and being like,

Miss Saigon's gonna win. Yeah, absolutely. And then Will Rogers Follies won. But I remember watching Will Rogers Follies perform. And they had that great number with the hats. Yes, they had these tambourine hats and girls with like powder puffs on their boobs. But there were like 18 girls and they all looked, they were all like really tall, big

teeth. Follies girls. They were Follies, you know, sick called Follies girls. And I was like, that looks like me. Because I was really tall and I had big teeth. And I thought I could do that. And about like two months later, less than that, there was an article in the Detroit Free Press.

They were looking for girls for the national tour of Will Rogers' Follies. And I was like, why would they come here? I was like, it can't be the same thing that I just saw on my TV. Right. It is interesting that they were going there. They ended up doing, very smartly so,

they sought girls all over the country. So they went to Detroit, they went to Chicago, they went to Vegas, so that when we went to the local hometowns, there was a hometown girl. That's actually really smart. Right? So I saw the thing in the paper, and my mom's like, you should audition.

And I was like, but it says you have to be 18. And she's like, well, tell them you'll be 18 on your next birthday. I was like, okay. So my mom and dad drove me down to the Fisher Theater in downtown Detroit. There were like, I don't know, 50 girls or so from local area. And we all danced on the stage and we had to sing. And Jeff Calhoun was there, who was Tommy Toon's associate. And he came up to me and he's like, how old are you? And I said, I'll be 18 on my next birthday. And he's like, keep tapping.

We'll see you in New York. And of course I'm like, what does that mean? I had never auditioned, you know, it was crazy. And then they called me in for a call back in New York City. It was a two-day audition. And then they called me in for a callback in New York City. It was a two day audition and we did the audition on the stairs. I was 17. Had you taken like professional tap classes?

I had, at Juliana's Academy of Dance in Detroit, Michigan, and did tap and jazz ballet and all of that stuff and did competitions. So I had danced my whole life, but I'd never done anything like this. And then the next day we sang. And then at the all of that stuff and did competitions. So I had danced my whole life, but I'd never done anything like this. Then the next day we sang and then at the end of that day, they literally chorus line style.

There were 25 girls left. They kept making cuts and the thing that I will remember is that for some reason, my name was the last name on the list. So they would list the names and then they would go and Sutton Foster. And I'd, cause I'd have to wait to see if I made the cut. And I would, and my name would be the last name.

I'd be like, oh my God. So they lined us all up and they made one final cut. And then Tommy Toons like, congratulations. You're the Follies girl of the national tour. All I could think of was, I got to tell my parents, I'm like, what do I do? I was like, I just got this thing.

I'm just standing there looking around at everybody going, holy shit, now what? Yeah. Then I was on tour. I spent my senior year of high school on tour, and we had to ask my principal for permission to leave and I finished it. You weren't at a performing arts school, right?

No, I was at a public school in Troy, Michigan, Troy High School. So on tour, I would go to like local schools and I would talk about my experience and I would get credit and then I would read plays and write essays. Oh my gosh. That's how I graduated high school. That's wild. Yeah.

I do, you talk about it in your book and the Will Rogers fight was a bit of a traumatizing experience for you. You know, you felt like you really couldn't connect with any of the other girls, partly maybe because of your age difference. I was so young. And I was also a young 17.

Yeah. And I don't blame anybody. I was so young and I was also a young 17. Yeah. I don't blame anybody. I was young and eager and naive and energetic and obnoxious and I'd never lived on my own. I had never done a professional job and I just had a really hard time fitting in. Do you ever like zoom out and think about like that's actually asking a lot of a 17 year old

to be a part of a national tour and live that life and be away from your family and friends. And also think about it too. I was a 17 year old suddenly thrust into a world of being a show girl where I am sexualized, being ogled by men, literally wearing horns on my head and swinging a tail. And I was around grown adult women and I was a kid.

So it was- Did anyone ever find out that you were as young as you were? Or did you? Yeah, I mean, eventually. And I even go back and I go, like, what is the age when you're allowed to like be on your own? Like I probably should have had

some type of parental support. I felt very alone and isolated and I had no other contemporary. I was reading Sweet Valley High and like Teen Beat. Right, yeah. And I mean, you tell in your book a story that is so relatable to me because I've suffered panic attacks, but having your first panic attack

and not really knowing what that was. No, I didn't know what was going on. And see, that's the other thing you think about. I have perspective on it now. I can look back and go, oh, my mom had mental illness. And in many ways, I thought something was wrong with me. Everything became so overwhelming, and I did not have the vocabulary or the tools

to talk about it, identify it, ask for help. I literally imploded. And in my 20s, I struggled a lot with anxiety, panic attacks, and I still struggle with it. It's not like it goes away. But one of the things I hope I can do as a mom is create an environment where all feelings are welcome. She's allowed to be angry, sad, mad, whatever it is, and that there's no shame, there's no shutting down.

And I think I didn't grow up in a house that was like that. I grew up in a house that was like that. I grew up in a house where I felt like the only feeling I could have was be happy, keep smiling. And so when you're faced with that, and then all of a sudden you're like, I don't know what these other things are, and then you can't process it, and it just shows up.

And for me, it showed up in a massive panic attack that happened on stage. And I started crying and couldn't stop and didn't know what was happening and really didn't understand what had happened until many years later. Yeah, yeah. And I felt enormous shame and embarrassment.

And I really kind of shut down after that. Do you feel like the community, the Broadway community, was in any way sort of responsible for helping you... Isn't that funny? Figure yourself out at that age? Or was this work that you did have to do on your own? I'm grateful for my mother in so many ways because she really taught me independence, drive, ambition, but she wasn't there.

And I really see it now as a parent. So I go, oh, wow. And essentially, I've had to become my own parent. Even more true now as I'm a mother. I'm mothering myself at the same time. Because every night when I put my daughter to bed, I say, I love you, I'm so proud of you.

So now I say that to myself. So I look at myself in the mirror and I go, I love you, I am so proud of you. All of a sudden. I love that. Essentially, it's all self-love. Can you dare to love yourself as much as you love your children? It's really powerful. And I was like, what?

Like, the concept of it was new to me. And I was like, I don't even know what that means. And so I like look at myself in the eyes and I'm like, all right. Can I love myself more than anything? Because essentially, that's what we all want, right? We wanna be loved and finding that sort of no matter what, I am so proud, I'm so proud of myself. You should be, yeah.

You've had some major milestones in your career, but like the big one, I think that most people would love to talk about is of course, the early modern Millie, which came to you in an interesting way. Originally you were the understudy or standby? Understudy. And then out of town were bumped up to take over the role.

Yeah. Yeah, you came in and you brought that show into New York, it was a huge hit. You won the Tony Award for best actress. I mean, what are your reflections on that time? You know, first of all, I mean, it must have been somewhat difficult to step into a role that was being played by someone else.

Yes, I had auditioned for the role. I went in maybe five or six times, and I remember having a conversation with my agent, and he's like, it didn't go your way. And I said, do they need an understudy? And he's like, let me ask. And then he called back like five minutes later, and he's like, they do, the understudy? And he's like, let me ask. And then he called back like five minutes later and he's like, they do an understudy.

I was like, great, I'll do it. And I was really excited about it. And I loved being in La Jolla. I wanted to be a part of something new. And I thought it was so awesome. I loved watching Erin Dilley. So Erin grew up in Detroit, Michigan. And I was like obsessed with her because she was so brilliant. And so I was just like thrilled to be able to be a part of

it and watch her. And I always look back at that time, I wasn't there with the bag of marbles trying to take someone down. It was like a fever dream. If I, it all happened, she got sick and I stepped in and I was rehearsing for her for a couple of days and at the end of the week, I got a call from Michael Mayer, who was the director and I was preparing to like go back into the ensemble and like, you know, we were heading into tech and he called me and he's like,

Aaron's leaving the show and the role of Millie is yours if you want it. And I just remember bursting into tears because I was so confused. And I think my first question was, is Aaron okay? And I remember sitting with Aaron that day. I went to go see her and I was on her couch and I was like sobbing because I was so scared and I was also didn't know what was happening. And how old were you at this time? I was on her couch and I was like sobbing because I was so scared and I also didn't know what was happening.

And how old were you at this time? I was 25. Wow, yeah. And I wanted to make sure she was all right. And then the next thing I know, I was in like a costume fitting, crying, and then we had to go tell the company and like the company was a little bit like,

what the fuck is happening? And they all kind of were like, and then they all made a decision collectively to rally behind me. And I was just this sort of green scared kid who was suddenly thrust into this position. We opened the show out of town and then they asked me to take it to New York. A lot of it's like, it's a blur.

What was crazy about that time is that it was, not only was it my first show, it was like everybody's first show. Yeah. Everyone was flying by the seat of their pants. No one knew what they were doing. Yeah. But I remember when we opened in New York, because we got mixed reviews, everybody's first show. Everyone was flying by the seat of their pants. No one knew what they were doing. But I remember when we opened in New York,

cause we got mixed reviews and I just remember thinking, oh no, I've let everybody down. And I didn't realize that that was like the first time. I was so naive. I didn't realize, oh shit, 11 million dollars is like on my shoulders. I had no idea. My memory thinks it was just, it was a huge hit.

It ended up being a huge hit, but it wasn't initially received well by the critics, but the audiences loved it. So it like, it was exactly what it was supposed to be. And it changed my life. It really did. You know, one phone call changed the trajectory of my career. And, but I was also, I look back at that time and I go,

don't you think that careers are opportunities. It's a little bit of luck, but it's also preparation. So, I'm ready. Well, your job is to be ready. I was understudied, you know? So it was, I was- It's literally the definition. Yeah, you have to be ready. You have to be ready. I was understudied, you know? So it was... It's literally the definition. Yeah, you have to be ready.

You have to be ready. I agree with everything you're saying. The difference is sometimes people, when they're doing that leap, they really leap. And sometimes people just like tentatively leap. And I think really taking the leap and be like, I'm going to either fall really hard or fly. I think that's the difference is just the bravery to like actually leap with both feet.

I've always been a leaper. And my dad, when I was a kid, said I would leap into the pool, but I didn't know how to swim. So I would just like jump in and I'd be drowning. Great analogy. Yeah, there's not this part of me that's going, oh no, oh no, what if, what if, what if? I'm like, I'm like, what if, you know?

And I figure it out as I go. It's also that thing that you were just talking about, about having faith in yourself and like looking in the mirror and saying, I love you and you're fantastic, knowing that you can do it. And like, whether or not you really can, you have to have that faith that you can. Yeah, yeah.

And I think that's so important. I think that's also what gives someone the bravery to jump with both feet and make the decision as they're in the air. And exactly, and also knowing that no matter what, if you crash and burn or if you fly, you're okay. There's lessons everywhere and there are always opportunities in everything.

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, Sutton tells me about her big TV break with Amy Sherman-Paladino's series Bunheads, and she reveals a hilarious mix-up she had with comedy legend Carol Burnett. Okay, be right back. Vacation season is nearly upon us, and this year, I'm treating myself to luxe upgrades that I deserve with Quince's high-quality travel essentials at fair prices. Think lightweight loungewear that's perfect for those long-haul flights, or premium luggage

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to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com slash JTF. Hi, Georgia. Hi, David. What do you think the world needs more of? Well, the world always needs more podcasts. Didn't you used to have a podcast? Not only did I used to have a podcast, Georgia,

it's coming back. David Tennant does a podcast with season three is coming at you. OK, and who are your guests? Who are my guests? What about Russell T. Davis? What about Jamila Jamil? What about Stanley the Tooch Toochie? So it's really just you hanging out with your guests? Who are my guests? What about Russell T. Davis? What about Jamila Jamil? What about Stanley the Tooch Toochie? So it's really just you hanging out with your mates then?

Yeah. Come join me. David Tennant does a podcast with. Bye. And we're back with more Dinners on Me. How was it for you? Because I mean, we sort of also had the same thing happen to us where we were doing work on stage

and then we got plucked out and put into- TV. Very high profile TV jobs. Yeah. You got to do bunheads in Younger, which were both so great. What was that transition like for you? Was it something that you were intimidated by or- I'd be curious to know your experience too.

I wasn't anything that I was seeking. I don't know. Same, I wasn't seeking it. Yeah and I was like, I'm a theater. I still feel like I'm just visiting LA to this day. I know because people are like, people ask me, do you want to do more TV? I'm like, well sure if someone wants to. But I was such a Gilmore Girls fan. Right, same thing as Gilmore Girls, yep. So, yes, so when Bunheads came my way, I just read the script and I'm like, oh my God, this is incredible.

And it was Amy Sherman-Paladino who I was obsessed with from Gilmore and it was about dance. And I went, oh, this is like a perfect fit. But I had never done, I had done like little tiny, but maybe a day player. I think I had done SVU. Yeah, yeah. I didn't know how to read a call sheet.

I didn't know, I didn't understand anything. But what was great is because of Amy, and she knew I had a theater background, I felt very taken care of. And then I would just start asking people questions. I'm like, what's that? What's that? And then when I got, then when Younger happened.

How did that come to you? Cause Darren Starr, right? It was Darren Starr, who was also a big theater fan. Yes. And I remember reading the script in my kitchen and I think I was 39, I was on the verge of turning 40. And I read it and I was like, oh my gosh, I could do this.

Cause it was about a woman trying to pretend she was much younger than she was. And I was like, oh, and Darren Starr. So that was seven seasons. And that I felt like, was like, I went to college and then grad school. And every season I learned more and more and more about how to be on a set, how to be on camera,

how to like learn lines, how to learn lines, and how to handle a character that grows. We play characters that do the same thing every single night, and then suddenly I'm on a journey. So there were things about TV that I absolutely loved. There's a thing in TV too, where you have to leap. You have to be strong and wrong.

I always talk about this. You also have to make decisions on the fly, and then you're tied into those decisions. Exactly. Which is what's really scary. I love a rehearsal process where I could try something one day. Like that did not work.

We're gonna try this thing this day. I just did a guest spot on Max Muchnick's new TV series. And I took a big swing with the, with the character. And it's like, well, now this is what I'm tied into. And like, okay, here we go. Hopefully this works. And I didn't realize that, but what's been interesting then coming back to theater is that I feel like

I've taken those big swings, big leaps to theater. So like even with Mattress or Sweeney, I was like leaping in with big swings, big leaps to theater. So like even with Mattress or Sweeney, I was like leaping in with big choices, big decision, because there's no time. There's no time for you to be like, I'm scared, I don't wanna do it. I guess everyone, literally everyone's staring at you with cups of coffee going, hurry the fuck up.

Make the day. Make the day. In your book, in one of the early chapters, you talk about Carol Burnett being such an inspiration of yours and how you took a lot of the rules of her comedy and some of your early roles and you discovered that, if you fall down, you can get a laugh, even as a kid. And this book was written before you knew

that you were gonna be doing- Yeah, and before I was doing Mattress. Mattress. I mean, talk to me. You have met her, I know, because I saw you guys did a photo shoot together. And I met her. I've met her a few times and I was brave enough on the last Emmy Awards. I approached her and had a bit of a conversation with her. And the first thing I asked is, I was like, what can I do to keep the conversation going?

So we started talking about you in Once Upon a Mattress and she just lit up and she's like, I love her, I've met her, I haven't seen this show yet, I'm gonna see it when it comes to LA. Talk to me about what it's meant for you to have that relationship with her. And as she's coming, I think she is gonna come at some point. She is, yeah.

Do you know when she's coming? I want to know because I want to know that I'm performing on stage and that my idol is in the audience. In a role that she created. Yeah. And even though my head may explode, I wanna have that experience.

I always wanna know too. She just texted me, it cracks me up. I have her number and she texts me, but every time she texts me, she goes, it's Carol. And I'm like, I know And I'm like, I know. I'm like, I know. And she always signs it, love Carol.

Like it's just the greatest thing. Oh, I have another like crazy story too. The side story. She sent me flowers for opening night here. And it was a weird card and I didn't know they were from her, but it said, it said, happy birthday D,

you're the best, love ya C. And I was like, I was like, I don't know what this is. This is obviously wrong. And so Julian, my dress, long-time dresser, calls the florist and the florist says, oh, they're from Carol Burnett. But we're like, this says happy birthday. And then Michael Urie comes in and we show it to him.

He goes, you got Dick Van Dyke's card. Cause it was Dick Van Dyke's birthday. And I bet you she said- How did he know all this? I don't know. Cause he was like, it's Dick Van Dyke's birthday. And he's like, I bet you Carol sent Dick Van Dyke flowers. This is the story we've created.

Yeah, yeah. He got opening night flowers for Sutton. He got happy opening Sutton. I love Carol. That's incredible. I know, so cool. So I grew up watching the Carol Burnett show. And so the story I've created in my mind

was that the Carol Burnett show was on in tandem with the Muppet show. And I would watch them like back to back. And so I think I'm part Carol Burnett show was on in tandem with the Muppet show. And I would watch them like back to back. And so I think I'm part Carol Burnett, part Muppet. That's actually a really accurate... It's kind of it. It's kind of perfect. Yeah, kind of it.

And so what I really remember about the Carol Burnett show, and even as I watch it, I've watched it later in life, it was the ensemble. So it wasn't just Carol Burnett. It was a brilliant ensemble. Like Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, and Carol Burnett. Like those, the four of them and how they worked together and how they played off each other and how they supported, how generous they were. So yes, it was Carol, but it was like,

it wasn't just her. They were creating magic together. It was magic. And I think there was something that imprinted. So it's, I have been very attracted to ensemble things. And like, Mattress is very much that. It's an ensemble of players that we are always throwing the ball to each other.

It's full of generosity and play and fun, and it's never about one person. And so I think that really landed with me with her. And being able to talk to her meet her She's your friend. I have a friend now. Yeah Just say hi and not have to tell me that it's her but it is it is it's incredible because like I'm still the I'm still the 15 year old kid in the beanbag you You know that I'm sure you're aware of this there is a

Children's book the the A through Z of Broadway. Yes. Broadway Divas. Yes. And you know your S. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yes, of course. But it's a book that's, it's Audra McDonald, it's Shirley MacLaine, it's unbelievable.

Bernard Peters, I mean, when they talk about Broadway legends, like, you're now being mentioned in this group of people. That can't, like, be, you know, something that you ever get used to feeling or hearing. I mean, is it lost on you that that's how, like, we look at you now? Because you are.

Like, you have seven Tony nominations. You've won twice, and you are like one of the premier Broadway female powerhouses that we have. Oh, it, um, how do I feel about it? I don't think about it. Yeah. But then I will meet people, or I'll teach a class,

or I'll see young people. And I go, oh, that's how I felt about Pat Lapone. Or when I was like, it's the thing I wanna do and it feels so far away. And I just wanna be like, it's not that far away. That's why sitting with Carol Burnett, I'm like, what? It felt so far away. I have Pat Lapone's number too.

It makes me laugh. But I'm still intimidated by Patti LuPone. But like we're friends too. And like all of a sudden I'm going, how is this possible? I just said Wheel of Fortune with Bernadette Peters. And I was like, what is happening? What is my life right now? I'm playing Wheel of Fortune with Bernadette Peters. Yeah. It's like, yeah, Bernadette.

And we exchanged numbers. Yeah. Yeah. And now she just casually texts me. Yeah, yeah. She texts in. Yeah, Brenda Peters, I know. Brenda Peters. I know, and it's, yeah, it's a thing.

And I'm like, she's human too. She's watched Friends. Yeah. You know, we're all just human beings, like just trying to be accepted and you know, all of the things. I'm trying to do the math in my head. Was your mom still around when you did Millie?

She was. Was she able to see you in that? She did come up. So my mom, she wasn't at opening. My mom didn't travel. My dad didn't travel. He stayed with my mom. And so when she came to see Millie,

she flew up, no, they drove and they like stayed at the Marriott Marquis. I think they saw matinee. Which is the building that the theater was in. So they just had to go down the elevator to the theater. It was like very easy. And then they went right back to New Jersey. And then I think that was the last thing

she ever saw me do in New York. And I would get like bootlegs for her. So I would get bootlegs of all my shows and send her those. And I know, and my dad never came up. So when my mom passed away in 2013, my dad reclaimed his life. And he has a lady friend, and he travels, and he came to the opening night of Mattress.

Oh, incredible. He's an awesome grandpa, and they move down there. And they live in North Carolina. And I talk to him like three or four times a week. And we're really close and yeah, he's really like. There's also something so lovely about seeing that even when people are in their quote unquote, we've talked a little bit like we're about to

enter our second acts of our life. When people are in the second act of their life, they still can change and they can still redevelop and rekindle relationships. My dad is a perfect example. And I write a lot about it in the book. But my mom died when she was 66. So my dad was 60. They were the same age. And so he, I remember in his 60s, he was like, he had like a one foot in the grave. And he was, They were miserable. And when she died, he got his teeth fixed,

he got his heart fixed, he quit smoking, he started dating, he's active and they adopted three dogs. He started dating. He's active and adopted three dogs. He's just full of life. He's a grandpa. He's a grandpa. He's papa. Yeah.

It's pretty awesome. And you're right. It's never too late. It's never too late. And my dad is like, he's like, life is short. He's 77 now. He's like, life is short. He's like, you got to live.

You got to go. I was like, all right, short. He's like, you gotta live, you gotta go, you know. I was like, all right, dad. That's so great. I'm so happy you got to see you in Mattress. I can't wait to see you. I'm so excited. It is such a silly show.

I love it. It's one of my favorite shows. Oh, it's so silly. And this cast is like bonkers. It's really fun. Yeah, I cannot wait. Thank you for doing this. Are you kidding? This is really awesome. Thank you. Oh really fun. Yeah, I cannot wait. Thank you for doing this. Are you kidding?

This is really awesome. Thank you. Oh my God. We got a little deep. We did, but that's the point. OK. Can you imagine if we hadn't? Then it would have been a waste of our time.

What a waste. What a waste of our time. This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Simonet in Culver City, California. Next week on Dinners on Me, you know him from White Collar, Magic Mike, and more recently from the new Hulu series Mid-Century Modern, it's Matt Bomer. We'll get into his coming out story, sending his kids off to college, and he tells me the story of the time he got sent home from the set of White Collar. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right

now by subscribing to Dinners on Me Plus. As a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad-free. Just click Try Free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple podcasts to search your free trial today. Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jessie Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans-Dale Shee composed our theme music. Our head of production is

Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tamika Balanz Kalasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.