Foster was joined on stage by an ensemble of high school choir performers and collegiate tap dancers. These students were selected from high schools all over Michigan, many of whom  were nominees for Wharton Center’s annual Sutton Foster Awards. The students performed “On My Way” from the musical “Violet." “Anything Goes” from the musical of the same name and a special acapella arrangement of Cole Porter’s jazz classic “Every Time We Say Goodbye” by Rafter.

Rowan Hogge, a senior at Brighton High School, said “Every Time We Say Goodbye” was her favorite number to perform.

“As hard as it is to sing, it’s really satisfying when those tricky chords lock in,” Hogge said.

Foster, who played Princess Fiona in the Broadway production of “Shrek: The Musical” from 2008-10, also sang “I Know It’s Today” during the show, joined by a local middle school student and a member of the choir playing the younger versions of Princess Fiona.

The students rehearsed for the show at Holt United Methodist Church on Friday night. Phil Johnson, choir director at Brighton High School, guided the students through the three numbers. Throughout the rehearsals, Johnson praised the students for “how quickly they learn music, how well prepared they are and how hard they work.”

“It’s just a spectacular group of students from some of the best musical theater programs across the state of Michigan,” Johnson said.  

Vaan Otto, a junior at Brighton High School, has most enjoyed “meeting talented kids from other high schools” while preparing for the show. He has been performing in musicals since second grade and has been a fan of Sutton Foster nearly just as long.

“I was sick one day in third grade, and I was scrolling on Netflix. I saw the Shrek filmed musical, in which (Foster) was Fiona," Otto said. "I think I watched it five times.” 

Ben English, the education and community engagement coordinator for Wharton Center, acted as project manager for the event, especially in coordinating the performers and hiring Johnson to prepare them. English has also been overseeing the Sutton Foster Awards since 2018.

“We ended up having 110 students audition, which was awesome,” English said. “These are all students that care so deeply about musical theater and the arts, and they get to come together and make this amazing music together.” 

Faith Tisdale, a senior at Brighton High School, expressed her excitement at performing in front of a sold-out audience.

“Just the fact that I was selected to even have this opportunity was such an honor and such an excitement,” Tisdale said.

Foster ended the night with the classic “Till There Was You” from the Broadway musical “The Music Man.” Foster invited the audience to sing along with her as the curtains closed.

Among the hundreds of guests in the audience was Foster’s childhood best friend Lori Manry, who Foster gave multiple shout-outs to throughout the evening. Manry’s favorite song of the night was “Top of the World” by The Carpenters, which she said she and Foster used to sing together in her basement as children.

“Every time she steps onto the stage, I cry,” Manry said. “I have watched her close and from afar, and what I appreciate about her most is the way she’s just preserved who she is.”