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The "Shine a Light on Children’s Mental Health" benefit concert, which also features musical performances by Staples graduate Adam Kaplan (from the Broadway cast of "Newsies") and Adam Christoferson ("Musical Intervention"), as well as local theater and chorus groups representing Norwalk's Brien McMahon High School, Broadway Bootcamp, Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Music Theatre of Connecticut, New Canaan High School, Staples High School, Weston High School, Wilton High School, and Redding's Wiremill Academy, supports the Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, a nonprofit that provides mental health services to over 2,000 local children every year.
Sutton, who grew up in Georgia and Michigan and now splits her time between Manhattan and Los Angeles, said she has no connection to Fairfield County per se but was struck by the statistics of the Child Guidance Center. The center says that 20 perfect of all children suffer from a treatable mental health issue yet 80 percent of those will not receive the treatment they need.
"Mental health is something that's often misunderstood, especially early help for kids, so I'm thrilled and honored to lend my name to this very important event," she said. "I'm a big fan of raising awareness and raising money for causes that help children."
The actor/singer/dancer, who won Tonys for her performances in "Anything Goes" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie," said the event will be especially fun because she won't be in false eyelashes and a wig, as she often is on Broadway.
"I love performing in settings like this because they are often more intimate and I get to be me," she said.
The group was still deciding on the final list of songs, but she expects to be singing a combination of American songbooks, classic, jazz, and folk.
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a VIP reception beginning at 6 p.m. Go to www.childguidancemfct.org or call the Playhouse box office at 203-227-4177 for tickets; they start at $40.
To learn more about the Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, visit www.childguidancemfct.org. The center helps children and families who live in Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and Stamford.
As for what's next for Foster? Look for her on television starting in March in TVLand’s new series, “Younger” created by Darren Star.
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