Rocco Prioletti
Staff Writer
Preceding their 8 p.m. appearance on the Amphitheater stage tonight accompanied by the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, acclaimed actresses Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara will deliver the morning lecture at 10:45 a.m. today in the Amp.
Their conversation continues the weeklong theme “Icons and Instigators: Women Who Change the World,” recounting moments in their lives and professional careers that have informed their journey together as performers and peers.
“The beautiful thing about two decades of experience is to understand and celebrate the differences between us and use those to our advantage,” O’Hara said, reflecting on her friendship with Foster. “At the same time, we have also found the reasons why we are alike in order to bring a show like this to the audience in such a satisfying way.”
O’Hara is a Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated actress and singer. On June 7, O’Hara earned her ninth Tony Award nomination for her performance as Julia Sterroll in the Broadway revival of Fallen Angels. In 2025, O’Hara starred alongside Tom Hanks in his co-written off-Broadway play The World of Tomorrow. The actress plays Aurora Fane in the SAG award-nominated HBO series “The Gilded Age.”
Foster is a two-time Tony Award-winning actress, singer and dancer. In 2024, she reprised her role as Princess Winnifred in the Broadway revival of Once Upon A Mattress at the Hudson Theatre, succeeded by a limited run at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre the following year. In 2022, Foster’s performance as Marian Paroo in the Broadway revival of The Music Man earned Foster her eighth
Tony Award nomination.
Together, Foster and O’Hara culminated their 20-plus years of friendship into a celebration of both their own individual works and the work of inspiring women who laid the groundwork for their performance — specifically, Julie Andrews
and Carol Burnett.
Since Foster and O’Hara’s debut performance together at Carnegie Hall in 2023, Andrews and Burnett’s beloved 1962 CBS television special, “Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall,” has remained as an inspirational touchstone for the two.
“It was a glorious honor,” O’Hara said, recalling her and Foster’s opportunity to meet and speak with Andrews and Burnett. “As we were having the call to discuss our show with them, I remember thinking, ‘I will never forget this moment.’ They were my two biggest artistic influences growing up.”
Despite the initial hesitancy towards the special, as CBS executives feared for Andrews and Burnett’s inability to draw audiences, the hypnotic chemistry between the two actresses dispelled any network skepticism and rightfully launched them into stardom, inspiring a generation of women in the
performing arts.
Now, with Foster and O’Hara on the stage, they look out toward the next generation of performers watching in the audience.
“I think the greatest messages are about teamwork and generosity — paying homage to those who came before us and offering a celebration of all who will come after,” O’Hara said. “At times, it can feel like a competitive business, but the arts are really better when shared.”
