“Marian the Librarian” Sutton Foster gets key to city, tours Music Man Square (VIDEO)

MASON CITY — Sutton Foster, who played Marian the Librarian in the latest Broadway rendition of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man”, is in Mason City today and will be performing this evening at North Iowa Area Community College.

Foster spent part of her day touring River City, including posing for pictures on the Meredith Willson Footbridge and touring Music Man Square this morning.

Foster was presented with the “key to the city” by Mayor Bill Schickel.  “You dazzled us with your performance as Marian the Librarian in the Broadway hit “The Music Man”. You carried our beloved Meredith Willson’s creation to new heights. The pride we feel in your Sutton cannot be overstated.”

Schickel thanked Foster for coming to River City and performing.    “Your visit to the real River City USA serves as a testament to the magic and transformative powers of the arts which we love here in River City. Its creation of a culturally rich and vibrant community.”

Foster says she was grateful to see the community’s dedication to Willson.   “It’s really an honor to be here. I’m actually very overwhelmed just walking through Music Man Square. It was a pretty special year of my life being able to be a part of the Music Man on Broadway, and it really means a lot to be here.”

Foster has won two Tony Awards and was nominated for a Tony playing Marian the Librarian.