Experience will be your best teacher for most of your life.  Learning from the experiences of others is a vital part of our life-long journey as performers and artists.  Sutton Foster gave this address on May 5th, 2012 at Ball State University after receiving an honorary doctorate.  She offers wonderful advice on taking risks, forming relationships, and valuing life long learning.  A must see for all young performers.  The video is somewhat long, so I’ll give you a few time markers below to help you navigate:

0:00-3:30 – Sutton receiving her degree

3:30 The beginning of her speech

3:30 – Her early life

6:30 – Her first opportunity in musical theatre

7:45 – The biggest risk of her life – Millie

11:14 – Life lessons from her career thus far

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”