Sutton Foster hoping for warm reception in Chicago for Goodman gala

Tony winner Sutton Foster is “very excited” to be coming to Chicago for the big annual Goodman Theatre summer gala this Saturday — at a time of year where she won’t see her breath every time she steps outside.

Of course, given the recent spate of unusually cold weather for May, perhaps that assumption may be a bit premature.

When the actress and singer phoned from her New York home recently, she laughed about her experiences in Our Town. “Every time I came to Chicago in the past, it was always during the winter. So when I think about Chicago, it’s usually about freezing and the fact that I always got a cold there.

“So I’m looking forward to coming at this time of year,” said Foster.

She won her Tonys for “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Anything Goes” and remains impressed by the current state of Broadway. “In the past year, I’ve seen two of the most exciting musicals I’ve seen in a very long time. And they’re both original and brand new ideas and not revivals: ‘Fun Home’ and ‘Hamilton.’ ”

As far as Foster is concerned, the critically acclaimed “Hamilton” is :a game-changer. It is totally trailblazing force that knocked me off my socks when I saw it. And ‘Fun Home’ is the most moving, important piece of theater I’ve seen in a long time. …

“Those are two examples of shows that made me go, ‘I want to be a part of that! How do I rap? I want to be involved here!’ … It’s exciting that there are new voices out there now.

“There are also some wonderful re-interpretations of classics that are out there now too. But those two shows in particular are special and I can’t wait to see them both again.”

Of course, Foster’s work doesn’t only happen on a concert stage or on Broadway. She stars in TV Land’s “Younger,” along with Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Miriam Shor and Nico Tortorella. Based on the Pamela Redmond Satran novel of the same name, the series was created by Darren Star of “Sex and the City” fame and recently was renewed for a second season.

Foster’s character is a 40-year-old, recently divorced mother, trying to get back into the work force. Realizing the challenges of starting a new career at that age, she gets a makeover to make her look like she’s back in her mid-20s — a move that snares her a job at a publishing firm.

Foster fully understands the concept of the show. “Unfortunately, there is a reality to it. Now that I’ve become 40, I see how tricky things can become. I’m now navigating it all myself in my own life and career. It’s nice that on ‘Younger,’ we’re able to deal with all those issues in a clever, comical — and yet realistic — way.”