About Tommy Foster

Tommy Foster is a versatile actor, director, and teacher with a rich background in both classical acting and musical theatre. In 2013, after a fifteen year career in New York City, he returned to his roots, right here in Concord, North Carolina. 

With experience in regional theatre, commercials, and international performances on cruise ships, Tommy has also made a mark in the cabaret scene, winning the 2005 Bistro Award for Best Theme Show for which he was featured on CNN, NY1 News, and in the Leading Men section of Playbill.com. He holds an MFA in Classical Acting from the Shakespeare Theatre Company, a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan, and is a high school graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Drama; alongside training from prestigious programs like Carnegie Mellon University and the Yale School of Drama Summer Cabaret. 

As an actor, Tommy's had the privilege of playing all but one of his dream roles, including Billy in Carousel at The Gateway Playhouse, Burrs in Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party for Kalliope Stage, Willard in Footloose at the Ogunquit Playhouse, Jerry in The Full Monty for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Jamie in The Last Five Years for the Gorilla Playhouse, and the titular roles in Jekyll & Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel for CPCC Summer Theatre. On camera he's appeared in commercials for Nickelodeon, McDonalds, Food Lion, and on the final season of Sex & the City. Since moving back to North Carolina, Tommy has become known as a generous yet uncompromising director, helming productions of Reasons to be Pretty for Carolina Actor's Studio Theatre, Into the Woods for Lexington Live!, Steel Magnolias, South Pacific, and Hello, Dolly! at the place that introduced him to this crazy world, the Old Courthouse Theatre. Tommy also consults as a Dialect Coach helping actors perfect any dialect or accent they may need, and when the occasion calls, a hand-to-hand fight choreographer. 

Tommy has been an influential figure in the world of theatre education since 2001. He has been a Teaching Artist for Children's Theatre of Charlotte's School of Theatre Training for 11 years where he has been a fixture on their MainStage. While their audiences have seen him as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda and Aslan in Narnia the Musical, he's also directed the substance abuse education tour, Liars, and teen summer productions of Sweeney Todd, Evita, Chicago, and The Tempest. As a former Assistant Professor of Theatre at Catawba College he directed productions of The Children's Hour, Anything Goes, and Hamlet. Additionally, he has contributed his expertise to Acting Up! Children's Theatre, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Davidson Community Players, and has successfully maintained a private studio of students, nurturing the next generation of actors.