When managing editor Martin Lieberman pitched the idea of a profile on Sutton Foster, he tried to sum up her personality. "Everyone describes her as spunky," he told me. Talented would have been an equally apt choice of words.

Foster is the 30-year-old star of the Broadway production Little Women, and she's already a Tony Award winner for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Theater experts say Foster has a leg up for this year's award for Best Actress in a Musical, and here at Continental magazine, we tend to agree. For the past two years, we've featured a leading actress in May, our annual special Broadway issue. In 2003, we put our money on long shot and star of Hairspray, Marisa Jaret Winokur. Last year, Idina Menzel, star of Wicked, graced our cover. Both years, the woman we featured walked away with the prize.

What's the secret to our Tony prognostication? "I look for someone whose performance is bigger than life, so much so that the Broadway stage can hardly contain it," Martin says. "Idina blew me away in Wicked, and anyone who has seen Little Women will agree that the show wouldn't be half as good without Sutton." Good luck, Sutton.

Good reading and happy travels,

from the readers: music to his ears

Just a quick note to thank one of your pilots. In my usual rush from one plane, airport, and city to another, I realized I left my iPod and headphones on my last flight just as I was boarding my next one. I ran the quarter-mile [back] and found him waiting to take the plane to Washington. I asked if he could check for my bag, which he gladly did - and he found it still under my seat. I can't tell you how happy this made me. I listen to music all the time while traveling and would have been lost without it. Your pilot refused a reward and was reluctant to give his name - but I thought you should know you've got some very good people working for you, and I appreciate it very much.

Jack Martin
Lockport, N.Y.

Editor's Note: While the profile of J. Ray McDermott's president and COO, Bob Deason, in our January 2005 issue correctly noted that the company encountered financial challenges as a result of having "taken on large, complex projects that were bid too aggressively," it incorrectly used four topsides produced for BP as an example of those burdensome projects. In fact, the BP projects were successful, well executed, and profitable for J. Ray McDermott. Other huge projects undertaken at the same time, including three lump-sum deepwater Spar platforms, led to losses for the company in 2002 and 2003. Notably, under Deason's direction, all the money-losing projects were successfully completed and are now producing for J. Ray's customers.

WE WELCOME LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
Letters about this magazine should be sent to the Editor, Continental magazine, 27 Melcher Street, Floor 2, Boston, MA 02210, or e-mailed to continental@pohlypartners.com. Letters must be signed and include the writer's address, daytime telephone number, and e-mail address, when possible. We reserve the right to edit letters for space and clarity. Submit letters online.

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Photograph by Brian Urkevic (Buller)