She opened at the Café Carlyle, the Manhattan nightspot at the Carlyle Hotel, on June 15, and continues singing delicately — with some Big Numbers, too — through June 26. We spoke to Foster the day after she opened Sutton Foster at the Café Carlyle.

Your Café Carlyle debut is musical-directed by pianist Michael Rafter, whose arrangments are so brilliant. He also MD'd your album, "Wish." How did you meet, and what is it about Michael that makes him such a fit for you?
Sutton Foster: Michael and I met doing Thoroughly Modern Millie — nine years ago! He was the musical director and conductor on that show. And we just had a very special bond throughout that entire experience. In 2004 I was asked to do a concert (my first) as part of the American Songbook Series at Lincoln Center. I immediately asked Michael if he would develop it with me, and we've been working together ever since. After that initial concert we just kept working together — meeting in studios and bringing in ideas and songs and truly collaborating as a team on finding the music for the album.

The Noel Coward song "Come the Wild Wild Weather," on your album, is a real discovery. Who primarily chooses repertoire for your concert? Both of you? Did you arm wrestle?
SF: Michael actually brought in "Come the Wild Wild Weather" and I immediately loved it. The lyrics are just so beautiful. I would say that it has truly been a 50/50 experience. And, also, we have our director Mark Waldrop, who has also contributed songs...so it's more like a three-way split. But we basically bring in tons of ideas and we listen together, and if a song speaks to us, we start working on it. Sometimes one of us might be a little more excited about a song than the other. I first brought in "Sunshine On My Shoulders" 'cause I knew I wanted to sing a John Denver song — and Michael winced at the idea. But then he developed this beautiful arrangement and now it's one of his favorites...mine, too. We just work really organically, and I trust him and his ear completely.

Does a cabaret/concert make you more nervous than carrying a big show? Do you still get butterflies in your stomach?
SF: Before every concert I think, "Why did I decide to do this?" Because I get soooo nervous. I have to stare at myself in the mirror and repeat, "YOU CAN DO THIS." It's definitely more exposed. And especially at the Carlyle — it's so intimate, you feel like you're in your living room. People are right there. You can't hide. But every time I get out on the stage I feel better. And having Michael there…well, that helps too.

Is there another album brewing?
SF: There is! But we don't want to rush it. It took us four years to find the material for "Wish" and I'm not saying it will take four years for another album, but it has to feel right. So far we have about five new songs that we would love to record. I'm actually really excited about what this next album could be.

From Millie to Little Women to Drowsy Chaperone to Young Frankenstein to Shrek — to say nothing of your "Law & Order," "Flights of the Conchords" and "Johnny and the Sprites" TV appearances — you never seem to repeat yourself. And this summer is something new again: a new play called Trust at Second Stage. Can you tell us a little about the character you play?
SF: I am very much looking forward to doing this play. It's a great new play by Paul Weitz. And a really unexpected character. I don't want to reveal too much. But it's definitely a side of myself that no one has ever seen...not even me. Continued...