World Courant
Merle Louise, whose Broadway debut within the authentic solid of Gypsy launched a decades-long affiliation with Stephen Sondheim that would come with notable appearances in Firm, Sweeney Todd and Into The Woods, died January 11 in New York Metropolis. She was 90.
Her loss of life was introduced by the household.
Born Merle Louise Letowt on April 15, 1934, in New York Metropolis, she began her stage profession in native theater corporations in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, touring again to New York for auditions. Whereas nonetheless utilizing Merle Letowt as her stage title, Louise landed the ensemble position of Thelma within the authentic 1959 Broadway manufacturing of Gypsy. She quickly took on the featured position of Dainty June within the musical, each on Broadway and within the first nationwide tour.
Though she would seem in non-Sondheim musicals on Broadway – La Cage aux Folles (1983), Kiss of the Spider Girl (1993) and, most not too long ago, Billy Elliot (2008) – Louise, after dropping the “Letowt,” originated the position of Susan in Sondheim’s Firm and may be seen in DA Pennebaker’s celebrated 1970 documentary Unique Solid Album: Firm.
Considered the one performer to seem within the authentic Broadway casts of 4 Sondheim musicals, Louise went on to painting The Beggar Girl in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Road (1979). In Into The Woods (1987) she performed Cinderella’s Mom, Granny and the Giantess; her efficiency in these roles may be seen within the 1987 PBS movie taped at San Diego’s Previous Globe Theater.
In La Cage aux Folles she originated the position of Mme. Dindon, and in Kiss of the Spider Girl originated Molina’s Mom, a job she additionally carried out in productions in London’s West Finish, Toronto and on the nationwide tour.
She appeared incessantly Off Broadway and in regional theater, returning to Broadway in her 70s as an ensemble member of Billy Elliot.
Louise is survived by daughters Laura Simon and Heather Simon, son Matt Simon, sister Jane Halteman and brother Alvin “Butch” Letowt, Jr.
Unique ‘Gypsy’ Solid Member Was 90
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