Career
Early in her career, (when she was still known as Merle Letowt), she played "Thelma" in the original cast of Gypsy (1959). Eventually, she moved up to the fourth lead rôle of "Dainty June", playing it for much of the Broadway run and on the first national tour. Louise returned to Broadway in Company (1970) as "Susan".
In Into the Woods (1987), she played a trio of rôles: the ethereal "Cinderella"s Mother", the practical "Granny" (of "Little Red Riding Hood" fame), and the unseen vengeful "Giantess".
Louise has originated rôles with other Broadway composers as well. She played "Madame Dindon" in Jerry Herman"s Louisiana Cage aux Folles (1983) and "Molina"s Mother" in Kander and Ebb"s Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), a rôle she also played on London"s West End, in Toronto and on the national tour.
Office-Broadway, she created the rôle of Cecily MacIntosh in Charlotte Sweet (1982). Regionally, she is an acclaimed actress in classics by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Molière, Pinter, Ibsen, and Shaw.
Merle Louise"s on-camera work has been limited, most notably appearing in the televised production of Into the Woods and a documentary about the recording of the Original Cast Album of Company.
She has had some guest appearances on shows such as Law & Order. Louise continues to acting Her most recent performances include "Frau Schneider" in Cabaret, "Madame
Armfeldt" in A Little Night Music and "Jeanette" in The Full Monty in Massachusetts, and in New York she appeared in Luke Yankee"s award-winning show, The Jesus Hickey in July 2007.
