Louise Pitre Stars In Concert Version Of GYPSY At TIFT 10/22

Tony Award nominated actress (for Mamma Mia) Louise Pitre has been cast to play Rose in the concert production of Gypsy at the Talk Is Free Theater in Barrie, Ontario.

According to Louisepitre.com When the curtains go up in theatres across North America and Louise Pitre takes center stage, one thing is for sure: you will never forget her name. The award-winning singer and actress has left an imprint on the theatre industry as a confident and talented performer whose energy is unparalleled. Not only does Pitre light up any stage, her studio albums are world class.

Louise Pitre has had a career rich with success and nobody will argue that this is only the beginning. Pitre's awards include the DORA Mavor Moore AWARD in Toronto, the National Broadway Touring Award in New York, a special award from the San Francisco Theatre Critics Circle, a New York Theatre World Award and a Tony nomination for her role as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!, the ABBA inspired musical that took Canada and the United States by storm.

In 2001, after wowing audiences in Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Pitre made her Broadway debut when Mamma Mia! opened at New York's Winter Garden Theatre. Holding the lead role for 2 years on Broadway enabled thousands of spectators to witness the best that New York has to offer, Louise Pitre as Donna Sheridan.

In addition to dazzling audiences on Broadway, Pitre released All of My Life Has Led to This, a CD featuring two French songs composed by Pitre. In 2005, Pitre released Shattered, her 3rd full-length CD. Shattered is a musical journey of heartbreak songs that Pitre sums up as cathartic. Famed producer Fred Mollin and legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb both played integral roles in the making of Shattered. Pitre also boasts a successful concert career, performing as a solo artist with accompanist Diane Leah, George Koller and Tom Jestadt, and as a guest artist with various symphony orchestras.  In addition, the multi-talented performer is currently collaborating with her husband, actor Joe Matheson, and Diane Leah on a new musical.

The Ontario native who graduated from the University of Western Ontario with (A) bachelor's degree in music education, had planned on a sensible career as a high school music teacher - until she landed a role in a musical revue during her final year at the university and was bitten by the acting bug. In 1980, Pitre moved to Toronto, and for three years used her considerable typing skills (an impressive 100 words a minute) to support herself while building her singing and acting career.  By 1990, she was a favorite in Toronto's theater community, playing the role of Fantine in Les Misrables to critical acclaim in Montreal (bilingual production), Toronto, and Paris, and appearing on the Paris cast recording of the long-running musical.

Pitre was catapulted to national fame in 1992 when she portrayed legendary French singer Edith Piaf in three different productions of Piaf.  She also earned accolades for her work in Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; The World Goes 'Round; Blood Brothers; Tartuffe; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd; Applause; and Rock 'n' Roll. Throughout her distinctive career, Pitre has been honored with three of Toronto's prestigious Dora Mavor Moore Awards for her titanic performances in Mamma Mia!, Piaf, and Blood Brothers.

One of Canada's most popular and enduring musical performers, Pitre is sure to dazzle audiences once again playing Annie Oakley in one of broadway¹s most beloved shows, ³Annie Get Your Gun² in Toronto. One can only imagine what this true talent will add to this incredible production.

In addition to being an award-winning singer and actress, Louise Pitre is a fine food connoisseur, an enthusiastic chef and a disciplined athlete who works out four times a week.  Pitre lives in New York and in Ontario with her husband and their infamously large German Shepherd/Labrador cross named Tasha."

The new season at TIFT will begin on October 22 with the premiere of A Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich Had a Fight, followed by the concert production of Gypsy from November 25 and 26th. Next up is Assassins at the Downtown Theater Jan 21-30.

For more information on the theater or upcoming productions visit talkisfreetheatre.com

 

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