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Louise Pitre

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Louise Pitre (born January 1, 1957) is an actress in musical theatre on Broadway and in Canada. She is best known for her role as Donna Sheridan in the ABBA-themed musical Mamma Mia!, which earned her a 2002 Tony Award nomination.

Biography

Pitre was born in Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario; her family moved to Montreal and then to Welland during her childhood. Her first language is French[1]. At age seven, she began to play piano, eventually taking professional lessons. attended the University of Western Ontario and graduated with a bachelor's degree in music education. After performing in a college musical, however, she decided she would rather act on stage.[2]

She later moved to Toronto to pursue a musical theatre career. Her performance as Fantine in the musical adaptation of Les Miserables earned her acclaim in Toronto, Montreal, and Paris. Later, she portrayed French singer Edith Piaf in three productions of Piaf.

Other musicals she was involved with include 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. She was nominated for three Dora Mavor Moore Awards for her various projects in Canada.

Pitre moved to New York to audition for the musical Napoleon being produced in London, but was turned down for the role of Josephine[3]. She remained in the city and in 2001, Pitre made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theatre as the lead role of Donna Sheridan. Although initially hesitant about taking the role, believing it to be "a tacky revue of ABBA tunes", she eventually changed her mind after seeing the show[4]. She performed the role in Toronto and in its United States national tour, and after 18 months, was asked to play the role on Broadway[5].

Reviews were positive; Variety Magazine, although unenthusiastic about the musical, called her "a terrific Donna"[6], The New York Times called her performance "delightful" and praised her "terrific pop belter's voice"[7], and the San Francisco Chronicle praised her for making the show "a dramatic showstopper"[8]. For her performance, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, and won the National Broadway Touring Award and an award from the San Francisco Theatre Critics Circle[9]. Pitre left the show in October of 2003.

Later projects include a performance as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd with the Calgary Opera Company[10] and a role in Annie Get Your Gun[11].

Pitre has also released a CD titled All My Life Has Led To This, featuring songs in English and French. The song is a re-release of her former Canadian album Love Letters, but with the Mamma Mia! songs "The Winner Takes It All" and "Slipping Through My Fingers" added[12]. She released a subsequent album, titled Shattered, on which she collaborated with American songwriter Jimmy Webb[5].

Pitre sang the role of Ulrika in two very well-received concert presentations of the English translation of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' symphonic musical Kristina at Carnegie Hall, New York on 23 and 24 September 2009.

References

  1. ^ PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Louise Pitre. October 16, 2001. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  2. ^ Professionally Speaking article. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  3. ^ Stevenson, William. Louise Pitre, October 12, 2001. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  4. ^ Vercammen, Paul. Old ABBA hits go from radio to stage, April 20, 2001. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Cdn. Mamma Mia star 'shattered' by Bush win, November 8, 2004. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  6. ^ Oxman, Steven. Mamma Mia! February 28, 2001. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  7. ^ Brantley, Ben. THEATER REVIEW; Mom Had a Trio (And a Band, Too), October 19, 2001. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  8. ^ Winn, Steven. Mamma's' a guilty pleasure for ABBA fans despite its weaknesses, November 18, 2000. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  9. ^ 'Mamma Mia!' It's Louise Pitre And Her Tony Nomination. CBS News, May 31, 2002. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew. Playbill News: Mamma Mia!'s Louise Pitre Is Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. Playbill, September 16, 2003. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  11. ^ Gans, Andrew. Playbill News: Mamma Mia!'s Louise Pitre Finds Next Musical Role. April 13, 2005. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  12. ^ Rosati, Nancy. Interview with Louise Pitre. Talkinbroadway.com. October 7, 2001. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
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