Her biggest success was as "the Beggar Woman" in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), for which she won the Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.

[4] In Into the Woods (1987), she played a trio of roles: the ethereal "Cinderella's Mother", the practical "Granny" (of "Little Red Riding Hood" fame), and the unseen vengeful "Giantess".

Dindon" in Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles (1983) and "Molina's Mother" in Kander and Ebb's Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), a role she also played on London's West End, in Toronto and on the national tour.

Armfeldt" in A Little Night Music, Lady Henslowe in Elizabeth Rex with Nicu's Spoon Theater Company[9] 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.

[11] After graduating high school, Louise began working as a mechanical calculator for the Lehigh Valley Railroad while also taking classes in New York City.