lˈʊkɪŋ fɚɹə stˈeɪdʒ pˈiːs ðæt hiː kʊd pɚfˈɔːɹm fɔːɹ bˈɛnɪfˌɪts ænd fˈʌndɹeɪzɚz, ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti nˈaɪn mˈɔːɹs deɪbjˈuːd mˈɪɹli plˈeɪɚz ˌɔn stˈeɪdʒ fɚðə fˈɜːst tˈaɪm ɪn bˈɔstən, mˌæsɐtʃˈuːsɪts.
Looking for a stage piece that he could perform for benefits and fundraisers, in 1959 Morse debuted Merely Players on stage for the first time in Boston, Massachusetts.