Marla Schaffel
Encyclopedia
Marla Schaffel is an American actress, especially in musical theatre
, noted for her award winning performance in the title role in the musical adaptation of Jane Eyre
.
. She then attended the Moscow Art Theatre School. Later, she was featured at the first Soviet International Theatre Festival. Finally, she attended the Juilliard School
, under the drama division.
production of Les Misérables
, as Fantine. She performed opposite Natalie Toro
(as Eponine) and J. Mark McVey (as Valjean). She left the theatre after turning down the coveted role of Christine Daae
in Andrew Lloyd Webber
's The Phantom of the Opera
. She had a small role in the television series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
, as Tyler Smith, Peter Caine's girlfriend in season 1.
In 1995, she won over several competitors for the title role in the Manhattan Theatre Club
workshop of Jane Eyre - The Musical. She was featured alongside Anthony Crivello
as Edward Rochester and Mary Stout as Mrs. Fairfax. Later that year, she was featured in the world première of the musical, starring these two as well, in Wichita, Kansas
at the Center for Arts. In 1996, the musical had its Canadian premiere at The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto
. The show released a cast recording.
In 1995, she starred in the title role of Evita, as part of the national tour in order to promote the film. In 1997, she starred as Maria in West Side Story
at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in New York.
She played her second Broadway role in Titanic
, as a replacement for the role of Caroline Neville, from April 14, 1998 until March 28, 1999.
Following Titanic, Jane Eyre
received its Broadway try-out at the La Jolla Playhouse
in San Diego from July to September 1999. Schaffel was cast once more as Jane, with former castmates Mary Stout, Elizabeth DeGrazia and Don Richard; joining as Rochester was James Stacy Barbour
. Jane Eyre opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
on December 10, 2000. The show received mixed notices, several of which claimed Marla was too pretty to play a "Plain Jane". The show announced a closing for May 20, but Alanis Morissette
(a Canadian herself, as was the composer and many of the cast including DeGrazia) supported the show to last out through the Tony Awards, for which was nominated as Best Leading Actress. Jane Eyre closed on June 10, 2001.
Before Jane Eyre opened on Broadway, she originated and created the role of Judith in the play Glimmerglass
at the Goodspeed Opera House for the world première in 1999.
Schaffel appeared in the York Theatre Company's production of Enter Laughing
, which opened in January 2009 and closed in March as Angela.
Nominations
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, noted for her award winning performance in the title role in the musical adaptation of Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre (musical)
Jane Eyre is a musical drama with music and lyrics by composer-lyricist Paul Gordon and a book by John Caird, based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2000.-Production history:...
.
Personal life
Schaffel was raised in Miami, Florida, and attended Miami Palmetto High SchoolMiami Palmetto High School
Miami Palmetto Senior High School is a secondary school located at 7460 S.W. 118th Street in Pinecrest, Florida, USA, a Miami suburb; its principal is Allison Harley. The school is on 23 acres in southwest Miami-Dade County, Florida, and is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district....
. She then attended the Moscow Art Theatre School. Later, she was featured at the first Soviet International Theatre Festival. Finally, she attended the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, under the drama division.
Career
Schaffel's first major acting job was in 1991 with the original BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
, as Fantine. She performed opposite Natalie Toro
Natalie Toro
Natalie Toro is an American singer and stage, television, and film actor.Natalie debuted at the Apollo Theater at age 5. She studied piano and voice at the Manhattan School of Music and the High School of Music and Art until the age of 18...
(as Eponine) and J. Mark McVey (as Valjean). She left the theatre after turning down the coveted role of Christine Daae
Christine Daaé
Christine Daaé is the main female character in Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera , the young singer with whom the main character Erik, the Phantom of the Opera falls in love.- Character history :...
in Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
. She had a small role in the television series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues is a spin-off of the 1972-1975 television series Kung Fu. David Carradine and Chris Potter starred as a father and son trained in kung fu - Carradine playing a Shaolin monk, Potter a police detective. This series aired in syndication for four seasons, from January 27,...
, as Tyler Smith, Peter Caine's girlfriend in season 1.
In 1995, she won over several competitors for the title role in the Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from an Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most acclaimed...
workshop of Jane Eyre - The Musical. She was featured alongside Anthony Crivello
Anthony Crivello
Anthony Crivello is an American actor and singer, mostly in musicals on Broadway. He has written several scripts and more than twenty songs.-Personal life:...
as Edward Rochester and Mary Stout as Mrs. Fairfax. Later that year, she was featured in the world première of the musical, starring these two as well, in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
at the Center for Arts. In 1996, the musical had its Canadian premiere at The Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The show released a cast recording.
In 1995, she starred in the title role of Evita, as part of the national tour in order to promote the film. In 1997, she starred as Maria in West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in New York.
She played her second Broadway role in Titanic
Titanic (musical)
Titanic is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone that opened on Broadway in 1997. It won five Tony Awards including the award for Best Musical...
, as a replacement for the role of Caroline Neville, from April 14, 1998 until March 28, 1999.
Following Titanic, Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre (musical)
Jane Eyre is a musical drama with music and lyrics by composer-lyricist Paul Gordon and a book by John Caird, based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2000.-Production history:...
received its Broadway try-out at the La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. -Background:...
in San Diego from July to September 1999. Schaffel was cast once more as Jane, with former castmates Mary Stout, Elizabeth DeGrazia and Don Richard; joining as Rochester was James Stacy Barbour
James Stacy Barbour
James Stacy Barbour , a.k.a. James Barbour, is a singer and Broadway actor. He graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Acting and a minor in Philosophy.- Theatre credits :...
. Jane Eyre opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
The Brooks Atkinson Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 256 West 47th Street in Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, it was constructed as the Mansfield Theatre by the Chanin brothers in 1926. After 1933, the theatre fell into relative disuse until 1945, when Michael Myerberg...
on December 10, 2000. The show received mixed notices, several of which claimed Marla was too pretty to play a "Plain Jane". The show announced a closing for May 20, but Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
(a Canadian herself, as was the composer and many of the cast including DeGrazia) supported the show to last out through the Tony Awards, for which was nominated as Best Leading Actress. Jane Eyre closed on June 10, 2001.
Before Jane Eyre opened on Broadway, she originated and created the role of Judith in the play Glimmerglass
Glimmerglass
* Otsego Lake, called "Glimmerglass" in the Leatherstocking Tales of James Fenimore Cooper* Glimmerglass Opera* Glimmerglass State Park, NY...
at the Goodspeed Opera House for the world première in 1999.
Schaffel appeared in the York Theatre Company's production of Enter Laughing
Enter Laughing
Enter Laughing is a play by Joseph Stein.Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Carl Reiner, it centers on the journey of young aspiring actor David Kolowitz as he tries to extricate himself from overly protective parents and two too many girlfriends, while struggling to meet the challenge of...
, which opened in January 2009 and closed in March as Angela.
Awards and nominations
Awards- 2001 - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical – Jane Eyre
- 2001 - Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Musical – Jane Eyre
Nominations
- 2001 - Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical – Jane Eyre
- 2002 - Leon Rabin Award for Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress – My Fair Lady (Dallas Production)