Schaffel's first major acting job was in 1991 with the original
Broadway production of
Les Misérables, as a swing and understudying the role of
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 Daaé 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 has been Artist-in-Residence at
The Mirror Theater Ltd’s GAAR in
Greensboro, Vermont since 2012 and has performed in numerous productions to universally positive reviews. In 2005, Schaffel made a brief appearance on season 6 of NBC’s “Law and Order SVU.” She was credited as “Girl,” in episode 20 named “Night.” == Awards and nominations ==