Prof. Lori Woodall-Schaufler brings over 25 years of professional Theatre experience to Concordia University. Lori began her professional career as a youth working with such companies as The Milwaukee Rep, The TravelCast Players, and Children’s Theatre of Madison. Lori attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her BA in Theatre (Acting Specialist) and African-American Studies, and went on to receive a full scholarship (Lovelace Scholarship) to the California Institute of the Arts, where she received her MFA in Acting. While at Cal Arts, she studied under well-known artists in the American Theatre, including Fran Bennett, Joan MacIntosh, Travis Preston, Irene Connors, Broadway and Film’s Robbie Benson, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. Lori has worked as a TV/Film actress, having appeared in over 50 regional, national, and local commercials and Industrials, and has had a prolific career in radio voice over. She has been represented by Howard Talent West (Los Angeles), Shirley Hamilton, Inc. (Chicago), and Jennifer’s Talent and Ford Models and Talent in Milwaukee. 

Prof. Woodall has taught at Concordia University since 2006, has led the program since 2013, and has directed 20 plays including favorites The Women of Lockerbie, A Raisin in the Sun, Waiting for the Parade, Sense and Sensibility, Macbeth (co-directed with her husband Ryan), Godspell, The Great Gatsby, and Hairspray. Prior to teaching at CUW, she had taught at the California Institute of the Arts, California Arts Institute, First Stage Milwaukee, and Performing Arts Workshops Los Angeles, to name a few. She has been dedicated to teaching youth, college, and adults in the Theatre Arts and Film/TV acting. Additionally, she and husband Ryan Schaufler have served in the Milwaukee area in Drama Ministry, having worked as teachers, directors, and actors with Acacia Theatre Co., Morningstar Productions, and Above the Clouds, Inc., as well as various churches. She serves on the Executive Board of Morningstar Productions currently, and enjoys working as a Theatre artist in the areas of acting, writing, directing, choreographing, and producing. In her spare time, she enjoys time her husband and two children, and writing songs and screenplays.