Theatre and Dance

Lisa Wiperling

Lisa Wipperling

Professor of Theatre - Musical Theatre Voice
Office: Browne 128
Email: L-Wipperling@wiu.edu

Lisa Wipperling is a Professor of Musical Theatre at Western Illinois University. She teaches private voice, Musical Theatre, Acting , Music Directs many department musicals, recruits for the department’s undergraduate programs and remains active as a professional performer most recently at The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre.

Lisa received her MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University in 2019. During her time there she was the instructor of record for Intro to the Art of Acting and Acting the Song and was blessed with many performing opportunities that added to her Actors Equity Association experience. She received a Certificate of Musical Theatre Performance from the American Music and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, and specialized in new works during her time in the city. She settled for some time in the Midwest regional scene, picking up guest artist work, summer stocks and tours, and digging in as a choreographer, coach, judge, and director before heading to graduate school. Her undergraduate degree in Music Education from Morningside College and her years as a 6th -12th grade vocal music and theatre director only deepened the experiences she shares with students as they forge their paths at Western Illinois University and beyond.

Lisa's an established acting coach, director, choreographer and musical director, contributing to many shows including Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof, 33 Variations, Our Town, Arcadia, Oliver, Oklahoma!, First Date, Songs For a New World, and Lucky Stiff. She's taught workshops in Viewpoints, Voice and Movement, and Acting the Song. Her performing career has spanned nearly two decades in the musical theatre, theatre, jazz, choral music, cabaret, songwriting, and devising realms. Some of her performing favorites include Margaret of Anjou, and orginal play in which she performed and co-wrote, All Shook Up (Matilda), Calendar Girls (Karin), State Fair (Melissa), The World Goes ‘Round (Karen Mason Track), Airline Highway (Tanya), Arcadia (Lady Croom), Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s A Christmas Carol Nat’Tour (Mrs. Cratchit), Blithe Spirit (Ruth), Carousel (Nettie Fowler), To Kill a Mockingbird (Miss Maudie), Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzie), Shrek (Dragon, Blind Mouse, Blue Dulocian), and Into the Woods (The Baker’s Wife and The Witch in separate productions).

Lisa is an alumnus and Guild Member of The Texas Shakespeare Festival as well as a board member and secretary for the Black Hills Playhouse Alumni Association where she raises funds with a team of theatre supporters for new programs and needed improvements for the Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park, South Dakota. Her newest affiliations are with Estill voice training and Somatic Voicework (sm), the LoVetri Method, and she looks forward to continuing her studies in both.