Hi, I’m
David
Gorshein
I'm a |
Creative strategist and educator with a Ph.D. in Performance, specializing in crafting impactful campaigns and experiences that resonate across cultures and platforms.
I’m a creative strategist and educator with a passion for storytelling, cultural resonance, and audience impact.
My approach blends agency leadership with academic depth, connecting ideas to experiences that move people. As Creative Director at The Sheppard Group, I lead campaigns for iconic brands like Pizza Hut (Global, U.S., Canada), Taco Bell, USTA, and Chase. My experiential work spans immersive video, live events, and cross-platform campaigns—and has garnered attention from outlets such as The New York Times. I also serve as a Continuing Lecturer at UCLA, where I teach large-scale digital courses on storytelling and performance. My teaching reaches a thousand students annually and has earned recognition for innovation in digital learning.
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Ph.D
Theater and Performance Studies
University of California, Los Angeles -
B.A. with High Honors
Communication
Text to Performance
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Best Conference, Biz Bash Event Experience Awards
Taco Bell Franchisee Convention: “Unstoppa-Bell”
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Nominee, GLAAD Media Award, Outstanding Talk Show Episode
Conan, First same-sex wedding aired on Late Night TV
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Merit Excellence Review
UCLA 2024
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Continuing Lecturer Status
UCLA 2019
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Fellow
Mellon Program on the Holocaust in American and World Culture
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Recipient
UCLA Library Affordable Course Materials Initiative
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Grants
UCLA Office of Instructional Development
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Research Fellowship, Moscow, Russia
UM Global Intercultural Experience
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Fellowship
UM Global Intercultural Experience
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Research Prize
James Pendleton Foundation
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Debut Prize, LGBT Focus Group
Association for Theater in Higher Ed
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Performance Studies
Northwestern University Summer Institute
Academic
Publications
• Social
• Peer-Reviewed
Jews on Broadway
Transposing Broadway
The Dig: Death + Genesis + The Double Helix
Teaching
UCLA
I’m currently a Continuing Lecturer at UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television, where I’ve taught 65+ courses, including
Online
-Introduction to Theater
-History of American Musical Theater
On Campus / Hybrid
-Introduction to Theater
-History of American Musical Theater
-History of American Theater and Drama
-Global Theater History 1
-Global Theater History 2
-Global Theater History 3
-Play Reading & Analysis
-Jewish Theater
-Classical and Medieval Theater
As an instructional designer, I’ve won the UCLA Library Affordable Course Materials Award to make textbooks more accessible to my students.
And I’ve served as a rep for UCLA Admissions since 2012.
California State University, Long Beach
-Theater, Protest & Social Change
-Dramatic Theory and Criticism
Loyola Marymount University
-Western Theatre History and Literature 2
-19th Century US Theater
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
-Early Theater Traditions
-American Theater History
-Musical Theater History
Testimonials
“I love the required screenings, Admittedly, I found it hard to be interested in the first few readings but as time went on I gained a great appreciation for how the readings, the screenings, and the lecture speak to each other. I would not change anything about the structure of the course.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023
“I am truly impressed by how much I was able to learn during the course of the last six weeks, and I am truly grateful that I have been a part of this course. Professor Gorshein organized the course perfectly, and I applaud his continuous effort, enthusiasm and positivity.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023
“David is an AMAZING professor. He genuinely cares about his students, and wants you to succeed in his class. He is extremely accommodating if you need an extensions due to life/pandemic whatnots, and truly goes the extra mile to support his students. His enthusiasm for our presentations is so refreshing. His knowledge and experience makes him the ideal professor for this difficult class.”
CSULB Anonymous Evaluation
2021
“Professor Gorshein’s course changed all my knowledge of the theater I had. His passionate explanation was fascinating.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023
“I love the required screenings, Admittedly, I found it hard to be interested in the first few readings but as time went on I gained a great appreciation for how the readings, the screenings, and the lecture speak to each other. I would not change anything about the structure of the course.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023
“I am truly impressed by how much I was able to learn during the course of the last six weeks, and I am truly grateful that I have been a part of this course. Professor Gorshein organized the course perfectly, and I applaud his continuous effort, enthusiasm and positivity.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023
“David is an AMAZING professor. He genuinely cares about his students, and wants you to succeed in his class. He is extremely accommodating if you need an extensions due to life/pandemic whatnots, and truly goes the extra mile to support his students. His enthusiasm for our presentations is so refreshing. His knowledge and experience makes him the ideal professor for this difficult class.”
CSULB Anonymous Evaluation
2021
“Professor Gorshein’s course changed all my knowledge of the theater I had. His passionate explanation was fascinating.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023
“I love the required screenings, Admittedly, I found it hard to be interested in the first few readings but as time went on I gained a great appreciation for how the readings, the screenings, and the lecture speak to each other. I would not change anything about the structure of the course.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023
“I am truly impressed by how much I was able to learn during the course of the last six weeks, and I am truly grateful that I have been a part of this course. Professor Gorshein organized the course perfectly, and I applaud his continuous effort, enthusiasm and positivity.”
UCLA Anonymous Evaluation
2023-
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(323) 213 9684