David Rotenberg was a master acting teacher for over 40 years. The roster of his past students reads like a who’s-who in the ranks of Canadian actors, including Tatiana Maslany, Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman, Sarah Gadon, Ennis Esmer, Patrick Adams, Shamier Anderson, David Hirsh, Jonas Chernick, and Shawn Doyle.
David directed on Broadway, in major regional theatres, for television, and has published thirteen novels. His five Zhong Fong novels are under consideration by HBO; his best selling historical fiction novel, SHANGHAI, has been optioned by Darius Films; his trilogy – THE JUNCTION CHRONICLES has been optioned by Don Kurt who produced the Emmy award winning series Justified. THE DREAM CHRONICLES is also available in bookstores. And in 2021, David’s published ACT! The Modern Actors Handbook, which is a comprehensive overview of his acting principles and techniques.
David taught at York University, the National Theatre School of Canada, the Shanghai Theatre Academy, the University of Cape Town, and Princeton. He taught across Canada and North America, from Halifax to Montreal to Vancouver and to Los Angeles. He directed the first Canadian play in the People’s Republic of China. David directed at Penn State University, and also adapted and directed F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. His unique techniques draw students from as far a field as Turkey, South Africa, Mexico, China, the UK, and of course, across Canada and the USA.
He will be missed dearly by many.