Daily Inspiration: Meet David Lorello

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Lorello.

Hi David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began my career as an actor in NYC, where I appeared in lots of crap. Feeling relatively unfulfilled, and after a few years of not giving it my all, I moved to Minneapolis to work as an Assistant Producer for a theater company. During that time, I focused primarily on business problems. There wasn’t much creativity in what I was doing. However, I did appreciate the health insurance I had. I planned to return to school and find a job that would allow me to earn a livable wage, have health insurance, and still leave time to audition and pursue acting. I went back to school to earn my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Long story short, my original plans changed during my time in school, leading me to Phoenix, where I continue to work as a physical therapist at one of the country’s largest burn centers. Working at the Arizona Burn Center and becoming an expert in burn rehabilitation has been an incredible experience. Still, I have always sought ways to connect with an audience. I have utilized my acting skills to teach and present on burn rehabilitation at numerous conferences across the country, and I have developed these teaching abilities into faculty positions for physical therapy programs here in the valley. Currently, I serve as an Associate Professor at Franklin Pierce University in Goodyear.

To deepen my connections with audiences, I have performed with several improv teams here in Phoenix and have occasionally collaborated with the sketch comedy group SCRATCH! Despite my successes, I have never fully felt fulfilled with my work and have been seeking new ways to engage with audiences. In 2024, I decided to return to my roots and shake off the cobwebs by taking an acting class at Arizona Actors Academy in Phoenix. This was one of the best decisions I ever made. Over the past year, I have been on a roll, acting for some incredible local theater companies. Most recently, I am making my debut with Ghosteater Theatre Company, playing the title character in their production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. I also portrayed Shylock in The Merchant of Venice with Southwest Shakespeare Company. Other notable roles include Cominius in Ronin Theatre Company’s production of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, playing Alan in Theatre Artists Studio’s production of THIS, and Oronte in Southwest Shakespeare’s production of The School for Lies. I have also been fortunate to sign with an agent, and I have been further exploring acting in commercials and film.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Throughout my professional career, I continually encounter the same roadblocks. I achieve success with something new, yet I feel unfulfilled; then, I pursue a new endeavor, find success, and repeat the cycle. Each area of unfulfillment leads me back to the same thing: engaging with an audience. My whole life, the thing I have loved most is acting. It wasn’t until I recently worked with a coach who pointed out that this has been the central theme the entire time.

There are numerous reasons for these roadblocks. The business of acting is brutal, and I certainly had my fair share of teachers and directors who were fierce in their criticism of me. As a young, inexperienced actor, it had a profound effect on me, not just as an actor but as a person. Each audition that I didn’t book was not only a comment on me as an actor but on my self-worth. When I was younger, it was easy to decide to pursue something else because, until that point, I felt like a complete failure.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For the first time in my life, I consider myself an actor above all else. That is what I am. That is what I do. All my other jobs and successes are simply things I’ve done and experiences I’ve had. It took me a long time to realize this. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the journey I’ve taken. Of course, with age comes wisdom, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without the path I’ve followed. Over time, I’ve changed my mindset regarding acting. When I was younger, I would have said that the reason I love it so much is that I get to become someone else. But now, I believe my job as an actor is not to become someone else; rather, it is to reveal who I am through the prism of the character I portray. I mean, it’s me on that stage or in front of that camera. I bring with me a lifetime of experiences.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Not just for me, but for all artists out there, please support the arts in all mediums, especially live theater, whenever you can. We do this work to tell stories and connect with an audience, and that work needs to be seen to succeed. Additionally, I am always seeking new ways to connect with audiences. This is why I also teach. If I can connect with and inspire someone through my teaching, I find those moments incredibly profound. I am happy to work with organizations looking to inspire and create change in their communities. I would love to help or collaborate with individuals seeking to establish stronger connections with the people they serve.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @david_lorello
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lorello-81530278/

Image Credits
Theater pic – Devon Christopher Adams