Shem, a talented individual, embarked on a journey to hone his craft in acting, initially studying at New York's prestigious High School of Performing Arts and later refining his skills at Juilliard. His academic pursuits didn't stop there, as he went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in playwriting from The University of Iowa.
Throughout his illustrious career, Shem has written and produced numerous plays, with Sensitive Skin being his 19th produced work. Other notable plays include The Job at Circus Theatricals, which received the LA Times Critic's Circle Award for Best New Play and was published by Samuel French and Smith & Kraus. The Circle, another notable work, was a 2005 Pen/West Finalist and featured at Circus Theatricals in LA.
Shem's extensive repertoire also includes Ten Below, a production starring Kevin Conway and Anthony Edwards, which won the National Play Award. Peephole, a one-woman show, was performed at Geva and won the Davie Award. Night-Side, a solo performance, was showcased at Actor's Theatre of Louisville, starring Pamela Gien. The Ramp, which premiered at South Coast Rep, took home the Californian Playwright's Competition award, while Beijing Legends, performed at the Pacific Jewish Theatre, won the Fund For New American Plays award.
In addition to his theatrical accomplishments, Shem has also ventured into film, with notable productions including Lenexa, 1 Mile, starring Paul Wesley, Jason Ritter, Chris Klein, and William Baldwin; Peephole, directed by Shem himself; "Out of the Rain" starring Bridget Fonda; Off the Lip starring Marguerite Moreau; Tinseltown starring Joe Pantoliano and Ron Perlman; and Open House starring Jason Wiles.
Shem has had the privilege of developing and acting in plays at esteemed institutions such as The Mark Taper Forum, Sundance, the Midwest Playlabs, and Steppenwolf. His writing skills have also been utilized by prominent film companies like Warner Brothers, Dreamworks, Disney, and numerous independent film companies. Furthermore, he has taught screenwriting, playwriting, and acting in the Californian Prisons and in Beijing, China, sharing his expertise with aspiring artists from diverse backgrounds.
