Review Fix Exclusive: Inside ‘Faculty Portrait’ With Sean DeMers

Review Fix chats with playwright Sean DeMers about his his thought-provoking new play, “Faculty Portrait.”

About the Production:

Prime Number Productions – as part of the 3B Development series at IRT Theatre presents a powerful new play by Sean David DeMers about a school shooting. Faculty Portrait; running March 3 – 23, 2020.

A year after a school shooting claimed the life of his wife, Mr. Y finds himself teaching in the same classroom where the tragedy occurred. As he is interviewed for the school yearbook, Mr. Y and his students revisit the memories of life before and after the shooting. Faculty Portrait examines the strength it takes to face tragedy and pick up the pieces for the good of the community.

This production is directed by Ariel Francoeur and features a cast that includes Phoebe Holden, Julie Thaxter-Gourlay, Russ Cusick, Shammah Speed Waller, Molly Schenkenberger, and Jessica Nesi.

At IRT theatre, 154 Christopher Street; NYC #3B (third floor). Tickets $15 Tickets Available February 1.

Review Fix: What was your inspiration behind this project?

Sean DeMers: In 2013, there was an article about Newtown and how the community was still healing a year after the Sandy Hook murders. It was heartbreaking. I had just finished my first semester of Graduate School at the University of Iowa and on the first day of teacher orientation, my supervisor told us we were teaching in Van Allen Hall which was were an infamous shooting had taken place. For the rest of the semester I was constantly thinking of how to protect myself and where the exits were–how traumatized I was by simply hearing the story–and when I read the article I was absolutely horrified. How could anyone find the strength to carry on after such a tragedy? By the end of my first year, it became clear that my writing was focusing on history so when I turned to the challenge of a contemporary issue there was really only one problem on my mind.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

DeMers: As a playwright, I tend to think about a question, theme, story for some time before drafting. There are sometimes scenes or thoughts that are written down, but I like to have a clear story and ending–even if that ending changes while writing–before I begin. There’s something about having that full draft complete that helps me move forward through the editing process. 

Review Fix: What did you learn/are learning about yourself through this process/production?

DeMers: My grandmother, Helen, lived to be a hundred years old and one of my favorite memories is taking her to vote in 2006 during the midterm election. We talked about voting history, our family, the day, but the most exciting result was a couple of years later when she called me out of the blue to talk about Barack Obama–how thrilled she was to have lived to witness such a historic event. In short, I’m learning to enjoy the experience of the theatrical process–which, as a playwright and producer, can sometimes deal a series of crushing blows–but these harbingers are often balanced with true joy and surprise and in the end these conflicts create a wonderful harmony.

Review Fix: What are your ultimate goals for this for the future?

DeMers: Simply to share the play and hope that it means as much to others as it has to me.

Review Fix: What’s next?

DeMers: Honestly, I haven’t thought that far ahead. There are projects swirling–a musical, a history play, a vacation–but for now they remain in the ether.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13819 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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