Shawna Franks
Artistic Director
Shawna Franks is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. She began acting in Chicago, where she originated the role of Dottie in Killer Joe by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts. Shawna performed this role at The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, The Bush Theatre in London and The Vaudeville Theatre on London’s West End. She has also appeared onstage in Dublin and Los Angeles. In 2006, she founded Space 55, where she has produced and appeared in numerous productions.
email Shawna at ShawnaFranks@Space55.org
Michelle Kable
Associate Artistic Director
Michelle is a native of the Midwest, but now calls Arizona her home. She dabbles in singing, teaching, dancing poorly and knitting. Michelle is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Theatre for Youth MFA program. Her thesis project, Breaking the Silence, was an original play based on interviews with youth in treatment facilities. Michelle has taught for Free Arts of Arizona, Phoenix Theatre, East Valley Children’s Theatre and PB&J Theatre Company in Tucson. She’s a relatively organized person and likes to know what’s going on, so she finds comfort in managing the stage.
email Michelle at MichelleKable@space55.org
Richard Briggs
Ensemble/Public Relations
Richard Briggs first appeared at Space 55 Theater Ensemble in the 2008 10 Min Play Showcase, and his most recent appearance was in The Seduction of Almighty God by the Boy Priest Loftus in 2009. Other memorable Space 55 credits include Ubu Roi, Untitled, and The Bakers of Lakewood. Richard received his Bachelor’s degree in Acting from California State University, Bakersfield where he is also a founding member of The Empty Space Theater Company. Richard or Dickie as he is known to his family and friends is excited and honored to have found a home here at Space 55.
Email Richard at RichardBriggs@space55.org
Bob Fisher
Ensemble
Bob Fisher is the lucky husband of Space 55 Artistic Director Shawna Franks. Lucky again to be working with so many talented and hardworking people on this production. At Space 55, Bob is the host of the Seven Minutes in Heaven shows, and recently directed two pieces in the 10 Minute Play Festival. He also supports, teaches and performs with the improvisors of the Torch Theatre. As a member of the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, Bob co-authored several shows including Co-Ed Prison Sluts: The Musical, which has now run for a grand total of fourteen years. With Cardiff Giant, Bob co-authored LBJFKKK, Rancho Obscuro, Aftertaste: The Musical, and Dreamy. Bob also performed as a member of the National Touring Company of the Second City.
Ryan Gaumont
Ensemble
Ryan is proud to have found a home in the warm embrace of Space 55 to focus his artistic endeavors. While wrapping up his education in Theatre at a large university in Tempe, AZ he has been active in Space 55′s productions (A Cube With A View, Night of the Chicken, El Piledriver De Amor, Divorce Play, and 7 Minutes in Heaven) and producing his own on a monthly basis with the sketch comedy group Bully Mammoth. In addition to theatre, Ryan produces music with composer Michael Markowski (www.yourbasictuneandlube.com) and is also active in producing independent film projects as well. There is no other theatre in the valley Ryan would rather be working at than Space 55 and that is a fact.
Email Ryan at RyanGaumont@gmail.com
Elizabeth Athetis
Ensemble
Elizabeth is a theatre major and someday plans to finish her degree with a BA in fine arts. Her Space 55 acting credits include A Cube With A View, Night of the Chicken, Divorce Pla and El Piledriver De Amour. She continues to study acting with Space 55′s very own Brandy Hotchner. Space 55 is a diamond in the rough and I am darn proud to be working with this supremely talented group of people.
Email Elizabeth at elizabethathetis@gmail.com
Kim Porter
Ensemble
Kim Porter is a playwright, performer, dramaturg and educator who currently writes and teaches in Phoenix, Arizona. Porter’s critically acclaimed plays have won a variety of awards for numerous productions in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Phoenix. Most recently her play Munched won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award, The LA WEEKLY award and the McDonald Award for Playwriting excellence. As an actor, Porter has performed in Texas, California and Arizona for the last 25 years. Over the last 15 years Porter has developed and/or directed dozens of solo-plays for many well-respected solo performers. In the 25 years that Porter has worked in professional theatre, she’s done almost every job a person can do in theatre. Porter currently balances teaching playwriting and solo-performance at Space 55 with writing her own plays and screenplays. In 2011 Porter was the recipient of the Phoenix New Times Big Brain Award.
Brandy Hotchner
Associate Ensemble
Brandy received her BA in Directing from the University of Redlands and her MFA in Acting from the Actor’s Studio. Over the ten years Brandy lived and worked as an Actor, Comedian and Director in New York, she had the opportunity to train with great artists such as William Esper, Ellyn Burstyn, Arthur Penn, Estelle Parsans, Anne Bogart, Barbara Poitier, and Michael Schulman. While living in London, she trained in Grotowsky and Shakespeare with teachers from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts at Middlesex Drama School. Brandy is particularly proud of the work she did as a director collaborating with playwrights at Ensemble Studio Theatre and Playwrights Horizons and the Actor’s Studio. Brandy relocated to the valley six years ago and began work as the Education Outreach, Theater Specialist at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. While there she created and developed programs such as the Center Stage Awards and Cultural Connections through the Arts – Middle School, while producing original works festivals and managing dynamic programs for youth throughout the valley.
Brandon Wiley
Associate Ensemble
Brandon Wiley moved back to The Valley in 2002 after a long stint in the south where he realized he loved to entertain after he was, as a freshman, accidently cast into his high school production of Guy & Dolls, only to make him further realize that he hates musical theater…with a passion. Upon moving back he had a short career with Valley Youth Theatre in which he won an ariZoni for his portrayal of The Mad Hatter in Alice In Wonderland. His thank you speech ended with, “Thanks…suckers.” He never did a show with VYT again. He then studied acting and film making at Scottsdale Community and Phoenix College where he learned nothing but added many shows to his resume. While at Phoenix College he hosted his own (internet) talk radio show with co-host, local comedian Will Hightower. He was later banned from the station for content. Recently he was seen in Stray Cat Theatre’s columbinus in which he earned an ariZoni nomination for his portrayal of Columbine High shooter Eric Harris as well as Nearly Naked’s Time Square Angel in which he was a flamboyant angel. His Space 55 credits include Ubu Roi, The Gardener, Mare Biddle’s Guy From 1992, Greg Kotus’s unpublished piece A Very, Very Bad Deal, and Tangelico. His Space 55 directing credits include El Piledriver De Amor and A Cube With A View. He currently resides in San Francisco, CA where he is furthering his acting career.
email Brandon at TheReverendWiley@live.com
