Space 55 Ensemble
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 Phoenix, she has appeared in Nicky Goes Goth and Wordplays for Stray Cat Theatre. In 2007?, she founded Space 55, where she has appeared in The Book of Liz and The Visitation.
email Shawna at ShawnaFranks@Space55.org
Brandy Hotchner
Associate Artistic Director
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.
Michelle Wilcox
Education 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 MichelleWilcox@space55.org
Brandon Wiley
Production Manager
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 did added many shows to his resume. While at Phoenix College he hosted his own (internet) talk radio show The After School Special 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 Eric Harris, the Columbine High shooter. His Space 55 credits include Ubu Roi, The Gardener, Mare Biddle's Guy From '92, Greg Kotus's unpublished piece A Very, Very Bad Deal, and Sterling Lynch's Tangelico. His Space 55 directing credits include El Piledriver De Amor and A Cube With A View.
email Brandon at BrandonWiley@Space55.org
Richard Briggs
Director of 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
Benjamin Burt
Associate Ensemble
Benjamin Burt is very excited to join the Space 55 Theatre Ensemble. An avid actor, Ben was last seen in Space 55’s production of The Seduction of Almighty God. Before that, he was seen in Stray Cat Theatre’s production of columbinus, and had previously appeared in their productions Everything Will Be Different (Freddie) and Falling Petals (Phil). A theatre student at Arizona State University, Ben was last seen in their mainstage production of Naomi Izuka’s Anon(ymous). Ben attended Scottsdale Community College as a Film Production major, and later ASU as a Theatre major.
email Benjamin at BenjaminBurt@Space55.org