4: Shawna Franks and Bob Fisher

4: Shawna Franks and Bob Fisher Shawna and Bob are a seriously creative power couple. Shawna's the artistic director of Space 55 Theatre at Seventh and Pierce streets in Phoenix. Bob directs, acts, and improvises there, and is the occasional host of "Seven Minutes in Heaven." They've been married for...

By Claire Lawton

September 27, 2010

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4: Shawna Franks and Bob Fisher

Shawna and Bob are a seriously creative power couple. Shawna's the artistic director of Space 55 Theatre at Seventh and Pierce streets in Phoenix. Bob directs, acts, and improvises there, and is the occasional host of "Seven Minutes in Heaven." They've been married for 16 years and have two sons.

They define Space 55 as a home for new work, and a low-cost artistic space for performers and audiences alike. "Our ensemble is small, but mighty," they write. "And we have amazing workshops for actors and writers run by amazing people."

Read more about Shawna and Bob after the jump ...

1. List five things on your inspiration wall ... real or imagined
SHAWNA: That what we have created has grown beyond us.
BOB: The kabillion hours people have put into our stage, our risers, and our space -- and that's not even counting the shows!
SHAWNA: The ensemble.
BOB: The proximity and commitment to customer service of the Rose and Crown.
SHAWNA: Oh, yeah, Rose and Crown!

2. What was your last big project?

SHAWNA: Seven Minutes in Heaven, and before that, "Tangelico" and "Cube
with a View".

3. What's your next big project?
BOB: Our 2010-2011 season, which is coming together like omelets you make out of stuff in your refrigerator. A delicious surprise.

4. Why do you do what you do? SHAWNA: I love theatre, and I love working with my friends.
BOB: Seeing and doing live theatre grows your soul, which in this world is the ultimate act of defiance.

5. What's something you want phoenix to know about you? (and if you're game, what's something you don't want phoenix to know about you?)
BOB: Space 55 is the address in the trailer park of the trailer Shawna grew up in.
SHAWNA: SPACE 55 began when we first moved to Phoenix and I didn't know a soul. I began inviting actors over to read plays at my kitchen table. I made them dinner so they would come. Sometimes great art is born out of loneliness, hunger and bribery.

The Creatives, so far:

100. Fausto Fernandez
99. Brian Boner
98. Carol Panaro-Smith
97. Jane Reddin
96. Adam Dumper
95. Mayme Kratz
94. Daniel Tantalean
93. Yuri Artibise
92. Lisa Starry
91. Paul Hoeprich
90. Betsy Schneider
89. Mary Shindell
88: Gabriel Utasi
87: Tiffany Egbert
86. Angela Cazel Jahn
85. Dayvid LeMmon
84. Beatrice Moore
83. Michelle J. Martinez
82. Carrie Bloomston
81. Paul Porter
80. Rachel Bess
79. Karolina Sussland
78. Aaron Abbott
77. Mary Lucking
76. Erin Sotak
75. Greg Esser
74. Matthew Mosher
73. Mark Klett
72. Tony Carrillo
71. Paul Morris
70. Joe Pagac
69. Alison King
68. JJ Horner
67. Kim Porter
66. Marco Rosichelli
65. Heather Hales
64. Amy Lamp
63. Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker
62. Lindy Drew
61. Robbie Pfeffer
60. Neil Borowicz
59. Lynn Fisher
58. Tanner Woodford
57. David Tinapple
56. Casebeer
55. Tom Leveen
54. Patti Parsons
53. Tedd McDonah
52. Mike Maas
51. Chris Todd
50. Monica Aissa Martinez
49. Stefan Shepherd
48. Jenny Poon
47. Matt Moore
46. Andrea Hanley
45. Julie Hampton
44. Ted Decker
43. Saskia Jorda
42. Michael Bergfalk
41. Scott Baxter
40. Carrie Marill
39. Kobina Banning
38. Suzanne Falk
37. Jon Haddock
36. Kade Twist
35. Cindy Dach
34. John Wagner
33. Roy Wasson Valle
32. Sue Chenoweth
31. Patricia Colleen Murphy
30. David Quan
29. Lesli Yazzie
28. Nathan Feller
27. Cassandra Coblentz
26. Matt Dickson
25. Tara Logsdon
24. Gennaro Garcia
23. Tiphanie Brooke
22. Dan Semenchuk
21. James Angel
20. Tessa Windt
19. Mitch Fry
18. Miro Chun
17. Randy Slack
16. Abbey Messmer
15. Jessica Jordan
14. Brent Bond
13. Peter Shikany
12. Carolyn Lavender
11.Derek A. Welte
10. James E. Garcia
9. Stephanie Carrico
8. John Spiak
7. Quincy Ross
6. Steven Yazzie
5. Morgan McNally

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