Shawna Franks (Production Manager, The Ruse of Medusa; Actor, Phoebe in Winter) was most recently performed in Grand Concourse at Steppenwolf Theatre where she was honored to cover performances for the amazing Mariann Mayberry. Shawna is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, where she began her acting career. Shawna originated the role of Dottie in "Killer Joe" by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tracy Letts. She 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 in various productions in Dublin, Los Angeles and New York City. Shawna is the founding Artistic Director of Space 55 Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was awarded Best Actress in Phoenix New Times “Best Of” for the role of Elena in "Uncle Vanya" at her theatre, Space 55. Space 55 Theatre, also won Phoenix New Times, “Best Of” Best Black Box Theatre the same year. She was awarded the Phoenix New Times “Big Brain Award” for Best Performing Arts Collective and in 2010 she was named, Phoenix New Times, Top 100 Creatives List (Top 4). Shawna was nominated for The Governor’s Arts Award in Phoenix, Arizona. She lives in Evanston with her two sons Jackson and Samson.