And so it begins....

HEY GANG!!!

So...in an effort to stay in touch with EVERYONE and to fulfill the requests for a blog, HERE IT IS! I will be filling you in every step of the way as I cross the country on my new home...aka the bus....which has wireless access to help make this much easier for me! Today is the first official bus ride...it's not extravagant by ANY means...its not even good....it quite frankly sucks....but it gets the job done and I get to talk to all you lovely people that I miss on a daily basis so it's not all that bad!

Today is the first "day off" since the day after Christmas. We have officially run the show 15 times this week...9 of which were for a live audience at the MGM Grand Casino in CT. The theatre sat 4,000 people and was the most beautiful theatre I have ever seen....but maybe I'm just biased because it's where my official professional touring debut will forever remain! On opening night, I was beyond blessed to have my amazing parents, my second family the Gallaghers and a surprise from my Aunt all there to see! The moment that curtain went up, my eyes legit filled with tears (surprise...Shannon got emotional??? no shit! haha). It is the most surreal experience to be in a show that I remember seeing when it opened on Broadway when I was 14 and I so vividly remember during the curtain call saying..."I WANT TO DO THAT SOOO BAD!" and now I am!! I was onstage that night and saw a little girl sitting in the front row dancing in her seat during the finale and I had the biggest out of body experience remembering when that was me. The show is beyond fun to do and I cannot wait for everyone to just experience the joy that this show brings when they get to see it! So PLEASE let me know ASAP if you are coming and which city so that I can try and take you backstage or at least be sure to come out after the show to meet you:)

Also, Saturday, my love AMANDA McDOWALL came to surprise me with her mom!!! It made it so exciting to have her here because people will never realize the amount of hard work dedication, discipline, patience, confidence and energy that even an ensemble role like mine takes...but Amanda totally knew and it meant the world to me!

So next stop....Maryland! We have tonight and tomorrow off with a dress rehearsal and a show Wednesday night and then BACK to CT for a show Thursday night where my Brother will be!!!!

So....I'm really new at this blogging thing which means you are all going to have to help me out by asking questions that you are curious about...otherwise I will just ramble with a lot of exclaimation points and sayings that I will look back on and be like...wow that was stupid...why did I write that. Not to mention...my seat partner Theo will get jealous of all the time that I put into this blog and not spend with him! haha so YAY!! The show is on the road and I look forward to hearing from everyone!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXO!

-Shannon aka...TamTam:)