Settling in...

Hey Gang!

Sorry it's been a week since I last wrote. I have had some huge adjustments to make but think that, for the most part, I'm finally getting a routine down and settling in. TRaveling on the bus has been hard but we had a fun 4 days in Philadelphia where the bus wasn't even in the equation so it was nice to have a break for a bit. We are about to have 18 straight days with shows, no days off and traveling on most of those days is included but I think it will be a blast because there are some fun places coming up! I am really looking forward to going to Morristown NJ next week because I know I have a lot of family, some that have never seen me perform in ANYTHING, all coming to see the show and that means the world to me. It was a lot of fun being in Red Bank and having tons of family there as well because I wouldn't have the courage to follow my dreams if I didn't have the support that an amazing family like mine has given to me....so THANK YOU!

I also finally got to do some heated yoga in Philly which made life SOOO much more bearable because my body was feeling the consequences of not having yoga in my life for 3 weeks straight...which to some may not seem that long but if you know me well enough to know how often I do yoga...you know that that was nothing but torture! Also coming up we go to Bklyn and I get to stay with the lovely and talented Brad Deck which is going to be fun too. The nicest thing about touring is that if you are staying in a shitty hotel or a town in the middle of nowwhere, you know that you won't be there for too long so it makes you look forward to the next venue. I do miss home a lot though. I miss having a schedule where you know what you are going to do the next day and I miss having a closet to pick from a variety of clothes rather than a suitcase that recycles my same stuff day after day...lol. I miss having my own personal space, because believe me when I say that it is non-existent here and I miss my mom...A LOT. I miss having a social life that takes me away for a bit....I've been lucky enough to maintain my motivation to go to the gym because I find the nearest gym to whereever we are and still get up in the morning to go because it's the only time I truly have to myself...so by the time I get back from the gym is when everyone else is just waking up. Feels pretty good...not gonna lie! haha

My roommates are awesome. I have had so many laughs with them over the past nights and I'm reassured EVERY night of how blessed I was to pick the two amazing guys that I am with to share the majority of my time with. One roomie, Ken, even went to yoga with me twice this week so it's cool that they totally share in my interests and are just genuinely great people.

hmmm...what else should I share??? The venues for the show have been so fun to see too. Every stage is soooo different and I LOVE the challenge of readjusting on a moments notice to a particular venue or smaller stage. That stuff keeps it fresh and fun. My favorite part of the show is ironically the bows....because to look out at huge audiences of people that are all on their feet and dancing and singing along to the music is the most inspiring and heartwarming feeling in the world. I was talking to the trumpet player today who has been touring for 11 years and he put it best that..."we get paid to travel, but we work for free" and it was the perfect way to look at it...b/c I'll admit I'm not making that much money for everything that I have sacrificed to be here....but at the end of EVERY performance I am able to say "wow...I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world." You can have the shittiest day ever where the bus was 10 hours long and your body aches from the ride and carrying your luggage to your room off the bus....but every night ends with that finale....it's pretty amazing. So as we roll into Easton, PA....I say that I will talk to you real soon!! xo

-Shannon

...and it's only the beginning!

Hi Gang!

So we are back on the road again after a short visit to MD. It was a different venue for sure. We had two glorious days off, one of which was a "golden day" meaning we did not have to travel and did not have a show. Last nights show was in an arena where our dressing rooms were literally a locker room and it was FREEEEEEEEZING! The audience was AMAZING though! Rumor has it that there were about 2,000 people there and it sounded as though they really really enjoyed the show! I LOVE my roommates! I am living with two wonderful gentlemen who are very fun and have provided me with many many laughs over the past three nights. It has been a challenge for me to adjust to an entirely different schedule than I am used to. Many of you who know me well know that I am a morning person and have entirely toooo much energy so to have late night shows and get up later in the day is like work for me....haha It's most difficult on these early morning bus rides because as I sit here and type this now, everyone....literally, is sleeping on the bus but I'm wiiiiide awake. I even went for a run at 5:30 to try and get some energy out but it's just no use! haha

I really miss home a lot but I am constantly reminding myself that if I was home, I really wouldn't be doing anything terribly exciting...so I am exactly where I need to be! I do, however, miss my yoga more than anything! I am excited that next week when we are in PA, there is a Bikram studio right next door to our hotel so I will be there without a doubt...my body needs it! Other than that I have been able to keep up at the gym so far so I haven't lost my sanity:) It's amazing how much I value that time now because it is the only chance to get away on my own for a bit, which as you can imagine, is very necessary when you live, travel, work, rehearse and hang out with the same 30 people all day and everyday!

For those of you curious about the best places to go that are near Rochester, I think the best bet would be one of the performances in Canada. Those shows are the first few days of February. Unfortunately, I think those are the closest venues. Make sure you check out the tour schedule and locations at www.hairsprayontour.com

We are headed to CT now for one performance and then off to Baltimore tomorrow morning for a few shows. Oh the joy of riding on a bus in very very VERY tight quarters is waring off a bit early....haha Hope everyone is doing well and knows how much I miss them! Stay in touch and let me know what's going on back home! Much Love- - -

-Shannon

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:)