Shannon Rafferty is originally from Albany, NY, where she was born into a family of the arts.  Her grandfather is a Pulitzer Prize winning author, her grandmother was a Broadway and television actress, her father was also an actor, and her mother has worked in production on many films. So, it was no surprise when Shannon decided at age 9 what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Shannon began taking dance classes in preschool and began performing in kindergarten when she starred in The Teddy Bear Picnic as the Camper. Her kindergarten teacher told her mother she was the Erma Bombeck of Miller Hill Elementary. She had a loud voice and the personality to boot!

At the age of nine, Shannon took on her first professional role as Molly in Annie Warbucks. Over the years Shannon has developed a reputation for her many hair colors and her chameleon-like diversity. Her range of portrayals on stage has spanned to include the daydreaming Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, to Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller’s uncompromising, forthright, committed teacher in The Miracle Worker.

Shannon continues to hone her craft with every opportunity she gets. She moved to New York City immediately after high school to begin training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and soon after graduating, became a member of the Actor’s Equity Association.  Shannon has had the opportunity to work with stage pro’s, from Horton Foote to Brian Dennehy, and is incredibly grateful for every opportunity she is given.

In 2008, Shannon returned to the capital region to finish her Bachelors in Theater at Russell Sage College. While attending school, she worked quite frequently with NYSTI, the professional theater on campus, performing in shows such as the critically acclaimed Yours Anne (Anne Frank), as well as King Island Christmas, and Orphan Train, both directed by the American Theatre Hall of Famer Patricia Birch.  Shannon graduated with honors and recently landed the understudy for all four roles in Merry Go Round Playhouse’s summer production of The Marvelous Wonderettes! Currently, Shannon is auditioning like a crazy person.  Stay tuned for more updates!  To contact Shannon, CLICK HERE.