Shannon Mercer

Shannon Mercer is a professional actor from Fall River, Massachusetts. A dancer since the age of eight, she realized early on that there was just something about the stage that made her feel at home. After a performance in her Middle School production of A Christmas Carol, Shannon's director praised her work and suggested she start taking acting classes. She took her advice to heart and later went on to earn two associates degrees from Bristol Community College (BCC); the first in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Theatre Performance and the second in Business Management, which she says has helped her manage the business side of her acting career. After BCC, she studied Theatre Performance at Salem State University, earning a BA in Arts and Sciences. Known as a very positive person, Shannon continues to train and audition in hopes of one day breaking into the LA film scene. She speaks highly of many of her teachers including Kate Kohler Amory, David Allen George, Steve Blackwood and Fran Weinberg, with whom she receives private coaching. Shannon says acting gives her a sense of finding herself and where she belongs. It's entertaining, but still shows people what life is really like. Being able to combine those two elements is what makes being an actor so fulfilling. She also loves the freedom of expression performing allows. She says, "In society we have limits. Everyone saying 'You can't do that.' With acting, there are no limits, and you have complete freedom in expressing yourself." Shannon has performed on both screen and stage, including the original theatrical work, Shadows of a Dream, with the Bristol Community College Theatre Rep. Her favorite theatre role to date has been Mary MacGregor in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. She said it was a very challenging, yet fun role; having to stutter and have a Scottish accent at the same time. She was also required to play multiple ages, which added an extra challenge. Her film credits to date include being a featured parent in the Columbia Pictures production of Sex Tape and a number of other locally filmed movies, such as TED and Here Comes The Boom. In the future, Shannon would love to work on her favorite soap opera, Days of Our Lives. She also wants to someday be on set with Merayl Streep, who she says is a great actress to learn from. Aside from acting, Shannon studies aerial skills with Teresa Kochis at Overhead Arts in New Bedford. She says this helps her tremendously as an actor and recommends all actors try it because it reduces your fear of letting go and teaches you to live in the moment. She also enjoys dance, hula hooping, softball, and roller skating. With her positive attitude, professional demeanor (she always arrives early to set,) and ongoing performing and training, Shannon Mercer will continue to be a force to reckon with in the acting community.