Daniel Does DFW Theater
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Daniel Does DFW Theater
Whiskers, Whimsy, and Wisdom (with Shannon McGrann)
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Prepare to be captivated as the effervescent Shannon McGrann joins us on a theatrical odyssey in this week's episode of Daniel Does DFW. Shannon, who has been electrifying the DFW theater scene with her acting and unexpected singing talents, sits down to share the highs and lows of her storied career. We'll reminisce about a Halloween party that first connected us and dive into a hilarious tale involving her rambunctious cat Rosie—an adventure that nearly rerouted my path in theater.
The stage is set for an enlightening conversation where the precision of baking intertwines with the emotional finesse of acting. Theater pieces like "The Cake" and "Church and State" have been instrumental in questioning societal norms, and we'll discuss the complexities of portraying characters whose beliefs starkly contrast with her own. Listen in as we reminisce about the camaraderie that only decades on stage can foster and the poignant journey to equity actor status, all while sharing anecdotes that paint a vivid picture of the theater's enduring magic.
As we draw the curtain on this episode, authenticity and vulnerability take center stage. You'll get a front-row seat to our "Same Line, Different Meaning" game, where Shannon's impressive versatility comes to light, and we delve into the delicate balance that performers must strike in the public eye. From voicing characters in children's shows to eagerly awaiting her role in "Steel Magnolias," Shannon's resilience and dedication shine through. So grab your front-row ticket, tune in, and let the conversation—and the laughter—unfold.
If you want to catch all the action, you can watch the full episode video at YouTube.com/@DanielDoesDFW. Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok: @DanielDoesDFW
Hi guys, and welcome back to Daniel Does DFW, where we talk about everything theater. I am, daniel right? I hope so. Maybe we'll see. We're about to find out. I am super excited because we have our next guest and it's one of my favorite people and it's actually one of our first straight actors. Yes, you are correct, everybody before this was gay Maybe not, but no One of my favorite straight actors but they have done musicals. They just don't like to talk about them, so I'm going to make them talk about it today. Today on the show, we have one of my favorite people in the white world, shannon McGregor. Thanks, shannon, for being here today.
Speaker 2Thank you yes.
Speaker 1I had to drag her here you did To be on the show, because the very first thing you told me was I don't want to sing, no, and I know the history.
Speaker 3You don't want to hear me.
Speaker 1That is so incorrect.
Speaker 3Can I tell you everybody that I've talked to, because your two friends, mary grim and steve morris, said you know, shannon can actually sing, really really well.
Speaker 1No, I'm like the 80 annie it's okay if it's notes are weird or you know. Not there that?
Speaker 3no, because, steve, I'm a good enough actor that I can pull off a song, but I am not a good enough singer nowadays, especially because there's so much, it's so different than it is.
Speaker 1Yes, I would agree with that and we'll talk about how it's different a little bit. But I want to back up a little bit and talk about how we got to know each other and how I even know you. Period, my first meeting with you was actually I don't know if you even remember this, because it was so quick was a halloween party at mary's yes, yeah, yeah, mary through that small halloween party and that's actually where I met steve as well.
Speaker 1Oh, I didn't even realize it was him because he was wearing like a gorilla mask or something. I hope that was him. No, no, it was. Yeah, he was wearing some sort of mask, I don't remember. Yes, and um, I had already seen you in a show. No, you had just come off of doing, um, a doll's house part two, okay, and I was just in awe the whole time that you were there that I was nervous to even talk to you and I was like this is a lady that everybody's been talking and I think you had just come off of like, your two time award with like Dallas or DFW like best actress something like that.
Speaker 1Do you have the trophies?
Speaker 2at your house?
Speaker 1They don't give trophies they don't get, or money.
Speaker 3No, money no.
Speaker 1Well, you heard it, here there's no money in acting.
Speaker 3No, God no.
Speaker 1No, yeah, you heard it here. There's no money in acting. No, god, no, no, uh. Yeah, I think you had won like two consecutive years in a row. I'm not like that. Yeah, best actress in dfw. And I was like, sorry, I love it, no, um. And so I was like, oh, my goodness, this person is like the top act. I really was not in the theater world at all I really, I didn't know that at all.
Speaker 1Yeah, I was only in like music stuff, classical music, because I was in school with mary and we were both on the music track, not the theater track. And then, um, I think we met multiple other times with that and then I started dog sitting for mary and you were going out of town and you needed a cat sitter for your cats and Rosie yes, favorite cat, and I think I had never really been close to cats until I met Rosie Really yes.
Speaker 1Until Rosie scared the bejesus out of me. Do tell Daniel, yes, I will, because I remember all of the feelings that day. Shannon was out of town and it was late in the evening, probably like nine or so, and I just remember I'm looking all around for Rosie throughout the house, because Rosie is usually, you know, in bed or just whatever.
Speaker 3Cats or ghosts?
Speaker 1Yes, yes, and so I'm looking all around and I hear meowing and I look up and Rosie is above the entryway, like near the entrance. You have those stairs that go up and then you kind of have like a landing.
Speaker 3Yeah, that stupid landing. We don't know what to do with.
Speaker 1And Rosie is up there.
Speaker 3And I'm'm like rosie, what are you doing? And just jumps, dives down. Yes, she's never now.
Speaker 1I've never I've worried about that, but she's never done it well, yeah, while you were home, she waited until we left yes, and so I called you and I was like I don't know what's wrong. I don't think she's walking okay and like because she had gone into the closet. And in my head I'm like that's what pets? Do they go away from people to die on their own?
Speaker 3she's fine yeah, no, she has a slight skin condition, but that's nothing to do with that all because of the fall.
Speaker 1So and I just remember that moment being like oh my gosh, I killed Shannon McGrain's cat, the number one actress in TW. I am going to be blacklisted for the rest of my life and never going to be able to work in theater again.
Speaker 3None of that is true.
Speaker 1And yeah, look at me, nobody hires me. That's not true. I think it's because of you, shannon that's not true.
Speaker 3It's because of rosie daniel's in something right now I am, yeah, as we're taping this right now.
Speaker 1We just talked about it with mary's episode as well, but yeah, and sweeney todd so thank goodness um, I pushed rosie off that landing. You pushed her. I mean she jumped. I couldn't even get up there if I tried, I know.
Speaker 3I have tried.
Speaker 1Have you tried it's scarier than you think.
Speaker 3You think you're going to. Oh, I can just like ease my way out there because I wanted to hang something up there, because it's a stupid space, what do you put there? And then I got about two feet over and I was like no, I can't do it. I was right up all backwards.
Speaker 1Oh my God. Well, and it feels it's like a thin length from what I remember, I think. Does it connect?
Speaker 3It looks not as wide From standing on the floor it doesn't look as wide as it is, but it's like you know, good, two feet, yeah, I know, but it's, you know, when you're a grown-up and you think you have responsibilities, you probably shouldn't be doing that.
Speaker 1That's very, very true. Um, okay, so that's our history and how I got to know shannon. You wonderful shannon mcgrann. I want to know a little bit more about yours. I know that you really weren't even interested in theater yourself, correct?
Speaker 3well, I mean, my whole family is interested in theater. But I grew up watching my sister, erin, act, and my aunt is also an actress my father's sister and I used to. Just I don't know how I got away with it, but I would go to her rehearsals at high school and I would just hang out with my sister Erin, who's six years older than me, and just watch rehearsals. I kind of became a mascot sort of. And then I went to the same high school and I ended up having the same drama teacher, jan Trunk. She's amazing and wonderful, and she really just lit a fire in me and just made me believe in myself in a way that no one, no one in my life, had made me feel so. And then the only way that I could get through college was on a scholarship and I happened to get a full ride to Wesleyan so Texas Wesleyan, so in theater, and that's just kind of propelled me forward. And then suddenly I didn't know how to do anything except act.
Speaker 1So I um, have you done other things?
Speaker 3yes, I've always had, up until. I had my son I always had a full-time job okay, um, well, up until right before having my son, I always had a full-time job, you know, just doing whatever, and I've always had a commercial not always, but out of college I got a commercial agent and juggling all of those, you know, things is very difficult and you know, fortunately I can just do this now, but it's because I have a spouse who helps me out when I'm not making any money.
Speaker 1Yeah, and I think that that's definitely a good point to make. Right, If you have someone that can help you out, that's so helpful, but it is hard sometimes right, especially in our day, peace-mealing everything together.
Speaker 3You know, I mean contract to contract. Excuse me, it's difficult. I'm a person who seeks security, and so that's why I always had a full-time job.
Speaker 3You know, I need my insurance and it's difficult to keep your insurance with Actors' Equity because you have to work so consistently to keep your insurance with Actors' Equity because you have to work so consistently. And so I would always have another job that had my insurance and I could pay my rent and I could pay my car payment and you know things like that. And on top of it, at one point when I met my husband, I had three jobs Did this acting, and I waited tables and I had a full-time job.
Speaker 3So, you know you gotta work hard.
Speaker 1I know I feel that and I really do applaud that, just because I tried to live on my passion right. I did voice lessons full-time as a contractor with a school and it almost made me like hate my passion at the same time. Just because you have to put all this work into even surviving. And so for me, it was do you know what? Let me secure a full-time job that allows me to also live out my passion. Can you talk to my son?
Speaker 3He's a music major and I mean I want him to follow his passion.
Speaker 1But it's difficult, it really is, and but I mean as a teacher myself, right, because I still do teach lessons on the side I want my students to go for it.
Speaker 1Yeah absolutely, because that's what you want and that's what you want to do. But sometimes we really do have to put things in perspective and say, okay, what can I do within my means though? Yeah, exactly, and I think that was a turning point for me. I think it was when I was 30, when I was finally like, oh, I'm going to need to do something full time. Yeah, because it really was waiting tables in addition to teaching lessons, and so and if you're okay with that, that's fantastic.
Speaker 3You know, I mean, if some people are up for that, I like stability.
Speaker 2And so I just want to know that things are going to happen a certain way.
Speaker 3I don't fit into the world of acting very well. I'm, I'm, I'm kind of a I like things in their place, but I'm really creative and I just gives me great anxiety.
Speaker 1No, and I understand that Well, and I get you that I like stability, but I also like to be off my feet. You, you. So that's where I was like, oh, Well see, I get that on stage.
Speaker 3Yeah, I get to.
Speaker 1Be off your feet on stage With your legs up in the air. I don't know if I've seen you in a show like that. I've done plenty of that, were you really? Oh, do you know what? One of my favorite shows that I did want to bring up today, where you kind of had one of those moments where you had to be that sexy person Zoom in on that face. When we edit that Was Hand to God I loved it yeah.
Speaker 1I loved you in Hand to God, thank you. And it was just directed so well. It was at Water Tower, correct, directed so well. And Parker Parker's amazing, so great. I think everything that Parker does, he just has these nuances and it's even just in the face, but the way that the two of you work together as mother and son, and then the way that you played with, was it the pastor?
Speaker 3Probably Garrett Storms, not the pastor, but Timothy.
Speaker 1Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 3Oh, I remember when you came to see that Y'all came to a dress rehearsal. We did.
Speaker 1Yes, just so, and I had no idea what that show was about at all. Had done no research at all. And if you get a chance to see Hand to God, go see it. Had you done research on that show at all? And if you get a chance to see Hand to God, go see it. I had you done research on that show at all.
Speaker 3Well, we just did our table work. I mean, you know, the playwright came to see the show and he was very pleased with it.
Speaker 1Wonderful. Would you say that that's one of your favorite roles, or which one?
Speaker 3Yeah, I mean, that was one of my favorite plays. One of my favorite roles is definitely um well, I love doing Nora in Adult's House Part II. I feel really fortunate to have just been able to do that. Would you do that role again? Yeah, absolutely, I would, under the right circumstances. But I love Della from the Cake. That's one of my favorite roles and I would just do that over and over and over again. But my favorite that I've ever done and I've done it three times is the Wicked witch of the west in the wizard of oz. It's, it's, it's the best.
Speaker 1I love children's theater. It is yeah it's very we'll talk about that a little bit later, but you did a lot of children's theater as well, but we're going to take a small little break because since you brought up, uh, della from the cake, we're actually gonna you going to give us a little preview of that here shortly. Um, so we're going to step over and have Shannon do some monologuing for us. See you in a bit.
Acting, Baking, and Theater Memories
Speaker 3See, what you have to do is really truly follow the directions. That's what people don't understand People watching the baking shows and they say to themselves oh, I can do that, I am going to bake a cake from scratch. I am going to prove to myself that I am a person who is capable of such a thing. So they go out, they get all the ingredients, they bring them all home, they set them on the counter. First mistake they make skimping Skimping on milk, skimping on butter. They try and use tofu butter or whatever Milk made out of nuts.
Speaker 3What is this world? You got to get the real stuff, and I don't mean that organic, this or that stuff. I don't care whether or not your eggs were ever caged, whether they ever went to the movies. We're talking fat buddy, full fat. You gotta. Why go to Rome if you're not gonna eat the pasta? Why go to France if you're not gonna eat the baguettes?
Speaker 3Second mistake they read in the cookbook Whisk the wet ingredients together for three minutes and fold in the dry ingredients in quarter parts. And they think to themselves now I don't really have to do all that, do I? That's just a suggestion. I can just mix it all together, toss it in an ungreased pan at 350, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop. Hope for the best.
Speaker 3Well, I say to those people you are wrong. If you're not going to give your time and your worship to directions that have been crafted by trial and error, then you might as well do a darn cake from a box which tastes like scotch tape dipped in Splenda. If you're asking, if you want to make it from scratch, then you got to follow the directions. That's the only way you'll get that taste. It's the taste of time and obedience. All the scientists in the world could sit in a lab for eternity and never recreate it. So if you want results, if you want to bake a cake that you could take a nap in, that you want to crawl inside of that you would die for, you must follow the directions.
Speaker 1I didn't do idea you could act, can't? That was so good. I was almost emotional. Yeah, that was yeah, the vapors, no. So you've actually played that role twice now. One time was at Uptown Players and the other time was at Theater Arlington. Both, I saw both of them you did. Yes, I remember when I went to go see the one at Uptown Players, it was me, mary, steve and Kevin the set designer. And you were like halfway into the show and Mary just leans back and she goes. She is channeling her mother.
Speaker 3I was actually channeling my mother's mother. My mother is much meaner, or she was but my nanny was a lot like Della actually. You know somebody that's. She was taught certain things so that's what she believes. Taught certain things, so that's what she believes and and doesn't realize she needs to change what she believes until she's confronted with something.
Speaker 1personally, yeah, I will say crisis of conscience and I think that's what I loved so much about that show was that especially at Theatre Arlington where it's a conservative group of people they typically go see shows A few people walk out. I was going to say I think every show I talked with the front of house and they said pretty much every show somebody walked out. That's so awful, which I don't think. I doubt. Many people walked out at Uptown. You know what you're walking into, right.
Speaker 3No, nobody walked out. It's not even a show.
Speaker 3You know it's just I think when people get confronted by things that they don't agree with, they want to escape that. And the show it's funny. It seems like this light little show but everybody in it has a moment where they have to think about who they are and how they fit in the world with each other, and it all is from different directions, everybody is from different directions and I think people in the audience maybe sometimes it makes them feel uncomfortable. They hear a show called the Cake and they think they're coming to see a baker. You know this silly little baker who's going to make some cakes and she does that and she is silly. But there's a lot of deeper things in it and I just I think it's lovely, I think the message in it is lovely and there are so many messages in it for everyone yeah, I, it was very, like you said, deep and thought-provoking.
Speaker 1But I would say that most of the shows that I've seen you in you you choose well, thank you where I I just wait to be chosen, I just get lucky sometimes yeah, because even in the show that I saw you in at Stage West, where you played like the Senator's wife, Church and State. Such a great show, so wonderful, that whole cast was really great Because even the assistant I thought they were phenomenal In that role Even the husband role yeah, so great.
Speaker 3But I just your character and the journey that your character had to make as well in that show yeah, I like playing people who are very different than me because it I can different from the way that I feel about life. Um, I like being the mean person. I I really want people to be kind to each other, but I really enjoy playing the bad person that has to make a switch around or doesn't make a switch around, because it's fun to explore things like that. Yeah no, I think Safely.
Speaker 1Are you? Do you ever take the opportunity to maybe go to theaters and be like, hey, I want to do this or anything like that?
Speaker 3No, I would never. I mean, you know, the only person I would do that with is maybe Steve Morris here at Theater Arlington, because I've known him since I was 22 years old and we're just really good friends and so I might put a bug in his ear, but I just never would think to ask someone please produce me, Please produce me.
Speaker 1Was that a real request? Someone produce me, because now you've been. So you said you've known Steve since you were 22. But you really have been working since you were acting, since you were how old? Junior high, wow, but you've been an equity member since you were 26.
Speaker 3Yes, so that's 30 years 31.
Speaker 1And you got that, which we just well, not just because Mary's episode was almost two months ago now. Oh my gosh, I know right, but you and Mary both did CASA.
Speaker 3Is that?
Speaker 1where you got your equity card. Was it at that time or you already had?
Speaker 3it. No, I got it before that and I shouldn't have taken it when I took it.
Speaker 1Really.
Speaker 3Because I looked 14 and I was 26. You know, I could still play teenagers.
Speaker 3I still can play teenagers 100% yes and um, it was much different. It was much different back then in the fact that there were very few equity houses, there are very few contracts available. Young women were all over the place ready to work and not, you know, under an equity contract, and so I didn't. After I got my equity card, I don't think I worked for almost two years and maybe I, you know maybe one show in there, but like it was hard so, and then I started, you know, kind of getting getting more work that way, but it's just, it's very difficult at a young age.
Speaker 3Here Now, if you're going to New York or Chicago, absolutely, but here it's just that we just don't have enough contracts to go around, and if they can find somebody else that can, you know, do the job it sounds so negative, but I'm kind of an Eeyore They'll choose them because they might have to save their contract for something specific, like a guy, like a man or someone who can juggle. You know, I mean that might be like, oh, we've got to have this character that has to be able to juggle. Well, the only person I know who can juggle is this equity actor. So we've got to have this character that has to be able to juggle. Well, the only person I know who can juggle is this Equity actor, so we've got to give it to him.
Speaker 1I'm just making shit up. No, I know you've worked a lot at Stage West. Now you're getting to work again at Theatre Arlington, now that Theatre Arlington is Equity. Have you done stuff at Outtown Players? Have you done stuff other places in the area?
Speaker 3Oh, water Tower was where you were. Water Tower, gosh. Now see, you put me on the spot and I'm not going to be able to. I've worked at the theaters Dallas Theater Center oh wonderful, I did Christmas Carol there for four years.
Speaker 1That's right. Don't you have a funny story about what happened? Now I might be mixing two parts of it together, but that's fine. It makes it a funnier story.
Speaker 3We were still at the Kalita. We were in the Kalita Humphreys Theater and they used the turntable and we had this song called Wasail and Denise Lee was in this. She was a Christmas present and she was singing the song and in the middle of the stage and we were dancing around and running Sorry you said she was Christmas present, as in the character I was imagining, denise Lee as the actual Christmas present.
Speaker 1She is a Christmas present Just a box coming out.
Speaker 3She is a Christmas present to all of us. Yes, okay, continue. So the revolve. The turntable is turning and we're dancing. She is a Christmas present to all of us. Yes, okay, continue dancing. The turntable is turning and we're dancing and singing and kids are running across the stage and people are greeting each other and like hello, what's up, and waltzing and stuff like that, and it's going at a nice clip, the turntable, but somehow the sound sped up because we were singing to tracks and so the tracks were going faster and so we had to sing faster, which made us dance faster, run faster, and we were just all looking.
Speaker 3You know that lovely moment on stage when everything is going wrong and you're having the time of your life with your fellow actors, but that look, this is awful, but it's so great. And I think it was that same night that the fire alarm went off, because Joel Farrell likes fog, he loves fog, and there was so much fog in the redemption scene with Scrooge Robert Langdon Lloyd, one of the gentlest, most wonderful humans on the planet, was our Scrooge, and he was, you know, like broken down on the grave and of himself, our scrooge, and, um, he was, you know, like broken down on the grave and of himself, of scrooge and the fire alarm goes off and we all have to leave you know in our get-ups and go stand out on the um outside with all the patrons just all next to each other just wait, who did you say you enjoying the show?
Speaker 3I like that part where. And so then we get cleared to go back in and he has to go back to the grave and lean over it and and startle up again. And he's a trooper and he did it and it was. It's a story to tell.
Speaker 1Oh my gosh, I actually just heard a story not too long ago Carousel, because you know how the main guy dies in the first act.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1And so he was on the floor. Joshua Henry, is that his name? Yes, joshua Henry. He was on the floor, dead already, and the actress is crying over him. Fire alarms go off, and so it rises from. Yeah, so they. They were like it's not an emergency where we need to clear the theater, but we do have to do a hold. And so they were so up, far up, where they couldn't even close the curtain, so he had to get up and go, die by and go and just walk out, and then it was just, and so when it came back, they opened the curtain and, uh, I think it was jesse mueller who's over him, and she said that he just walked out and just went and just went back to die. And I was like, I guess that's what we have to do, right? I can't imagine just having to get back in that moment yeah of where you were, I mean, wherever he was dead.
Speaker 1Um, so, speaking of acting as someone else, right, that's something that I do want to talk about, because I feel like, um, one thing that we really don't talk about enough in our theater realm, and something that you've told me about, is just that constant anxiety, right, of that feeling of every actor feels like they need to be an extrovert. And are you an extrovert?
Speaker 3no, I mean I may seem like that to people, but that and I am with people that I'm close to, you know, friends with or in the right scenario, but I would. I'm very much a homebody, introvert. I don't, I don't like, I don't even really like to go to parties because I'm very anxious. Can you tell I'm an anxious person? There's medication for it and I take it. It's just life makes me anxious, you know, and constant approval, needing constant approval, makes me anxious. So I mean, sometimes it's just easier for me to shut down.
Speaker 2but when I'm on stage, I'm all good.
Exploring Authenticity and Vulnerability
Speaker 1Yeah, it's easier to be someone else than it is yourself, and almost to the point that. Do you feel that you put on a persona, even as yourself Sometimes? Yeah, wow.
Speaker 3Stare into the camera. I'm not. I swear, this is me.
Speaker 1No, this is.
Speaker 3Sadly, this is all me this is authentic.
Speaker 1Guys, I'm excited about these clips that we have. I'm just zooming in on shannon because we have so much tiktok. Oh wait, how do I look? Um, but no, and that's something that I did want to bring to light, because I feel like we don't talk about it enough. Everybody's like oh, I'm so comfortable, I'm so confident I'm so real instagram polish, I feel so accomplished in our realm, but you still have that feeling of not being worthy really, Absolutely. It's called childhood trauma that I carry Well we don't have enough time.
Speaker 3Yeah, is this my therapy session Is my hour up.
Speaker 1Just you. Yes, actually, what I wanted to talk about was no, but I again you know I do feel like you are constantly booked and blessed. I have been, but there have been times.
Speaker 2Well, in the time that I've you know seen DFW Theater go yeah, just take my foot around.
Speaker 1Do you want to cut it off for you? Yes, you can have a date. You can have a daniel's foot, um, so I think that that's something that I wanted to bring to light. You know that like even someone like shannon mcgrann, you know, feel, yes, being shannon, the Shannon McGrann um has feelings like seeing constantly, um, like that. So, um, we all have feelings like that, like, oh my gosh, I get out there and I'm like what words am I supposed to say? What am I?
Speaker 3supposed to do? Oh yeah, Um yeah.
Speaker 1But you, you do it seamlessly. So, um, but we're going to go to take a small little break. Uh, we're going to go ahead and take a small little break. We're going to play a game with Shannon. I know, speaking of anxious, I didn't tell her we were playing a game, so all the more exciting. But we'll be right back. Shannon, what, shannon McGrath, what? Thank you for being on. Dino Does DFW. I'm so scared, game show. I'm so scared, game show. I'm so scared we need, I need insert music here. So we're going to play. Same line, different meaning. Okay, all right. So I'm going to give you a famous movie line. We've picked the top three favorites. Okay, all right. And I have five emotions For each one. Yes, for each one. God, this is going to take a long time. Fuck you too. Fuck my drag Goodness. So what we'll do is I will give you the line, then I will give you the emotion. It will take like a two minute, two minute.
Speaker 3Wow.
Speaker 1It will take a long time. Just a two beat pause and then, if you can give it to me. Okay, that was a two beat pause.
Speaker 3No.
Speaker 1Edit that out. So yes, all right, your first line.
Speaker 3Yes.
Speaker 1Okay, frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. So if you just want to say it, normal Shannon.
Speaker 3Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Speaker 1Energetic.
Speaker 3Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn Proud. Oh, what does that? Even Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Speaker 1Disgusted.
Speaker 3Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Speaker 2Confused.
Speaker 1Frankly, my dear, I don't I I don't give a damn, you had me convinced you were confused I was like does she know the line?
Speaker 3I am confused and angry I live angry, okay, so it sounds the same as everything else sounds exactly like yours, the original. We can just cut the first one. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Speaker 1Did you see the teeth? It was all in the Did I spit?
Speaker 2No it was a.
Speaker 1All right Line number two.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 1Love means never having to say you're sorry.
Speaker 3That's not true, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1Say it as Shannon McGran.
Speaker 3Love means never having to say you're sorry. That's sweet.
Speaker 2Happy.
Speaker 3Love means never having to say you're sorry, ashamed. Oh, ashamed oh, I know so much about shame, I can't stop laughing. Um, um. Love means never having to say cut that one, let's use something else next.
Speaker 2Hysterical love means never having to say I'm sorry, that's my favorite one um jealous love means never having to say you're sorry, that's good Bored.
Speaker 3Love means never having to say you're sorry. Did you hear the words?
Speaker 2Yeah, it was good, all right.
Speaker 3See, I'm a great actress, just fire me already. I mean, you've seen my range, it's phenomenal.
Speaker 1next is there more there's one more, the last one.
Speaker 3all right, mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up all right as Shannon the grand all right, mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up. Sobbing. Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up. Is this supposed to be real? Like am I supposed to be really active?
Speaker 1Impatient.
Speaker 3All right, mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up. Exhausted. This is just. This is like playing with my kid, daniel Love it. All right, mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up Insecure. Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up. I said I'm ready for my close-up.
Speaker 1And can you give us your best, norma Desmond.
Speaker 3Oh, I don't know. All right, Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up. Did my eyebrows move because I've had a little Botox?
Speaker 1We're going to tally up the scores and see how she did. Did I win? We're going to see. I'm sorry to tell you that you lost the game. No, speaking of losses.
Speaker 3Yes, wait um.
Speaker 1Yes, we're no longer friends um, so, um, I won't talk to you for a year, okay um, no, uh, tell me about, did you? Have you ever? Um, no, uh, tell me about. Did you have you ever? This may be shocking to you.
Speaker 2Have you ever lost out on a role or?
Speaker 1lost out, have you really? Are you kidding me? I'm just saying Listen, I feel like everything you auditioned for they're like Shannon McGran. No, really no. Has there ever been an audition that you've?
Speaker 2bombed maybe or haven't felt good about that.
Speaker 3You can talk about um. I've bombed a lot of them, but one that just sticks in my head is it was at stage west and it was well, there were lots. When I moved to california for a little bit, when my husband took a job there and I bombed a lot there because I just had no confidence and but At stage was they were doing Into the Breaches, which is a great show, and all the people that should have been in it were in it. My audition was for I didn't, I don't remember the director's name, but I had never met her before and the part was kind of this pompous, you know, aging actress who, um, just you know, was very much in charge of the situation and I thought, oh, this is in my wheelhouse, I can do this. I don't know what I was thinking. I ended up being um mora from schitt's creek and it was yeah, it was awful.
Speaker 3I I just and it was my callback and I grabbed dana schultes as I was leaving because I had just finished a I had a commercial shoot that day and then I came over to stage west and I changed clothes and I got on there and I just whipped it out and I grabbed her on the way out and I said I can't, I don't know what happened in there she goes. We all have bad days. We all have bad days and I was like I was mortified. I mean it doesn't sound like much, but it was like it was horrible. I mean you just know, when you walk out of the room you're like who the hell was that Moira would come into my body? Yeah, she did, and not even good Moira.
Speaker 1I love her. I think that you could play Moira, though I think you could do something.
Speaker 3Well, not in that show.
Speaker 1Not there. Yes, I think you're right, not there. You mentioned commercials, so I do want to talk about some of your other, not just theater work, but other things you've done as well, because I know you've done film, commercials, tv, stuff like that. I'm going to take it all the way back to Barney, because I know that you've done Barney, all back to Barney, because I know that you've done Barney way back in the day uh, you did a specific you did.
Speaker 3Was it two movies they? They put stuff on video like um, uh, did I do? No, I've done several of the episodes and like the tv show.
Acting and Theater Projects Discussion
Speaker 1And then I then won, you know, a little movie video that they have, yeah, replayed like the queen of hearts, yes, and then I remember you do you know? I think I remember you in the episode because you were like wearing overalls or something was this lady with the dog.
Speaker 3With the dog, I got to work with a lot of dogs they had all these dogs, and they were so sweet and fun. We had a dog parade and, um, I was also a male lady. Okay, a male lady with a dog, not an m-a-l-e lady, but an m-a-i-l lady. What?
Speaker 1I'm just being. We do need to clarify that for our audience. Yes, I appreciate you clarifying that you were not a male lady no um.
Speaker 3And then one episode I was puppets, it was the voice of puppets and I did the puppets did you get to do any episodes with some famous people that we know today? Well, patty words, is bj the voice of bj oh and.
Speaker 3I also would go in once in a while and I would do the voices when the people who did the voices of Baby Bop and I don't think I ever did BJ but Riff, I laugh at that one because I could not do the voice but just as a filler because that person was out and then they could, but I could get the cadence and so then they would come back in and record on top of it. I love that so much. I loved working on Barney. They were wonderful people. They are wonderful people.
Speaker 3I wish we had more shows like Barney today or Mr Rogers, I mean I didn't appreciate Barney as a parent so much or as a viewer so much as I did. I appreciated it more once I. They were very fun.
Speaker 1Love that Did you get to work with, like Selena Gomez or?
Speaker 3not on Barney, but I did a commercial with her.
Speaker 1Oh, what type of commercial.
Speaker 3Texas Lottery Love that, but I did a commercial with her.
Speaker 1Oh, what type of commercial. Um, texas lottery Love that, my favorite commercial. And I do just want to ask how your fiber and myalgia is. It's good. It's. We're going to show a small little clip here. I have a picture on my phone Because I, when I tell you it's just one of my favorite things and cause it's on some website, when you search your name, search Shannon McGrann, I can be paid for that. It's on some website. I've watched it, at least in time, so maybe you're getting residuals.
Speaker 1Oh no, I think that's just the what oh okay, so that you told us that there was like a whole watch party that you were having as well not party, because she doesn't party just mary and I yeah and then you did something where you played carrie fisher, right, what was that called? The price of fame carrie fisher did you just find that, because our producer told you exactly remember the price of fame part uh, the price of fame.
Speaker 1Which you looked amazing in that. Thank you you did. Yeah, they should have had you play all the carries. No, because they had to have. You looked amazing in that. Thank you, you did.
Speaker 3Yeah, they should have had you play all the carries, no because they had to have someone who could wear that little bikini thing. You could pull it off, no, but what was funny about? And that young lady was lovely and she looked a lot like Carrie Fisher, young Carrie Fisher. She was the Carrie Fisher in all the early Star Wars movies, or the ones that were made early, and then I was the Carrie Fisher the one that is no longer with us. We miss you, carrie Um and in all the later ones that were made later.
Speaker 1I think that's awesome. How did you even is that through your commercial agent? Or? Yeah, that's so smart. I, I, I didn't even think that you looked like Carrie Fisher really oh yeah, I guess it was. I mean until I saw the photos and I was like, oh my gosh, it's really uncanny.
Speaker 3The only thing they really did was they gave me dark contacts because she has very dark eyebrows.
Speaker 1Thank you, oh, thank you yes.
Speaker 3Anything else that you've done that we can see you in or that, like if you blink you'll miss me on both of them, but I think I think I'm still on netflix in a movie called look both ways. I'm a doctor, um giving the good news of baby and um and I got to deliver a baby, but they don't show that part. Oh, the baby was 10 days old.
Speaker 3His name was rocky precious, I know um, and then I have a little one scene on love and death, on max really, where I'm just the nosy person in the neighborhood. What episode do you remember?
Speaker 1no, I'm just asking 106 something love and death that's right.
Speaker 3I think I saw people posting about that when it came out because it wasn't too long ago we had a lot of local people because it was shot in austin, oh, okay, okay, yeah, okay, that's nice.
Speaker 1And then do you have any upcoming projects? I know, actually, because it's already been announced. I know that you're currently about to open Depends on when this episode comes out, we'll see. But Steel Magnolia is like Theater Arlington where you are playing the role of Truby, so that's exciting, but no, where you are playing the role of Truby, so that's exciting, but no, you are going to kill it, as Truby I already know. Because is that a role that you have wanted to play before, or is it just I've done it?
Speaker 2You've done it before.
Speaker 1I have Really. Have you also played Malin before?
Speaker 3No and I, you know, I haven't. No and I haven't. I'm tired of playing sad people.
Speaker 1Okay, I think I just really, really wanted you, which, in our game, the line that I wanted you to say was Drink your juice.
Speaker 3Yes, I wanted it so bad. That makes me laugh. I have a real hard time because it's been made. You know, it's just been made into this kind of a joke of a thing and I I mean it's very serious and in the moment I won't laugh, but yeah that.
Speaker 1And then I wanted to see which kara, I'm sure, amazing, but just that whole descent into that. You know the sadness at the funeral scene, um, which I'm excited to see here, I do, but I I'm excited to see you do the. You know little country pumpkin, the I guess you do. Well, della, you know, yeah, kind of was a little bit of which, where was she? Was she like georgia, north carolina, north carolina, um, kind of still that bible belt, yeah, um, feeling so i're going to kill it. All of you like Myesha, oh goodness, it's going to be a fun show. I'm excited about her. Olivia, just saw Olivia in POTUS she was brilliant.
Speaker 2I have not seen that yet, but yes, I saw that they extended it another weekend as well.
Speaker 1You should go see it. It's very good, but I saw that they extended it another weekend as well.
Speaker 3You should go see it. It's very good. I'm going to try, yes, but it's going to be done by the time?
Speaker 1Yeah, it's definitely done by the time this comes out you can't see it now. Don't try to go see it now, unless they take it somewhere else.
Speaker 2State Quest is starting to do that partnership.
Speaker 3I think that's a pandemic sharing the expense of putting on a production.
Speaker 1It's smart. I like how they did it with the play that goes wrong, and the fact that they're bringing it back as well is super smart on their part. Um, any other uh projects that you can talk about or anything else you?
Speaker 3have, um, I in september I'll be. I think I can talk about I've been told I can talk about it, so I can the importance of being earnest at Stage West. And then I have something else right after that that I can't really say yet. Okay, well, that's exciting. Theater-wise. I don't know you know, everything changes on the daily with the TV film stuff.
Speaker 1I know. Well for example, our producer, natalie, was supposed to be here for recording and she's currently doing a commercial Good for her. Yeah, I know, wonderful Thanks, natalie, for not being here, you ruined everything. Honestly, shannon was very upset that nothing was together, the most disappointed. So before we close out, I do want to ask um, because I feel like we've talked about all of your theater stuff. Is there anything? Do you have any other passions besides theater, or not at all? No, I do very little.
Speaker 3I don't have time for anything. My main passion is, as my son, much to his chagrin I mean, did I use that word right? He, I love that kid and I just think he's the greatest thing on the planet and I just want to be with him all the time. But he's in college and he doesn't want to be with me. He's a horned frog right Going to.
Speaker 1TCU, and I cannot believe he's in college. I can't either, but he's 20.
Speaker 3Yeah, he's going to tcu and I I cannot believe he's in college. I can't either. He's 20. Yeah it's, he's gonna be drinking age shut up.
Speaker 1Daniel uncle daniel's gonna have to take him out for a drink. No, no, no, I already told max uncle daniel has to take out for a drink.
Speaker 3You can take max, but not Ellen, can you imagine? No, that's why no, I can't. Why were you so scared? He's a good boy and he needs to stay that way, so I can sleep at night yeah.
Speaker 1No, I well, and I think, just like Mary said the same thing right, her passion was her children, and I think having the time for your kids and wanting to put that time back into it is just so special, just because I had parents that were super supportive in everything that I did and um, so I love that you're able to and want to spend all the time I do I really do and just believe me, they will grow to understand.
Speaker 3Oh, he does, it's just, you know, he's busy and he wants I want him to do. I want him to grow and learn and be a man or a woman if that's what he chooses, I don't care. Um, I just want him to be a grown-up in the world. And I know that means breaking away from me and but I just I never thought I would be this kind of mom. I I didn't know that a child would affect me so much.
Speaker 3I'm gonna get weepy um, he's just the best thing that ever happened in my life and I just wanted to have all good things.
Speaker 2I I love you.
Speaker 3Owen Mommy loves you. He stopped calling me mommy at a very young age and it broke my heart.
Speaker 1Mom, oh, okay, well, I'm sobbing. So we're going to end it on a happy note here, because what I do want you to. So we talked about love. You know we've talked about hate. No, just kidding. I do want to end it by thanking you for real. I love you so much as well. I love you too. I'm glad that we are friends. I'm glad that Mary introduced us Me too, that you are in my life and that you agreed to do this, even though you were like hell, no, at first, I don't like to be myself. You were like hell, no, at first. Yeah, I don't like to be myself. Like I was not kidding when I think it was like five text messages back and forth where I was like what if?
Speaker 1I do this. What is this the problem?
Speaker 3I kept thinking you'd give up and move on, and I was not because I think you know that I'm that sought after. But I just was like if I put enough roadblocks up, I won't have to go be on camera, and sure enough she's here because I begged and I think I even had Mary.
Thanks for Sharing on Daniel Does
Speaker 1I was like Mary if you could tell her how great it was it was great, thank you, so so yes, well, I hope you had a good time, I hope you were comfortable.
Speaker 1I appreciate you sharing everything that you had to share with not only me, but everyone here in DFW and whoever else is watching mom. Um, so thank you for that. And uh, yeah, guys make sure that you follow us on our social media Instagram, facebook. Uh, you listen where you ever get your, wherever you get your podcasts, like Spotify, apple podcasts, but mostly that you're also watching on our YouTube channel at do I even know the name of my own podcast?
Speaker 2At.
Speaker 1Daniel Does. Dfw is where you can catch the podcast. So once again, thanks, shannon, for being here today and we'll see you next time. Thank you, bye guys.
