Shannon's life was changed in the 5th grade, he was required to memorize and recite Shel Silverstein poems. Once he realized he could make his fellow students and even the teachers laugh with his characterizations he was hooked on performing and story telling. Shannon was born and raised in the greater Cincinnati area and attended grade school, middle school and high school in Norwood Ohio. All the while, great teachers encouraged him in Norwood's Public School system. After graduation he attended Ohio University in Athens where he studied Journalism /Public Relations with a minor in Music. The urge to perform nudged him to audition for The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music's Musical Theatre Program. After his acceptance and earning a BFA Shannon joined a long line of distinguished alumni of CCM including Lee Roy Reams, Faith Prince, Michelle Pawk, Jason Graae and Kevin McCollum to name a few.

After graduation Shannon boarded a Greyhound bus and departed for NYC with three bags and the support of his loving parents. While in NY he performed in Big River at the Paper Mill Playhouse, The Adventures of Huck Finn at the George St. Playhouse and the workshop of Violet for Playwrights Horizons. Shannon soon left NYC for the west coast and has lived in Los Angeles ever since. While in LA he has performed numerous roles in productions including: The Courier in 1776, Alan Thorndike in the world premier of Dorian the Musical, the Gentleman Caller in the Glass Menagerie, Sheldon Scott in The Grave White Way, Armand in The Scarlet Pimpernel, Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, Eddie in King O' the Moon, Bobby Kennedy in Caesar and Ruben, The Boatman in Journey to the West and from 2003 to 2005 Shannon was Claude in HAIR touring Germany, Italy, Austria and Holland. Most recently, Shannon was Mordred on the National Tour of Camelot, bastard son to both kings: Lou Diamond Phillips and Michael York.

In addition to acting and performing Shannon is developing several TV and film projects including a children's television show called My Imagination and Me. He is an acting/audition coach for established and upcoming television and film actors. And, he still remembers all the words to Bang-Klang, his first Shel Silverstein poem.