Shannon Connolly
Shannon Connolly is diabolical in the role of Ursula, Ariel’s evil Auntie in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. She cackles maniacally and exudes a menacing aura as the villainous Cecaelian sea witch who strikes a bargain with her lovestruck niece for Ariel’s ethereal voice in exchange for the chance to pursue love on land with a mortal, a deal that becomes permanent unless Ariel is kissed by young Prince Eric within three short precious days.
Connolly was last seen on stage in the ensemble and the roles of Lulu Warnicker and Betty in Broadway Palm Dinner Theater’s production of Footloose. Other credits include the role of Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act. Other credits include the Victor Legarreta-penned holiday musical revue Ha! Ha! Ho! The Holiday Show in the Off Broadway Palm, Mickey (Olive Madison U/S)
in Odd Couple: Female Version in 2017 (which marked her Off Broadway debut), Tammy in Escape to Margaritaville (Broadway Palm Dinner Theater), Rosie in Mamma Mia (Broadway Palm Dinner Theater), Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast (Broadway Palm Dinner Theater and Lauderhill Performing Arts Center), Mrs. Claus in Sounds of Christmas (Broadway Palm Dinner Theater), Rita LaPorta in Lucky Stiff (Dutch Apple Theater), MeeMaw U/S in Stand By Your Man (Dutch Apple Theater), Mrs. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol (Dutch Apple Theater), Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act (for both Broadway Palm and Dutch Apple Theater), Mrs. Pugh/Sophie in Annie (Broadway Palm Dinner Theater), Ensemble (Mrs. Higgins U/S) in My Fair Lady (for 
both Dutch Apple and Broadway Palm), Miss Shields in A Christmas Story (for both Broadway Palm and Dutch Apple), Mrs. Claus in Holly Jolly Christmas (Dutch Apple Theater), Earth Mother & Iowa Housewife U/S in Menapause the Musical (for Broadway Palm, Dutch Apple and Circa 21 Playhouse), Ethel Toffelmier in The Music Man (for both Broadway Palm and 
Dutch Apple Theater), Portia in Cinderella (Off Broadway Palm and Kansas City Starlight), Mary Smith in Run for Your Wife (Off Broadway Palm), Mary Smith in Caught in the New (Dutch Apple and The Palms Theater), Vicki Nichols in The Full Monty (Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Co and Alexander Kasser Theater), Young Mrs. Claus in Swingin’ Christmas (Broadway Palm 
and Dutch Apple Dinner Theater), Mavis in Church Basement Ladies and Church Basement Ladies 2&4 (Broadway Palm and Dutch Apple), Ensemble in Assassins (5th Floor Productions), Suzannah/Tribe in Hair (MWVTC) and Mrs. Curtain in A Man of No Importance (Fox Studio Theatre).
Shannon has also performed in various workshops, staged readings and children’s theater. The latter includes Nanny in 101 Dalmatians, Mom/Mrs. Dickens in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Maxine in Jingle Arrgh the Way, Sour Kangaroo/Mrs. Mayor in Seussical, Gertrude in Cinderella, Ensemble in Knuffle Bunny, Shannon
in Schoolhouse Rock, Bessie the Cow/The Golden Goose in Jack in the Beanstalk and Matilda in Elves and the Shoemaker.
Connolly holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Montclair State University in New Jersey.
November 12, 2022; revised July 8, 2023.
About the Author
Tom Hall is both an amateur artist and aspiring novelist who writes art quest thrillers. He is in the final stages of completing his debut novel titled "Art Detective," a story that fictionalizes the discovery of the fabled billion-dollar Impressionist collection of Parisian art dealer Josse Bernheim-Jeune, thought by many to have perished during World War II when the collection's hiding place, Castle de Rastignac in southern France, was destroyed by the Wehrmacht in reprisal for attacks made by members of the Resistance operating in the area. A former tax attorney, Tom holds a bachelor's degree as well as both a juris doctorate and masters of laws in taxation from the University of Florida. Tom lives in Estero, Florida with his fiancee, Connie, and their four cats.