Meet Jaq Shannon | Actor & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaq Shannon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaq, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“Lo mejor está por venir” it means “the best is yet to come”. I saw this painted on the restaurant wall we dined at Mother’s Day Chicago 2011. As a memory, it reminds me of a moment my mom gave me a spontaneous lesson in faith and inspired me to hope for my future. I wrote the affirmation in Sharpie on my Spanish notebook. It inspires me to keep going and serves as an affirmation for milestones I’ve accomplished that seemed impossible to reach back in 2011.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In Spring 2023 I exercised my clown muscle in Nine O’Clock Players production of Cinderella: The True Story as a loud, pimply step-sister with a bird’s nest of a hairdo. Over-the-top quirkiness was my daily duty for 3 months and I loved it. In the summer I performed with Conundrum Theatre Co. in Zanna, Don’t! I was proud to be a part of a show that celebrated queer love. In November I participated in the 1448 Hollywood Band. I was inspired by the sense of creative immediacy necessary to get 7 original plays on their feet with costumes, props, set, lights, and musical scoring in just 24 hours. In the aftermath of the event, I found myself playing guitar everyday and revisiting my voice memos of freestyle (often cathartic) guitar sessions from recent years. The melancholic tone of my story at the time sits more peacefully in my body now. I’m excited to be sharing some original music this year! Coming up in April, I am going to be performing in the folk-rock musical, Once, with Domino One Productions. I’m looking forward to playing guitar and bass with the band and my character has a strong Czech dialect I’m excited to get my IPA charts ready for. It took a lot of honest conversations, support, and faith to jump through the hoops that got me to where I am now. Learning to listen for my true wants was one step, learning to take action in alignment with my wants was the next. I had to learn how to root for myself and be gentle – oh, and I evicted my inner bully.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love taking my out-of-town visitors for a drive through Topanga Canyon to the oceanfront. I like to check out a new beach every time but El Matador has been my favorite so far. The Dawn Mine Trail in Altadena has a nice hike with a waterfall at the end of it. After the hike, cool off with a treat at Hang Loose Hawaiian Shaved Ice in Glendale. Galco’s Sodapop Stop in Highland Park is a fun spot for candy you haven’t seen in years and sodas of all varieties. They also have a sandwich counter in the back for a nice bite. Bowery Bungalow in Silverlake for dinner. The repurposed bungalow makes for a cozy environment and the Mediterranean food is seriously so scrumptious. Some dancing at Davey Wayne’s, karaoke at Breakroom 86, a silent disco here, a thrift store there. Best of all, Birds Plus in Van Nuys. It does get pretty loud in there but I love interacting with all the different kinds of birds.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my mama. She has moved mountains for me. I know her story, I’ve witnessed her strength, and because of her, I know anything is possible.

Instagram: @snapjaq_

Image Credits
Elena Maria Sanchez