DANIEL FLANNERY – BIOGRAPHY
Daniel Flannery is an internationally acclaimed producer, director, designer, and creative entrepreneur whose work spans film, television, themed entertainment, world expos, Olympic ceremonies, architectural and entertainment lighting, and large-scale live spectaculars. Renowned for creating extraordinary experiences that unite storytelling, technology, music, design, and performance, his work has captivated millions worldwide and earned recognition for its imagination, innovation, emotional resonance, and enduring appeal.
Born, raised, and educated in New York, Flannery began his career in theatrical lighting design before expanding into a multidisciplinary practice encompassing motion pictures, television, destination attractions, global events, immersive entertainment, and experiential design. Over more than five decades, he has transformed visionary ideas into groundbreaking productions that blur the boundaries between art, technology, and audience engagement. Often referred to as the “Show Maestro,” Flannery is recognized for his unique ability to orchestrate diverse creative disciplines into seamless and memorable entertainment experiences.
Flannery gained international recognition as Director of Photography for the hit ABC television series Roseanne, earning four Primetime Emmy Award nominations while helping redefine the visual language of the modern sitcom through a more cinematic approach to lighting and storytelling. His work in feature films includes contributions to acclaimed productions such as Forrest Gump, Death Becomes Her, and Noises Off.
His influence extends across some of the world’s most ambitious entertainment projects. He produced and directed the Closing Ceremonies of the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, created award-winning attractions for international expositions, and helped pioneer the integration of Broadway-inspired scenography into themed entertainment. His contributions to Disney’s EPCOT and Universal Studios helped shape landmark attractions including The American Adventure, E.T. Adventure, King Kong, Back to the Future, Conan, and Jurassic Park: The Ride.
A lifelong innovator, Flannery has continually explored new ways to blend artistry and technology, creating experiences that transcend traditional boundaries. His work has ranged from immersive attractions and architectural lighting environments to visual symphonies, stereoscopic films, multimedia spectaculars, and large-scale nighttime productions presented around the globe. In 1977, he conceived, designed, and directed the original Star Wars Concert at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, an event that inspired a new genre of “visual symphonies” and later evolved into his acclaimed Symphantasy® concert series with Maestro Erich Kunzel.
As founder and president of Los Angeles-based creative enterprises, Flannery has collaborated with Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, major television networks, cultural institutions, global resorts, and international exposition organizers. His achievements have earned numerous honors, including multiple Emmy nominations, the LDI Lighting Designer of the Year Award, and industry recognition for excellence in entertainment design.
Daniel Flannery’s work reflects a singular creative philosophy: to merge artistry, technology, and human emotion in the creation of experiences that inspire wonder, foster connection, and leave a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.
Selection of Credits
(Click on titles for portfolio)
"ONCE UPON A RIVER", Concept, Creative Producer. Writer, Director; a large-scale nighttime spectacle in which a procession of elaborately designed floating stages transforms the river into a living storybook at Yutien (Yoo Town Resort) in China
"MAJID AND THE SECRET OF LIFE", Exec. Producer, Director; an animated 3-D stereoscopic dome film which is a permanent attraction and presented daily in the Doha Qatar Awareness Centre, museum.
"Los Angeles Olympics CLOSING CEREMONIES", Conceptualist, Director and Producer. His company was also designed all the special lighting and effects including the infamous spaceship.
"ILLUSIONS", Exec. Producer, Director; a stage spectacle, with an international cast, featurng 3-D stereoscopic animation sequences, presented nightly for one year in Shanghai China.
"MOVISTAR MAGICA", Concept, Director; Creation of an original production show featuring Carlos Vives that toured stadiums in Colombia and a live broadcast of the show from Bogata Colombia.
"ELEMENTS", Producer, Director, Designer; a theatrical production, with an international cast, integrating video projection. The show was presented nightly and ran for five years in Shenzhen China.
"ADVENTURE SLOTS", located in Hollywood Casino, Tunica, is an immersive, award winning, gaming experience inspired by adventure films.
"Symphantasy®", Co-creator with Maestro Erich Kunzel, of a television special and a live concert spectacle featuring George Clooney, Kelsey Grammer and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
"WATER FANTASIUM", Creator, Director; voted by critics as the No. 1 attraction at the Osaka World Expo, featuring water, animatronics, fire and special effects.
"FANTASTIC ODYSSEY", Lotte Pavilion, Creator, Director; most popular attractions at the Taejon S. Korea World Expo, featuring water, fire, illusions and automated scenography.
"COSMIC SYMPHONY", in the Tokyo Dome, Creator, Director, Designer; presented nightly for over a decade this attraction was presented nightly in Tokyo Japan.
"VOYAGE 350", Creator, Director, Designer; a purpose-built theatre resembling a tall ship, set sail nightly in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. A cast serving as the ships’ crew shared the story of the founding of Maryland with Illusions and film projected on three grand sails.
Melbourne Arts Centre, Architectural Lighting Designer for the building of this iconic arts centre which includes all front and back of house for the Hamer Concert Hall, the State Theatre, the Playhouse, Art Gallery, foyers, restaurants and rehearsal facilities.
BRISBANE WORLD EXPO, Architectural Lighting Designer for the entire site of the world expo.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA, Architectural Lighting Designer for the full site of the studio theme park.
UNIVERSAL'S ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE, Architectural Lighting Designer for full site of the theme park.
"ROSEANNE", Director of Photography for All episodes seasons 1 thru 8 on ABC Television.
The original "Star Wars Concert", in 1977 with Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, conceived designed and directed by Flannery.
Theatrical Lighting Design for major motion pictures, "DEATH BECOMES HER", "FORREST GUMP" and "Noises Off".
Creative contributions as conceptualist, scenographer and lighting designer to Disney's EPCOT including "AMERICAN ADVENTURE", "Journey Into the Imagination" and "Kitchen Kabaret".
Concept development, design and production to Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando and ISLANDS of ADVENTURE, for area development and attractions including "ET's ADVENTURE", "KING KONG", "KONGRONTATION", "Back to the Future" and "JURASSIC PARK THE RIDE".
Academia
Flannery is devoted to teaching and mentoring, having shared his expertise through lectures and instruction at many institutions, including State University of New York (S.U.N.Y.), University of California Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.), University of California Santa Barbara (U.C.S.B.), Art Center College of Design, and University of Southern California (U.S.C.).
Some of Flannery's courses, lectures and curriculum include:
Creating International Spectaculars - Producing Noteworthy World Expo Attractions - Producing Olympic Ceremonies - Visual Music - The Art of Stage Lighting Design - Directing Shows with Diverse Global Casts - Scenography for Themed Entertainment - Lighting Design in Multi-Camera Television Series - Theatrical Lighting in Feature Films - CGI Lighting Design - The Art of Aquatic Entertainment - Foster the Entertainment Entrepreneur - Seizing Opportunities for Creations - Motion Capture of Performance Art - The Scenarist - Thriving in a Freelance Environment - When & How to Pitch Your Show - Promoting and Integrating Your Brand.
Some awards
A THEA Award for Adventure Slots at the Hollywood Casino in Tunica
The first LDI Award for Lighting Designer of the Year
Night Beautiful Award for his Universal Studios Orlando designs
Philanthropy
Supports Teen Cancer America with his Symphantasy®. Supports various Veterans programs. For over a decade he served on Executive Committee of the GOLDEN BOOT AWARDS benefiting the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Served as president of the Manhattan Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy for four years. Contributed his services as photographer to Muscular Dystrophy
Education
Flannery was educated in the art of scenography and lighting design for the stage at the prestigious New York Studio & Forum of Stage Design.
Flannery pursued his filmmaking education under the guidance of experimental filmmaker Scott Bartlett at Columbia University School of the Arts in New York City. Additionally, he honed his directing skills under the mentorship of renowned figures Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof at HB Studio.
Affiliations
Flannery has been a member in numerous guilds, unions and trade organizations, including:
ATAS (Academy of Television Arts & Sciences), PGA (Producers Guild), IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), ICG (International Cinematographers Guild), TEA (Themed Entertainment Association), USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technology)
