MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE DINGBATS

LUKE MANUAL
Producing Artistic Director / Founder

BIO

Luke is a director, performer, writer, and theatre educator originally from Little Rock, AR. Luke is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where they studied theatre and marketing. Fave Directing Credits: The Wizard of Oz, It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman, Dingbat’s Peter Pan, Chicago, Always… Patsy Cline, The SpongeBob Musical, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Shrek the Musical (2021 BwayWorld Award Best Direction), The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, The Jungle Book, A Seussified Christmas Carol, The Gift of the Magi, The Incredible Bulk at Bikini Beach, Spookley the Square Pumpkin the Musical, and The Elves and the Shoemaker. Fave Acting Credits: The Wizard of Oz (Lion), Peter Pan (Tinker Bell), Chicago (Mama Morton), Godspell (“Bless the Lord”), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (The Beast), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Hedwig), Shrek the Musical (Dragon), The SpongeBob Musical (Patrick Star), Head Over Heels (Pythio), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Mrs. Bumbrake/Teacher).

BRIAN F. FINNERTY
Co-Artistic Director / Social Media Manager

BIO

By day, Brian is the Production Manager of The Sarasota Players, Co-Artistic Director of Dingbat Theatre Project, and Director of Marketing of The Anchorage Siesta Key. Favorite roles include Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical, LeFou in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Mr. Krabs in The SpongeBob Musical, Gomez Addams in The Addams Family, and Coal the Nonbinary Christmas Monster in Brian and Luke’s Live Holiday Jamboree. Brian’s directed and choreographed over five million productions and has earned one and a half Handy Awards. His favorite food is macaroni and cheese and his favorite hobby is petting his four cats with his beautiful wife, Amanda. Brian has been involved creatively in every Dingbat production to date as choreographer, has also shared his directorial abilities for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The SpongeBob Musical, Chicago, and The Wizard of Oz, and costume design for The SpongeBob Musical, Chicago, Dingbat's Peter Pan, and The Wizard of Oz. His work with Dingbat has earned him SRQ BroadwayWorld Awards for his choreography for Shrek the Musical and costume design for Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

GRETCHEN BEAUMIER
Co-Artistic Director / Technical Director

BIO

Gretchen acts as Co-Artistic Director and Technical Director for Dingbat Theatre Project and played Peter Pan in Dingbat’s Peter Pan. Scenic Design: The Wizard of Oz, It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors, Always… Patsy Cline, Proof. Lighting Design: The Wizard of Oz, Forbidden B’way, The SpongeBob Musical, Tuesdays With Morrie, Rose, The Interview. Recent Stage Management: Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors, The SpongeBob Musical, The Mystery of Irma Vep.