Stage spectacles Illusion was a grand opera scale live production show in
Changzhou, China. Flannery was commissioned in 2013 to create this show incorporating 3D stereoscopic scenography as a featured element of the show. The stage and house was wrapped with LED walls upon which 3D stereoscopic CGI completed the scenography. The audience wore active 3D glasses and the effect was true immersion. The production featured an international cast of 100 performers. Flannery directed
Xayron in 2010, which was filmed in Budapest.
Overseas Chinese Town Limited engaged Flannery in 2009 to create a western style production show. The show was
"E" Elements Show. The production featured a variety of dancers, acrobats, synchronized swimmers, singers, musicians, magicians, and puppets. The show ran for five years at the
Huaxia Art Centre in
Shenzhen, China. Flannery collaborated with Oscar Winner, Production Designer
Eugenio Zanetti. Together they created
Movistar Magica in 2005 which toured throughout Colombia. The tour kicked off with a live broadcast on network television from
Bogotá, Colombia. The show was presented in parks and stadiums, featuring 500 performers on a stage that filled a football field. Maryland celebrated the 350th anniversary of their statehood in 1985. The Department of Tourism for the City of Baltimore commissioned Flannery to collaborate with them to create a theatrical experience on Rash Field at the Inner Harbor for this celebration. Flannery and his team conceived and designed a food and beverage area that consisted of facades based on Maryland's early architecture. The main attraction was a 1200-seat theatre, inspired by tall ships, presenting an original stage production. The show was directed by Flannery and written by Cindy Flannery. The show featured actors portraying the ship's crew with historical paintings and photographs from the Peale Museum projected onto the sails and theatrical illusions.
3D stereoscopic dome films Majid and the Secret of Life is a 3D stereoscopic film presented several times a day in the Dana Dome, a purpose-built theatre at Kahramaa Awareness Centre. Conceived and directed by Flannery the film explores the origins of water on our planet through a young boy's dream journey.
World Fairs and World Expos For the
Brisbane Australia World Expo 88, Flannery served as associate to Artistic Director
John Truscott. The
1984 Louisiana World Exposition presented an 'Aquacade' in the tradition of
Billy Rose's Aquacade. Flannery designed the lighting for this 'Aquacade' attraction. For the
Osaka 1990 World Expo (the international Garden and Greenery Exposition), Flannery created
Water Fantasium, the main attraction in the Dairinkai Pavilion. An original theatrical experience with a robotic conductor and an orchestra of water and scenography, it was voted by the Japanese media as the Fair's leading attraction. In 1993, Flannery created
Fantastic Odyssey for the
Taejon, South Korea World Expo 93. After the Expo closed the attraction was relocated to a permanent location at
Lotte World in Seoul.
Television and film In 1978, Flannery relocated to Los Angeles, California and joined the ABC Television Network as Lighting Director. While at ABC he received his first Prime-time Emmy Nomination for his lighting direction of CBS's TV Special
Goldie & Liza Together. Flannery served as Director of Photography on the popular television series
Roseanne. His innovative lighting design for the show revolutionized sitcoms and earned him the International Monitor Award, LDI Lighting Designer of the Year, and three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lighting Direction. In the realm of feature films, Flannery was theatrical lighting designer on such films as
Death Becomes Her,
Forrest Gump, and
Noises Off.
Themed entertainment WED (now Walt Disney Imagineering) contracted Flannery as a scenographic and lighting design consultant for
The American Adventure and
Kitchen Kabaret at
Epcot. For Universal Studios Hollywood, Flannery served as lighting designer, conceptualist and scenographer for Universal Studios on such attractions as
E.T. Adventure,
Kongfrontation,
The Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular, and
Back to the Future: The Ride. For
Universal Studios Florida, he was scenographer and/or lighting designer on
E.T. Adventure,
King Kong, and
Jaws. Flannery was the principal architectural site lighting designer for
Universal Studios Florida and
Islands of Adventure. Flannery collaborated for decades with Maestro
Erich Kunzel. Their first endeavor was
The Great Symphonic Visual Fantasy in 1978 with the Cleveland Orchestra at the
Blossom Music Centre. Together they created
Symphantasy – a visual symphony series that was presented annually at the
Riverbend Music Center with the
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
Olympic ceremonies The LAOOC contracted Flannery as a conceptualist working directly with
David Wolper and
Tommy Walker on the
Closing Ceremonies of the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics. Once the ceremonies were conceived the LAOOC contracted Flannery to direct and his firm to supervise the special effects and special lighting of the Closing Ceremonies. == Academic career ==