Production Team Bios
Brad Moranz
Director and Dramaturg
Brad Moranz appeared on Broadway in the role of Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain and later re-created the role for the national touring production. Other Broadway and off-Broadway credits include the role of Groucho in A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. Other national tours include A Chorus Line and Me and My Girl. His film and TV credits include the role of Fred Astaire in the feature film Radioland Murders and guest appearances on the series Matlock and Surface.
Together, Brad and his talented wife Jennifer Moranz have directed and choreographed productions of Little Shop of Horrors, Singin’ in the Rain, Annie, Guys and Dolls, I Do I Do, Nunsense, Kiss Me Kate, Me and My Girl, Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Since 1995, the Moranz duo has been treating Charleston audiences of all ages to their brand of entertainment – primarily musical revues that take existing songs and put together into a theme. They produce, write, direct, cast and choreograph two to three musical revues a year.
Abdiel Iriarte
Orchestration and Conductor
Abdiel was born and raised in Valencia, Venezuela where he attended the Sebastian Echeverria Lozano Conservatoire and was trained in Classical Piano, Musical Theory and Composing. After graduating from the University of Carabobo with a Music Education Degree, he was brought on as a Classical Piano faculty and accompanist. He continued his study of classical piano with Nelly Badillo, Aura Marina Rios, and worked on Piano Performance with Maestro Abraham Abreu at Simon Bolivar University in Caracas. He was pianist for the National Symphonic Choir as well as accompanist for many other choral groups, vocal studios, and solo artists around the world, including engagements with the Symphony Orchestra of Carabobo, Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado Guarico, Orquesta Sinfonica del los Llanos (Venezuela), the Minsk (Belarus) Radio and Television Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of Mogilev (Belarus).
Abdiel’s versatility in playing different genres from classical to pop and jazz allowed him to play in diverse musical projects such as the University of Carabobo Jazz Band, BeJazz Big Band, University Arturo Michelena Jazz Ensemble, EMSEL Jazz and ROAD Jazz. In 2012, he received a scholarship to study jazz at the Music Conservatoire Souza Lima, Berklee College of Music in Brazil. In 2014, he became the rehearsal pianist and vocal coach for The South of Broadway Theatre Company in NYC. This led to his first commissioned composition, a new musical score for The Nance which premiered post-Broadway with Charleston’s South of Broadway Theatre Company (SOBTC). Abdiel has remained in Charleston working for SOBTC as their Music Director, Educator and Pianist.
Abdiel has arranged for a variety of shows for artists throughout the Low Country: a Chamber Music adaptation of Puccini’s Opera Madama Butterfly, Matt Shingledecker and Friends a show gathering top Broadway singers at the Sottile Theatre, and the world premiere of the musical Love and Southern Discomfort at the Charleston Music Hall. Musical Director credits with the SOBTC Musical Theatre youth program include: Mary Poppins Jr., Alice in wonderland Jr., School of Rock Jr., Peter Pan Jr., The Lion King Jr., The Music Man Jr. Shrek Jr. among others. Abdiel was guest artist on TEDx with Gino Castillo, Charlotte Jazz Festival, Savannah Music Festival, Carnegie Hall Music Education Program, Earl Klug’s Weekend of Jazz, The Jazz Corner, Charleston Variety Show, The Charleston Christmas Special, Charleston Jazz Orchestra, Charleston Musical Hall Christmas Show, and Mi Alma Latina with the Grammy Award-Winner flutist Nestor Torres along with the CJO. He is a regularly featured pianist at Forte, a jazz club in downtown Charleston and plays keyboards for Brad and Jennifer Moranz’s Musical Revues. He just released a Piano and Voice Duet Album, So This Is Love, with Broadway stars, Catlin Finnie and Matt Shingledecker. Abdiel also serves as one of the pianists and music producers for North Palm Church, arranging their Christmas and Easter Music specials. His unique blend of talent and creative vision helped to bring Daniel and the Kings to life!
Thomas Keating
Consulting Producer
Thomas has been part of the Charleston theatre community since his arrival here in 2007. He is the Coordinator of the Theatre Program at Charleston Southern University where he teaches Acting, Directing, Stagecraft & Design, Acting for the Camera, and Voice & Movement, among others.
Prior to his arrival in Charleston, Thomas worked as an actor in Atlanta, Boston, and New York. When not performing, he had the privilege of working as a stage technician on multiple productions including the Broadway-bound On the Town at the famed Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
Thomas holds an MFA in Acting from Columbia University in the City of New York and BA in Drama from The University of Georgia. In addition to his acting and directing work, Thomas also writes and voices characters for local animation company, Moondog Animation Studio.
https://www.charlestonsouthern.edu/directory/keating-thomas/
Janine McCabe
Costume Designer
After graduating from the College of Charleston (CofC) for undergrad and the University of Virginia for her MFA, Janine found her way onto Broadway as an Assistant Costume Designer. Credits include: The Wedding Singer, Wonderful Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Look of Love, A Year With Frog And Toad, and Kiss Me Kate. After years in the Big Apple, she opted to return to CofC and currently serves as chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. As a Costume Design Professor, she regularly designs and mentors student costume designers for the department’s CofC Stages season, for which she also serves as Artistic Director. Recent CofC designs include Violet and The Magic Flute. Janine has designed costumes for multiple productions with Charleston Stage, most recently A Christmas Carol. Past designs there include Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time, Peter And The Starcatcher, White Christmas, The Underpants and Sherlock Holmes-The Final Adventure. Other recent designs include Don Giovanni for Charleston Opera Theatre. She also serves as resident designer for PURE Theatre where designs include Mlima’s Tale, Honoria Quietly Drawing Strength From Her Truth, Ben Butler, The Absolute Brightness Of Leonard Pelkey, The Children, The Lifespan Of A Fact, Last Rites, Small Mouth Sounds, This Random World, Fun Home, The Royale, The (Curious Case Of The) Watson Intelligence, A Sudden Spontaneous Event, Marie Antoinette, and more, as well as mentoring and supervising guest student designers. Regional Costume Design credits include productions at Flat Rock Playhouse NC, Fringe NYC, Barrow Group NYC, and Trustus Theatre, SC. Other local designs include Salt In The Soil and Hover (Annex Dance Company), The Tragedy of Carmen (Charleston Opera Theatre), and the world premiere of Love And Southern Discomfort at the Charleston Music Hall.
Nicole Campbell
Lighting and Special Effects
Nicole is an award- winning theatrical lighting designer, technician, and producer. Since graduating in 2008 from Christopher Newport University with a B.A. in Theatrical Production and Design she has designed over 40 full stage theatrical experiences. Nicole has helped produce several Central Virginia premieres’ such as Disney Theatrical’s: Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She has been a lighting technician for Disney Theatrical’s The Lion King, Little Big Town, PBS Wild Kratts, Waitress and CNN during the Democratic National Debate.
Kayla Arrell
Scenic Designer
A native of Lancaster County, PA, Kayla holds a B.A. in Theatre Production & Design from Susquehanna University, and an M.F.A in Scenic Design from Temple University. She has worked for various theatres ranging from community, academic and professional including Sight & Sound Theatres. She currently works at ATOMIC Design in Lititz, PA – a company that has designed and created custom fabrication for the MTV Video Music Awards, iHeart Radio’s Jingle Ball, the 2021 Superbowl Halftime show, and more! Some of her favorite designs were for Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley, Head Over Heels by James Magruder & Jeff Whitty, and Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring.
Ed Blanton
Audio Engineer
Ed began his musical performance career at the age of 18. He spent his college years pulling double duty as a student and musician. During that time he toured much of the East Coast, recorded and produced three albums and completed his business degree at the College of Charleston. Ed currently is a professional audio engineer, tech director, musician and guitar instructor.
Jordan Maria
Choreographer
A native of Charleston, Jordan launched her dancing career with Moranz Entertainment in 2012 while attending the Charleston County School of the Arts. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston, double majoring in Dance and Theatre. In addition to regularly working with Brad and Jennifer Moranz, she has performed with Pauletta Washington and The Charleston Pops. Jordan’s work engages a form of video artistry that is a collaboration of storytelling and dance. Projects have included working with award winning artists Marcus Amaker and Ranky Tanky, World Renown Celloist Wade Davis (CNN), Gino Castillo (Cha Cha Charleston), Yuhas and Dancers, Carlos Brown, Glory Comes, Selah, and an Apple marketing campaign. Her dance was highlighted at the Juneteenth Freedom Festival and American Oxygen Gala. She is excited to debut Daniel and the Kings as Choreographer and Lead Dancer.
Sabrina Marlene
Assistant Stage Manager
Sabrina is new to Charleston but not new to the entertainment world. She is an award-winning vocalist, professional entertainer for 25 years, and has mounted productions off-Broadway, with cruise ships, national tours, national resorts, and regional theaters all over the country. She currently is the Vocal Director for the highly awarded theme park, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg and recently served as Associate Director to Broadway accredited Jeff Whiting. Sabrina sings with local funk band DysFUNKtion and owns her own vocal studio, The Box.
Latanya Mueller
Stage Manager
Latanya has a BFA from Goucher College where she studied Acting, Voice, Light and Set Design and Construction. As mezzo soprano, she went on to act professionally, with leads in professional productions of Beauty and the Beast, Ragtime, Gypsy, Dreamgirls and community productions of Evita, Matilda, and Musical of Musicals with the Spoleto Festival. Multi-talented, she is trained in West African dance and drumming, ballet, piano, guitar, AV editing, Latanya has a master’s in Education, and works as a teacher when not performing or managing productions.
John Barry
Sound Design Engineer
Growing up with a musician mother, John developed a passion for music at a young age. He received a B.A. in Music Theory and Arts Management at the College of Charleston, where he turned his eye from music performance to arts production. John founded Resound Media Group in 2015; a boutique audio-video recording and production management company that have been featured on regional and national public radio, as well as AAA commercial radio. In the last decade, John has served as the Production Manager for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Head Audio Technician for the Gaillard Center, and Production Manager for the Colour of Music Festival.
Jonathan Wentz
Prop Designer and Artisan
Jonathan has designed, propped, and painted for 150+ productions for theaters, theme parks, and universities throughout the United States, including Adirondack Theatre Festival (NY), Berkshire Theatre Group (MA), TheatreWorks/UCCS Presents (CO), Shadowland Stages (NY), The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (NJ), The Depot Theatre (NY), Two River Theatre Company (NJ), Oak Ridge Playhouse (TN), Colorado Springs Fine Art Center (CO), Cortland Repertory Theatre (NY), Mills Entertainment (NY), UNC Greensboro (NC), New Jersey City University (NJ), Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ), Coastal Carolina University (SC), The Bickford Theatre (NJ), The Women’s Theatre Company (NJ), Riverside Theatre (IA), Cherry Lane Theatre (NY), Slant Theatre Company (NY), Long Bay Theatre (SC), Adirondack Studios (FL) at Pandora: The World of Avatar/WDW Animal Kingdom, and The College of Charleston (SC) where he is currently a Visiting Assistant professor in the Theatre and Dance Department. Jonathan is a proud member of IATSE USA Local 829.
Sophia Northfield
Graphic Designer
Sophia is a graphic designer and artist based out of Summerville SC, specializing in branding and digital content creation. She is credited for developing the now infamous Daniel and the King logo, the crown clawed by the beast. The Daniel and the Kings letters were a hand drawn font, with Sophia adding the small king crowns to dot the I’s. The background etching behind the logo is ancient Babylonian script. Sophia grew up acting and singing and was thrilled to be able to bring her creative insight and vision to the project.
Chuck and Karen Smith
Writers & Producers
Chuck and Karen have spent years in music ministry, writing, directing and producing plays. A decade ago, they decided to bring Daniel and the Kings to the professional stage. Surrounded by a production team of local professionals with Broadway or touring circuit experience, they are excited to launch the world premiere of Daniel and the Kings right here in Charleston!