Benjamin Keegan Arnold (DIRECTOR) has directed shows in the DFW area since 2009 and is the Theatre Director at McKinney North High School, where he teaches technical theatre and performance. This past year he directed The Lieutenant of Inishmore at Lakeside Community theatre and last year directed their production of Misery. Some of his favorite musicals he’s directed in the past include, Evil Dead: The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, The Toxic Avenger, and American Idiot. He was also previously seen on The Firehouse Theatre’s stage as Plankton in their 2022 production of The SpongeBob Musical. This show is dedicated to his parents, where his love of all things Buffet started. Cheers to the Rum Bum!
Carlos Strudwick (CHOREOGRAPHER) is a DFW based performer, musician, and choreographer. Regional credits include Adult Ensemble in The Prom, Don Kerr in A Chorus Line, and multiple productions of Broadway Our Way (Uptown Players); Ensemble in Evita (Lyric Stage); Tap Soloist/Ensemble in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Greater Lewisville Community Theatre); Mike Nulty/Ensemble/Phil US in White Christmas (The Firehouse Theatre); Ensemble/Desi US in The Cuban and the Redhead (Pegasus Theatre); Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Kenicke in Grease, and Charles Bingley in Pride and Prejudice (Repertory Company Theatre); Martin Harrison/Ensemble in Chicago (MainStage Irving-Las Colinas); Ulbrecht/Ensemble in Spring Awakening (Runway Theatre); and George in The Wedding Singer (Music Theatre of Denton).
Bryce Biffle He/Him/His (MUSIC DIRECTOR) is thrilled to be “wasting away again” with such a stellar cast and crew at The Firehouse Theater, after previous music directorships here including Little Shop of Horrors (2017), A Christmas Carol (2017), The Music Man (2018), and The SpongeBob Musical (2022). Apart from his theatre-related work as a music director, accompanist, and freelance multi-instrumentalist, Bryce also teaches general music (PK-5th Grade) at Stephens Elementary School in Garland ISD (Rowlett) where he serves as staff accompanist for the Garland Children’s Chorus. On weekends, he serves as Director of Music at East Dallas Christian Church and plays accordion with Baba Yaga Orkestar/the Oompa Daddies, DFW’s premier Balkan brass band. He holds a B.M. in Music Composition from Stephen F. Austin State University and an M.M. in Musicology from Texas Tech University. Upcoming projects include the WORLD PREMIER of Brian Christensen’s Lend Me a Chainsaw at Lakeside Community Theater, October 2024. IG: @Bifflesaurus
Christina Kudlicki (she/her) (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR) has been choreographing, teaching, performing, judging, directing, and reviewing dance and theatre in the DFW area for the past 20 years. Previous Firehouse production credits include Choreographer for SPONGEBOB, CATS, PIPPIN, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Other recent production credits include Assistant Director and Choreographer AMERICAN IDIOT (LCT), Choreographer DISASTER!, SPRING AWAKENING, FALSETTOS (Runway Theater), BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (Lewisville Playhouse), ROCKY HORROR (NTPA). Kudlicki is currently a board member for Lakeside Community Theatre in The Colony and is preparing for her next production adventure with KHAN!!! THE MUSICAL! A Parody TREK-tacular taking place at Texas Wesleyan University this October. Kudlicki would like to dedicate this show to her beloved Cruise Crew and Graig, at whichever port he may be sipping Margaritas in today!
Andrew Bullard (STAGE MANAGER) is very happy to be back at The Firehouse Theatre. He holds his BFA in Theatre from Abilene Christian University and is currently the musical theatre teacher at Arlington Heights High School. Past roles include Patchy the Pirate/Ensemble in Spongebob The Musical (The Firehouse Theatre), Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast (Granbury Theatre Company), Greg in Hands on a Hardbody (Granbury Theatre Company) and Emmett in Legally Blonde (Grand Prairie Arts Council). He has also been on stage with Kids Who Care, Stolen Shakespeare Guild, Lyric Stage, and Shakespeare Dallas. He is eternally grateful for this incredible creative team (Keegan, Bryce, Chirsti and Carlos) for such a fun process, and he would like to thank his beautiful wife, Rachel, for her constant love and support.
Dayna Rae Dutton (COSTUME DESIGN) has worked at The Firehouse Theater as the Resident Costume Designer since fall 2021. In her time here she has designed; Aladdin, Footloose, 9-5, The Addams Family, Newsies, Saturday Night Fever, Beauty and the Beast, Catch Me If You Can, and Legally Blonde. Also, she has designed for Arise Acting Studio; Cinderella, Willy Wonka, Shrek, and Anastasia. Recently she just did She Loves Me, at Theatre Frisco. Dayna is grateful for the continued love and support of her handsome husband and three amazing children. She thanks her Heavenly Father she gets to do what she loves every day.
Mia Lindemann (she/her/hers) (LIGHTING DESIGNER) is feeling like a cheeseburger in paradise to join the creative team and Firehouse Theatre for Escape to Margaritaville! After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.A. in Theatre and a Minor in Photography, Mia has since worked with local theatres such as MainStage Irving-Las Colinas, Plague Mask Players, Upright Theatre, Outcry Theatre, Junior Players, and Lakeside Community Theatre. Recent lighting design credits include The Pillowman, The Taming of the Shrew: Presented in Living Black and White™, Into the Woods, Shrek the Musical, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Bonnie & Clyde, Descendants: The Musical, and Much Ado About Nothing. In her free time, she enjoys board game nights and running table-top role-playing game sessions for her friends. Mia would like to thank her partner, Ashton, and their cats, Jean-Louis and Theodora, for their continued support of her artistic endeavors.
Elizabeth Ross (she/her) (ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER) is an alumnus from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor’s in Theatre. She recently made her professional debut as a lighting designer with MainStage Irving Las-Colinas’ production of On Golden Pond, and has been working in the theatre industry for 13 years. Other recent theatrical work of hers include The Moors, Shadowbox, and Lord of the Flies. She is ready to waste away in Margaritaville for her first production as an assistant lighting designer in DFW!
Michael Marbry (SOUND DESIGNER) is excited to be returning to The Firehouse Theatre. Previous shows he’s worked on include Newsies, Saturday Night Fever, Catch Me If You Can, The SpongeBob Musical, Bright Star, Once on this Island, Oswald, and Cats. He studied theatre technical design at the University of North Texas graduated in Spring of 2022. He would like to thank Owen Beans for giving him the opportunity to work this production.
Neera Jackson (LIGHT BOARD OP) is delighted to be lighting up The Firehouse Theatre stage for this show! The joy of working with this bright group of brilliant people is an incredible thrill and she is very grateful to Owen Beans for inviting her to shine a light on the party. Recent productions include THE 39 STEPS (MainStage), TIGERS BE STILL (MainStage 222), THE CAKE (Lewisville Playhouse), ADA AND THE ENGINE (MainStage), and SHERWOOD (MainStage). A glowing thank you goes to her husband for lighting up her life and supporting her enthusiasm with this exhilarating hobby that keeps her beaming.