Preparing for First Night Morris 20th edition: A really big shew

Sweet Plantain brings its eclectic repertoire to First Night Morris on New Year's Eve.
Sweet Plantain brings its eclectic repertoire to First Night Morris on New Year's Eve.
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Years ago, this fellow named Ed Sullivan had a Sunday night TV show where it was possible to see jugglers, puppets, crooners, classical violinists and the latest rock stars all in the same hour.

“Tonight, we’ve got a really big shew for you,” Ed would promise every week. And he usually was right.

America met Elvis Presley there, and the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. What Ed Sullivan lacked in personal talent, he made up for with his eye for talent.  In the variety department, nobody before or since has come close to rivaling him.

Nobody, that is, except Dr. Lynn Siebert.

As director of arts participation and communication for the Arts Council of the Morris Area, Lynn has booked the talent for First Night Morris County for the last six years. For this Saturday night, Dec. 31, she is promising a really big shew to mark the 20th anniversary of First Night Morris, an entertainment extravaganza with 275 artists at 80 events in 24 venues, all within walking distance in downtown Morristown.

Sweet Plantain brings its eclectic repertoire to First Night Morris on New Year's Eve.
Sweet Plantain brings its eclectic repertoire to First Night Morris on New Year's Eve.

In the best, family-friendly Ed Sullivan tradition, First Night will feature dance, drama, music, visual arts and children’s events.

“I could only aspire to the quality that he brought every week,” said Lynn, who has used clips from the Ed Sullivan Show to teach students at Drew University and the College of Saint Elizabeth about the development of pop music and jazz. “But we do share a certain commitment to having that range of options for our audience at First Night.”

Dr. Lynn Siebert of the Arts Council of the Morris Area is always on the lookout for new talent for First Night Morris County. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Dr. Lynn Siebert of the Arts Council of the Morris Area is always on the lookout for new talent for First Night Morris County. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Lynn is forever catching performances, perusing reviews and video clips, and sifting piles of unsolicited applications to put together First Nights that appeal to broad tastes and all ages.

She also must factor in the venues–church halls, high school auditoriums, county offices and the Mayo Performing Arts Center–to match artists with the proper acoustics, dance floors and so forth.

“I’m thinking about it all year long,” said Lynn, who brings a performer’s perspective to the task because she has played classical violin at First Night. Prior to accepting her programming duties, of course.

“I’ve lost a gig!” she said with a laugh.

Just as Ed delighted in presenting new artists, Lynn has loaded two-thirds of this year’s program with new artists, or performers who are returning after a few years’ hiatus.

Frank Vignola

Jazz lovers can savor the smooth sounds of guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli and the lightning riffs of Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo–together on the same stage.

Stones fans can get some satisfaction from the Glimmer Twins, who pay tribute to the young Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.  There will be bittersweet Portuguese love songs from Melanie Mitrano, and witty sendups of modern life from the Mayhem Poets.

Like great choreography and eye-popping costumes? Check out the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company. The Greatest Generation of World War II will be celebrated by the Traveling Literary Theatre.

Bucky Pizzarelli

The Sweet Plantain Quartet blends elements of Motown, classical, jazz and Latin music. The Harlem Wizards Duo brings basketball magic to Morristown, while a Princeton professor introduces listeners to the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle.

ARTS! By the People will present a hip-hop musical by Gustav Gauntlett, featuring Morristown High School beat-boxer Joey Gatto Los Ciegos del Barrio, a blind ensemble from New York, delivers Latin rhythms to First Night. Chuck Marti and Moody McCarthy supply the comedy.

Ragtime, gospel, blues, funk, folk, jugglers, jug bands, reptiles, illusionists, wind symphonies and two fireworks shows over the Morristown Green round out a roster that should be a bargain at $25 per ticket. (It’s $90 for a four-pack; children under 4 are free.) One ticket/ badge gets you into as many shows as you can squeeze into between 7 pm and midnight.

Lynn usually ducks into 10 or 12 performances; four is more customary for the average patron.

In another first, First Night Morris is sponsoring a Battle of the Bands at Morristown High School. Vote here for your favorite; the winning group gets $250 and coaching from the Original Music School in Morristown.

Another new promotion this year is First Dine: Show your First Night ticket or button this month for discounts at 10 Morristown restaurants.  A new management team has set its sights on the first break-even First Night in four years; an important part of that equation is the discounted rate that Lynn negotiates with the performers.

“They recognize that we’re not in this for the money,” Lynn said. “This is a nonprofit event, a way of bringing the arts alive for the county, and of providing an alternative to going out to a bar. We’re providing an opportunity for a family-style event.”

Tickets may be purchased online at FirstNightMorris.com, or at the Mayo Performing Arts Center box office. The will-call office this year will be at the Morristown & Township Library, from 4 pm to 9 pm on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s going to be a thrilling night,” Lynn said.  She hasn’t been wrong yet.

THE FIRST NIGHT PROGRAM

THE FIRST NIGHT SCHEDULE

THE FIRST NIGHT MAP

MORE ABOUT FIRST NIGHT 2012

LAST YEAR AT FIRST NIGHT

Highlights from last year

SCHEDULE OF FIRST NIGHT MORRIS EVENTS:

ICONS: M = music T = theater D = dance VA = visual arts P = participatory YA = young audiences W = wheelchair accessible

  1. Morristown H.S. Auditorium (W) – 50 Early St.– 800 seats
  • 7:15-8:00 Nai Ni Chen Dance Company (Chinese and modern dance)D, T
  • 8:15-9:00 Nai Ni Chen Dance Company (Chinese and modern dance) D,T
  • 9:45-10:30 Rio Clemente and Friends (Jazz piano trio) M
  • 10:45-11:30 Rio Clemente and Friends (Jazz piano trio)M

 

  1. Morristown H.S. Main Gym – 50 Early Street-200 seats
  • 7:15-8:00 Harlem Wizards Duo YA,T, P
  • 8:15-9:00 Harlem Wizards Duo YA,T, P
  • 9:45-10:30 Los Ciegos Del Barrio (Latin dance music)M,P
  • 10:45-11:30 Los Ciegos Del Barrio (Latin dance music)M,P
  1. Morristown H.S. Auxiliary Gym (W) – 50 Early St. –200 seats
  • 7:15-7:55 Let’s Get Wild with Rizzo’s Reptiles YA,P
  • 8:15-8:55 Let’s Get Wild with Rizzo’s Reptiles YA,P
  • 9:45-10:30 Benjamin Lipman, Illusionist: Comedy Cascade YA, T, P
  • 10:45-11:30 Benjamin Lipman, Illusionist: Comedy Cascade YA,T, P

 

4. Morristown H.S. Cafeteria (W) – 50 Early St. – 50-70 seats

  • Battle of the Bands

 

5. Morristown H.S. Atrium Lobby (upstairs) (W) – 50 Early St.

  • 7:30- 11:30 Children’s Fun Festival YA,P

 

6. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (W) – corner of South St. and Miller Rd.-550 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 The New Philharmonic of New Jersey M
  • 8:15-9:00 The New Philharmonic of New Jersey M
  • 9:45-10:30 GospelWays (gospel) M,P
  • 10:45-11:30 GospelWays (gospel) M,P

 

7. St. Peter’s Parish House (W) – 70 Maple Ave.- 200 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 The Early Music Players (medieval, Renaissance music)M
  • 8:15-9:00 The Early Music Players (medieval, Renaissance music)M
  • 9:45-10:30 Sweet Plantain Quartet (jazz, classical, Latin) M
  • 10:45-11:30 Sweet Plantain Quartet (jazz, classical, Latin) M

 

8. Presbyterian Parish House – Upstairs – 65 South St.-330 seats

  • 7:00-7:30 Peter Smith School of Irish Dance YA, D
  • 7:45-8:15 Peter Smith School of Irish Dance YA, D
  • 8:30-9:00 Peter Smith School of Irish Dance YA, D
  • 9:45-10:30 Mr. Fish & The Science of Magic (circus magic)YA, T,
  • 10:45-11:30 Mr. Fish & The Science of Magic (circus magic) YA, T, P

9. Mayo Peforming Arts Center (W) – 100 South St. – 1200 seats

  • 7:00-7:45 The Gizmo Guys: Comedy Jugglers YA, T, P
  • 8:15-9:00 The Gizmo Guys: Comedy Jugglers YA, T, P
  • 9:45-10:30 The Glimmer Twins: Rolling Stones Tribute Band M
  • 10:45-11:30 The Glimmer Twins: Rolling Stones Tribute Band M

10. Mayo Performing Arts Center – Upstairs, 2nd floor Lobby, 100 South St.
All evening: Art Upstairs: featuring works by Millburn-Short Hills Art Center

11. Church of the Redeemer (W) – 36 South St. – 350 seats

  • 7:00-7:45 Harmonium Choral Society M
  • 8:15-9:00 Harmonium Choral Society M
  • 9:45-10:30 Chelsea Friedlander (Operatic Soprano) M
  • 10:45-11:30 Chelsea Friedlander (Operatic Soprano) M

12. Church of the Redeemer Parish House (W) – 36 South St. – 250 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 Meet the Musicians (Ragtime piano) YA, M, T
  • 8:15-9:00 Meet the Musicians (Ragtime piano) YA, M, T
  • 9:45 -11:05 ONLY Mother Nature: A Hip Hop Musical (80 minutes) M,T,P

13. Masonic Lodge– Upstairs – 39 Maple Ave. -175 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 Dan Trueman (plays Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle) M
  • 8:15-9:00 Dan Trueman (plays Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle) M
  • 9:45-10:30 Melanie Mitrano (sings Portuguese Fado) M,T
  • 10:45-11:30 Melanie Mitrano (sings Portuguese Fado) M,T

W= Masonic Lodge – Downstairs – Warming Station

  • 7:00-9:00 Transformations Facepainting: Painted Faces, Living Art

YA, VA, P

14. Morristown United Methodist Church (W) 50 Park Place – 550 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 The Frank Vignola Duo with special guest, Bucky Pizzarelli

(Gods of jazz guitar) M

  • 8:15-9:00 The Frank Vignola Duo with special guest, Bucky Pizzarelli

(Gods of jazz guitar) M

  • 9:45-10:30 Laryssa Krupa and Nova Chamber Ensemble (classicalchamber music) M
  • 10:45-11:30 Laryssa Krupa and Nova Chamber Ensemble (classicalchamber music) M

15. Presbyterian Church on the Green (W) – 57 Park Place -700 seats

  • 7:00-7:30 Solid Brass Lite (classical brass) M
  • 7:45-8:15 Solid Brass Lite (classical brass) M
  • 8:30-9:00 Solid Brass Lite (classical brass) M
  • 9:45-10:30 Broadway Sings! (Broadway stars sing their hits) M,T
  • 10:45-11:30 Broadway Sings! (Broadway stars sing their hits) M,T

16. Presbyterian Chapel (W) – 57 Park Place (on the Green) – 150 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 Silk City with Mary Olive Smith (Bluegrass + More) M
  • 8:15-9:00 Silk City with Mary Olive Smith (Bluegrass + More) M
  • 9:45-10:30 The Cobra Brothers (blues) M
  • 10:45-11:30 The Cobra Brothers (blues) M

17. Market Street Mission – 9 Market St.- 100 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 Chuck Marti (Comedian) T
  • 8:15-9:00 Chuck Marti (Comedian) T
  • 9:45-10:30 Mike Agranoff (Folk Singer/Songwriter) M, P
  • 10:45-11:30 Mike Agranoff (Folk Singer/Songwriter) M,P

18. First Baptist Church (W) – 51 Washington St.- 250 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 Don Braden/Karl Latham’s Big Funk (funk jam band) M
  • 8:15-9:00 Don Braden/Karl Latham’s Big Funk (funk jam band) M
  • 9:45-10:30 Mauricio de Souza and Bossa Brasil® (Brazilian jazz) M
  • 10:45-11:30 Mauricio de Souza and Bossa Brasil® (Brazilian jazz) M

19. Atrium Gallery – Floors 2-5, Administration & Records (W) – 10 Court Street

  • 7:00…11:45 Fall/Winter 2011 Exhibit featuring 200 works by 39 artists including
  • 5th floor: Isabella Pizzano; Theodosia A.G. Tamborlane
  • 4th floor: 8 artists of The Power of Nine
  • 3rd floor: Dawn Benko and Danielle Austen
  • 2nd floor: 19 artists of Arts Unbound; Mark and Maria de Mos (watercolors, pastels); David Derr (surrealism)
  • John Tetz (“feather pieces” in open stairwell areas).

20. Freeholders Room – 5th Floor, Administration & Records (W), 10 Court St. -175 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 The Mayhem Poets (Poetry Slam) T
  • 8:15-9:00 The Mayhem Poets (Poetry Slam) T
  • 9:45-10:30 Moody McCarthy (Comedian) T, P
  • 10:45-11:30 Moody McCarthy (Comedian) T,P

21. Room 526 – 5th Floor, Administration & Records (W) – 10 Court Street – 50 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 Mark Levy, A World in Song (folksong) M
  • 8:15-9:00 Mark Levy, A World in Song (folksong) M
  • 9:45-10:30 World War II: Words and Music T
  • 10:45-11:30 World War II: Words and Music T

22. Entrance area (in- and outdoors)- Administration & Records (W) – 10 Court Street

  • 7:00-9:00 George Esparza: Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus & Wahoo

Medicine Show (street performer) YA, P, T

  • 9:45-11:45 George Esparza: Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus & Wahoo

Medicine Show (street performer) YA, P, T

23. Hyatt Morristown, Terrace Ballroom (W) – 3 Speedwell Ave. – 450 seats

  • 7:15-8:00 Hanover Wind Symphony (Classical wind band) M, P
  • 8:15-9:00 Hanover Wind Symphony (Classical wind band)M, P
  • 9:45-10:30 The Dirdy Birdies Jug Band (roots/country music)M, P
  • 10:45-11:30 The Dirdy Birdies Jug Band (roots/country music) M,P

9:00-9:45 Half-time Fireworks…

11:50 Midnight Fireworks on the Green

 

 

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