New Year’s Eve. In a pandemic.
How would you like to be an event planner for that?
Organizers of First Night Morris County have accepted the challenge. They are promising a virtual good time for all, as we bid a collective “Good Riddance!” to 2020.
“We’re going to provide hope, and we’re going to provide a sense of community,” said First Night Morris President Craig Schlosser.
In an ordinary year, it takes months to line up scores of volunteers, dozens of performers, multiple venues and a pair of fireworks shows to transform Morristown into a bustling, festive, family friendly one-night party.
In an extraordinary year…it takes nerves of steel, and a generous dose of chutzpah.
At a time when they could be forgiven for retrenching, organizers are expanding this 29th annual edition of First Night Morris County.
“We’ve gone from a one-day event to a multiple-day event available to anyone who’s got a computer or a cell phone,” said Chairman Walter Deutsch.
Video preview First Night Morris County 2021:
First Night Morris got its digital feet wet in October with a virtual summit extolling the economic impact of the arts. A virtual film festival has been added for this week.
The main attraction, of course, remains New Year’s Eve.
For nearly three decades, it’s been a night of gaiety, with first-rate entertainment filling Morristown’s churches, schools and government buildings. Fireworks draw crowds to the historic Green, and wedding proposals sometimes are mixed among the New Year’s resolutions.
The coronavirus forced a reimagining of all this, beginning back in March.
Professionally recorded musical and comedy performances can be streamed, starting at 5:45 pm on Dec. 31. An on-demand option may be offered, if purchasers of early-bird passes request it.
Morris Arts has booked champion Irish fiddler Brian Conway with guitarist John Walsh; Jason Hudy’s Mesmerizing Magic; harpsichord virtuoso Andrew Rosenblum; the Frank Vignola Hot Jazz Trio, with bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott; the British Invasion Years Band; and comedian Joe Larson.
Larson is scheduled to give a pair of live, limited-seating shows at the Mayo Performing Arts Center–if COVID restrictions allow them.
A streaming montage will showcase Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, organist Cory Henry, jazz pianist Jésus Molina, and producer Robert “Sput” Searight.
Performances will be interspersed with “Behind the Curtain” video profiles.
Virtual fireworks displays are planned, too.
FILMS: FROM HOPATCONG TO HAMLET
New to First Night Morris: A film festival, with a sci-fi/fantasy flavor.
“Every film is rich in imagination,” said board member Mark Boutros, who runs the First Contact Film Fest at Camp Jefferson in Lake Hopatcong. Growing up, he watched Twilight Zone episodes on New Year’s Eve. That’s the vibe he’s aiming for here.
Films will be streamed on successive Fridays: Short features on Dec. 11, and the full-length Hamlet/Horatio — Shakespeare’s tragedy as told by Hamlet’s best friend — on Dec. 18.
“Hopefully, this will open us up to a younger age demographic,” said Schlosser, a Morristown High School grad who helped put First Night in the black after becoming director a decade ago.
The youth demographic has proven handy this fall. With guidance from Schlosser and board member Dan Della Paolera, a team of interns led by Aditya Iyer, a Morris County resident who is a freshman at the University of North Carolina, has performed key technical tasks as the First Night website undergoes a major overhaul to accommodate video streaming.
PRIX-FIXE SPECIALS
A $10 pass buys access to all online films and performances. For $20, you also get a First Night button and print program as souvenirs. For $30, you gain admission to one of Larson’s comedy shows at MPAC on New Year’s Eve, pandemic-permitting.
Prices increase to $15/$25/$35 on Dec. 22. Anyone who buys a First Night pass can re-watch the films and performances through Jan. 3, 2021.
Select restaurants also will offer prix-fixe takeout specials that include a First Night pass. Interested restaurants can learn more here.
Buy your First Night pass early, and you will qualify for $5 discounts on subsequent visits to participating restaurants, under a dining program devised by board member Mary Adelman, Portofino’s Restaurant the Morristown Partnership, Schlosser said.
Like almost everything else in the world right now, the future of First Night Morris is an open question. Some sponsors have held firm, despite this year’s economic blows. Schlosser is waiting to hear from others.
It usually costs upwards of $100,000 to stage First Night Morris, one of the northeast’s biggest–and last remaining–First Night celebrations.
While this month’s version has far fewer paid artists and rented venues, video costs are new.
“We spent more money per performance this year, significantly more, per each artist’s performance…than we ever had before,” Schlosser said. And revenues may suffer because ticket prices are reduced.
First Night Morris County’s 30th anniversary is a conversation for next year, however. Schlosser and his small army of “phenomenal” volunteers and partners are focused on the next four weeks.
If someone could bottle and sell Schlosser’s optimism, she would earn enough to finance First Night Morris in perpetuity.
Already, Schlosser sees a silver lining. For the first time, the weather forecast won’t be a worry.
And this is an historic moment to do some good.
“We have a chance to really support people, help people, and bring the community together. So let’s use First Night to do that, to make this an idea where we go, ‘Okay, it wasn’t awesome, but we all came together,'” Schlosser said.
“We’re going to work towards a better tomorrow. Together, we’re going to start off 2021 on the right step.”
MorristownGreen.com is a proud sponsor of First Night Morris County.
