Think your life is complicated?
Try coordinating a New Year’s Eve extravaganza with more than 50 performances at 13 in-person venues, many livestreams, plus live and on-demand screenings of more than 40 films… while a pandemic regains strength, hour by hour, like an angry cyclone.
“Every year has its challenges,” said First Night Morris President Craig Schlosser, a master of understatement, on Tuesday.
He and a brigade of techies, interns and volunteers are working feverishly — no pun intended — to deliver a safe and satisfying experience this Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, for the 30th anniversary of First Night Morris County.
The planning started almost immediately after last year’s all-virtual edition. Contingencies were baked in, anticipating COVID complications such as the Delta variant, and now, Omicron.
Like a Super Bowl quarterback at the line of scrimmage, Schlosser, 38, is ready to call an audible, switching plays if the situation demands.
Video preview of First Night Morris 2022:
Layers of safety protocols are in place for those still keen on enjoying in-person entertainment. For patrons more comfortable watching from home, Schlosser may add extra livestreams — with help from Rob Tobias and his tech team from Tour Masters Productions Inc.
Tobias recorded last year’s First Night performances for streaming. Over a nearly 30-year career producing events for governors and corporations, he has amassed a roster of multimedia wizards. They are on standby this week, awaiting Schlosser’s decision as game time looms.
“We’re on the phone every 10 minutes,” said Tobias.
This will be his third First Night. He acknowledges more moving parts — a lot more– this time.
“I’m not going to sugar-coat it…this is a very serious situation,” Tobias said.
For in-person performances, he said, it’s imperative to follow the rules. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative PCR test is mandatory for admission. Masks are required. Social distancing should be practiced. Two venues–St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and its parish hall–will be limited to half-capacity.
But Tobias is not sweating the technology demands.
“I love the challenges,” he said. “We’ll make it happen. We’re coming to work. We’re not coming to play.”
Schlosser has loved First Night since his days at Morristown High School. (Where he actually learned to call audibles, as the varsity quarterback.)
That passion has been passed on to his 16-year-old son Collin, whose many tasks include overseeing a livestream of the New Year’s countdown, and other videos, from the Vail Mansion lawn.
Sharing the heavy lifting are four members of the First Night executive board, a half dozen volunteers and 10 interns from area high schools and colleges. They are determined, Schlosser said.
“The goal always is to stay true to the essence of First Night: Bringing the community together through a shared, positive experience, focusing on arts and culture. To do that now means we must deliver programs to the audience in multiple formats, to bring everyone together,” he said.
There are no fireworks this year, Schlosser explained, because they could not be delivered with the same quality across live-, livestream and on-demand platforms. But make no mistake. The show will go on.
“Every year we find a way to do this, and to do it and make it great…together,” Schlosser said.
Below are details from First Night Morris County.
What’s New at First Night Morris County:
Your All-Access Guide to the Expanded 30th Anniversary Event
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – The 30th annual First Night Morris County New Year’s Eve arts celebration event happening this Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, will be the largest and most robust offering in the organization’s history. Make the most of this year’s historic event by following our handy guide outlining all of the newest additions and features.
This year, First Night Morris County proudly presents our:
- First-ever hybrid multi-day event: Every First Night Morris 2022 ticket is an All Access Pass, granting you admission to all in-person, live streaming, and on-demand events and films from December 31 to January 3. This means you can enjoy all that First Night Morris County has to offer from anywhere in the world!
- First-ever in-person AND on-demand film festival: At the in-person event on December 31, we’re screening more than 40 films on five screens at the AMC Theaters in Morristown, and the majority of those films are also available on-demand on our website and mobile app through January 3, 2022. For details, check out our official film festival preview here.
- First-ever in-person screening of “Behind the Curtain” First Night Morris documentary: As part of our film festival, this 3-part, behind the scenes look at how First Night Morris comes together will be showing live in-person on the TV trucks at Vail Mansion, as well as on the live stream and on-demand. Learn more about the documentary here.
- First-ever live stream from the Mayo: This year’s four live in-person performances taking place at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Dec. 31 also will be live streamed through our website and app. Enjoy all the Mayo has to offer, whether you’re attending in-person or watching from the comfort of your home. See the schedule here
- First-ever Midnight Countdown: Welcome the new year with a countdown to midnight, a 30 year anniversary tribute, and a group sing-along to the New Year’s classic song, Auld Lang Syne! Join us live in-person at the TV trucks at Vail Mansion, or remotely via the live stream , and on-demand on our website and app. Get more info here
- Brand new live stream and on-demand platform: We’ve launched a brand new online platform to make participating virtually a breeze! Just sign in at the upper right hand corner of FirstNightNJ.com with your email address and confirmation link (or Ticket ID and First/Last Name) to watch the wide range of live streaming and on-demand video content. Click here to visit our event page
Of course, all of these brand new additions come along with all of the wonderful things our attendees have come to know and love about First Night Morris County each year, including dynamic children’s programming, visual arts, theater, music, and world cultures.
Everything is included in your First Night Morris County ticket purchase.
All First Night attendees have all-access to the film festival, all in-person performances, all the live stream and on-demand content included in their admission, plus complimentary parking, free shuttles, a mobile app, and a midnight countdown to welcome in the new year.
Regular admission pricing is just $30 per admission or $23.75 each when purchasing four or more.
Note: In-person performance access is limited by seating capacity. All attendees ages 12+ attending a performance are required to show proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of the event start time. Masks are required to be worn inside the venues except while briefly consuming concessions.
To purchase tickets and for more information:
Visit FirstNightMorris.com, the Mayo Box Office at 100 South St., Morristown, or call 973-539-8008 during regular business hours.
First Night Morris County Board of Directors thanks our Supporters, Partners, Film Festival Committee Volunteers, Tour Masters Productions, and AMC Theaters for their continued support.
Secure your ticket today and we look forward to ringing in the new year together with you at First Night Morris County!
ABOUT FIRST NIGHT® MORRIS COUNTY
Beginning in 1992, First Night® Morris County is now the LARGEST First Night® in New Jersey. Join your friends and neighbors for our 30th year of ringing in the New Year with an unmatched array of performances! First Night Morris County 2022 is the biggest and brightest New Year’s Eve celebration in New Jersey, providing a magnificent family-friendly, substance and alcohol-free celebration in the heart of Morristown. Our stellar program features 50+ performances at 15 Venues (13 In-Person, 1 Streaming, and 1 On-Demand), and 40+ on-demand films. Events include theatre, music (rock, jazz, classical, etc.), visual arts, film festival, world cultures, children’s programs and so much more. The program concludes with the new Midnight Countdown to welcome in the New Year. Your First Night Morris County admission button gives you access to innovative, diverse and high-quality performances ideal for participants of all ages. In-person venues are within close walking distance of one another and virtual programs are
MorristownGreen.com is a proud media partner of First Night Morris.
