A holiday without the usual trappings: Morristown’s Theatre of Light illuminates its third year

SPREADING HER WINGS: Lauren Adams, founder of Fluxion Entertainment, at Morristown Theatre of Light, Dec. 4, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Move over, Festivus. Morristown has its own non-holiday celebration.

No Santa. No mangers or menorahs. Just lots of white lights, weird masks and puppets, and mildly festive music.

Dan Fenelon and Kadie Dempsey of Core Creative Placemaking, with one of their creations at the Theatre of Light, Dec. 4, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The third annual Theatre of Light drew a crowd to the chilly Vail Mansion plaza on Sunday night. Not nearly as big as Santa’s crowd on Friday. But a crowd, nonetheless.

“The premise of this event is bringing together the community, with the focus of light and the stars. It’s non-denominational,” said Kadie Dempsey, whose Core Creative Placemaking LLC produced the massive puppets and staged youth workshops to create many decorations for the event.

Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin. Click/hover on image for captions:

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Newlyweds Paul and Lauren Monticello at the Morristown Theatre of Light, Dec. 4, 2022. Behind them is the Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen, where they were married hours earlier. Two years earlier they had their first date there. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The Theatre of Light was hatched in 2019 by the Morristown Cultural District, which consists of the Mayo Performing Arts Center, the Morristown & Township Library, the Presbyterian Church in MorristownSt. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Jockey Hollow Bar & Kitchen.

Morris Arts, the nonprofit arts organization, joined the mix on Sunday as a sponsor.

Entertainment included MPAC’s Performing Arts School, Emedin Rivera, and the Unity Steppers Encore from the Morristown Neighborhood House. The fairy-like Fluxion Dancers twirled and swirled wings bejeweled with tiny lights.

Newlyweds Jessica and Kevin Madden with Murray, at the Theatre of Light, Dec. 4, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

At least two pairs of newlyweds were in the audience.

Paul and Lauren Monticello of Bridgewater were celebrating their second anniversary. As in, two hours of wedded bliss. They had just been married at Jockey Hollow, site of their first date two years earlier.

Kevin and Jessica Madden were married over the summer. Kevin competed last February in Morristown Onstage, where he performed a song he composed for his then-fiancée. Joining them at the Theatre of Light was Murray, their 3-year-old four-legged pal.

Berry Azooz, 6, and her mom, Hanna Ali, watch Morristown Green video of Berry from Santa’s arrival earlier in the weekend. They are pictured at the Morristown Theatre of Light, Dec. 4, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The Steppers were winners at Morristown Onstage. Six-year-old Berry Azooz of Morristown came to Sunday’s festivities with her mom to cheer for Berry’s sister Naheed, 10, a Steppers Encore member.

Two nights earlier, Berry visited the crowd at the historic Morristown Green to welcome Santa Claus. She implored a digital scribe to relay a message to the big man.

“Will you tell him I want a real live pet, not a toy, not a robot?” the 1st grader directed.

So if you’re reading this, Mr. Kringle…

Theatre of Light, Dec. 4, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

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