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Grand Center to become wonderland for First Night
(by Julia Werner - December 23, 2009)
On Dec. 31, Grand Center invites St. Louis to fall down the rabbit hole and attend the artistic “Wonderland” of First Night.
The annual New Year’s Eve celebration features live music, circus acts, theater, art, dance, storytelling and more from 6 p.m. until the clock strikes 2010.
“We’re sprinkling little bits of Alice in Wonderland around but really we’re taking Wonderland as the definition of a magical or wondrous experience or place,” said Rachel Beatty, project manager of events and marketing at Grand Center.
In keeping with the theme, costumed characters will take to the streets and mingle with attendants and a Mad Hatter Café will provide tea, coffee and sweets. Children can create their own Mad Hatter Hats at the Craft Alliance studio as well as other arts and crafts at the Make and Take Station.
Other kid-friendly activities include the Fire Truck Puppet Theater at Grand and Olive, Fantasy Face Airbrush Art and the Studio STL Maze of Madness. This 50-foot interactive maze allows children to invent a story around a character of their choice with the help of First Night volunteers.
First Nighters of all ages can enjoy magician Brent Loewenstein, storyteller Annette Harrison and, back by popular demand, Star Wars in a Box performed by artist Chris Jones.
“He literally does all three of the old Star Wars within 15 minutes,” Beatty said. “He does it pulling characters out of the box and different props but he does it all on this table and just before your eyes it happens and it’s done in a very comical way. It’s sort of a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of experience.”
Attendees can put a spin on their New Year’s resolutions by participating in the Burn a Regret and Make a Wish activities, both popular First Night traditions. This year, wishes are displayed on post-its and become a piece of art on the 40-by-8-foot mosaic “Wonder Wall of Wishes.” The Burn a Regret station will take the shape of a giant clock that allows attendees to “turn back time.”
First Night also plans to transform the Scottish Rite auditorium into the Big Top by welcoming St. Louis’ own Circus Flora, the St. Louis Arches and internationally renowned clown Jeff Raz for two special New Year’s Eve performances that combine the theater and circus arts. In between these shows, Lazer Vaudeville is set to perform its blacklight juggling routine.
An array of dancing is scheduled throughout the night featuring Metro and Ashleyliane dance companies, Muny Kids, Mound City Slickers and Café Canza. Live music is just as abundant ranging from cabaret act Elise LaBarge to Keltic Reign to Gene Dobbs Bradford and The Blues Inquisition and many in between.
“We’re really excited this year because we have over 70 different acts at First Night and 23 or so of those are music acts and most of them are brand-new to First Night,” Beatty said. “There’s not really a theme; we have a classical quartet, we have the African chorus…we have R&B and gospel and blues and rock…so it’s really across the board this year.”
Two fireworks displays are taking place, the first at 9 p.m. and a grand finale at midnight, both with countdowns led by drumming group and America’s Got Talent finalists The Cadence.
And Beatty says not to be threatened by the cold weather. “We have over 15 indoor venues, so most of it is taking place inside. We just try to do a lot to keep you entertained on the way.”
• The event begins at 6 p.m. and continues through midnight. Admission buttons are required for entrance into any of the venues. Surface lots will open for parking and street vendors will provide food and drink. For more information and a complete schedule of events call 289-1500 or visit www.grandcenter.org.
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