Easter laser show returns to church
The holiest of Christian holidays – Easter – is now being celebrated with lasers at a Canonsburg church.
Several years ago, George Dodworth persuaded his church to let him put on a Christmas laser show. The result of the first show in 2006 was so overwhelming that the show became an annual event and was opened to the public at Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church.
In addition to wanting to reach out to the community, Dodworth, founder and owner of Lightwave International in Bridgeville, said the company was the first in the United States to have obtained new solid-state laser technology, and he was “anxious to play with it.”
Then, three years ago, Dodworth and the church leaders decided to celebrate Easter in the same manner.
The church, next to the post office at 112 W. Pike St., will present the show at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the 450-seat sanctuary.
The show is provided at no cost by Dodworth, who through his company produces laser shows all over the world. Lightwave has done concert tours for Jay-Z, Madonna and Tom Petty. Its Pink Floyd laser prism was displayed during Roger Waters’ Dark Side of the Moon Tour in 2007 and 2008.
Locally, the company’s work includes laser logos at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Science Center; the Batman logo on the Highmark Building and the laser light display for First Night Lights in Pittsburgh.
Recently, in an effort to provide hope to those affected by Hurricane Sandy, Lightwave displayed a “Global Rainbow” in New York City.
Dodworth and Lightwave are providing the shows at the church free of charge. A voluntary donation is requested from attendees, with all proceeds going to local families in need and area missions, according to Stephanie Woodin, church secretary.
“The local causes here are in such need,” said Dodworth. “I just want to motivate the viewers to open their hearts to these causes.”
A 1999 graduate of Penn State University who majored in physics and electrical engineering, Dodworth puts his heart and soul into the production that features a spectacle of lights, sounds and lasers that promise to amaze those who view it.
“It’s really quite a spectacle,” said Dodworth. “We pack more equipment, millions of dollars of lasers for most shows, in the church sanctuary.”
He added, “I think we really undersell the event. The average person reading about the show will just expect a small church performance and probably dismiss it, but it’s far from anything they have seen before.”
According to Dodworth, the show utilizes the most advanced computers, with live operators harnessing the power of a multimillion-dollar laser arsenal.
“It is the same equipment that we use for our biggest touring and movie clients,” he explained. “We donate the entire show, so there is no budget to restrain us creatively. We are only limited by other shows on the schedule and the logistics to move the equipment in for the show, and then out again quickly to return to its ‘day job.'”