Christmas Laser Spectacular ‘bigger and better’
A scene from last year’s laser show at Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church
This photo shows the scanning lasers at a “Pretty Lights” DJ show from George Dodworth’s company, Lightwave International.
CANONSBURG – The sanctuary of Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church will be transformed Friday and Saturday into a Christmas cornucopia of lights, lasers and music.
This is the eighth straight year church member George Dodworth donated his time and state-of-the-art equipment to put on a professional-grade show. The laser engineer puts on shows worldwide for touring acts like Jay-Z and Madonna, and provides effects for movies like “Transformers,” and even the floating Dark Knight logo on a building in downtown Pittsburgh the last night A.J. Burnett pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“This is a stadium-level production happening inside a church. This isn’t a couple of lasers and flashlights – this is a top-of-the-line, industry-leading show synchronized to music and holiday-themed visuals,” said Dodworth, the president and owner of Lightwave International, based in Eighty Four.
“No two shows are identical. They keep improving and getting bigger and better,” said church spokeswoman Stephanie Woodin.
“This is a complete sensory experience, and we even have the Canon-McMillan High School jazz band syncing up with the laser display,” Woodin said.
Tickets – $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger – can be purchased at canonsburgup.org, and all ticket sales are donated directly to community charities.
“We’ve helped Avis Arbor Women’s Shelter, Canonsburg-Houston Food Pantry, Family Promise, Washington City Mission, Blessings in a Backpack,” Woodin said.
For Dodsworth, the show is his way to give back to the community with a production that would cost the church more than $100,000. And it’s a way to elicit some Christmas nostalgia alongside modern-day technology.
“Christmas just doesn’t feel like it does for me as it did when I was child, but these shows, there are moments – special, magic moments – that happen that put you in that place all over again,” Dodworth said.
Shows are scheduled for 6 and 7 p.m. Friday and 6 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday.