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Epcot
2000
2000 Monorail Spiel
Millennium Village
Tapestry
of Nations
New Year's Eve
1999 & 2000
IllumiNations 2000: Reflections
of Earth
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permission from EDC.
 Tapestry of Nations, created for Epcot's Millennium Celebration,
is a celebration of the human spirit in the form of a processional.
It is a story of unity told and led by the Sage of Time, a wise
grandfatherly figure. He reminds us that years ago, humans lived
in peace and harmony with one another and with the Earth. But as
time passed, humans strove to rule the Earth and to rule over each
other. Today, while there are still disputes and power struggles,
humans are realizing that life is not about what country you can
conquer and which people you can persecute. We are realizing that
it is acceptable to be different. We are learning from each other
improving our lives and our societies.
Each one of us is a single thread.
As we realize we are all a part of one human family, we join together
to celebrate our differences, our similarities, and our accomplishments
hand in hand. Our threads weave themselves together forming a tapestry
of one human family. We are many nations and we are many people,
but within each one of us we all have the same threads of joy, kindness,
compassion, and love which weave together to form our human spirit.
Each of us and our ethnic, cultural differences are represented
by the different groups of puppets. Within each group, each puppet
is different.
Tapestry of Nations shows us how
we can embrace each other and celebrate life together as the puppets
dance together along with us, the human audience, which is invited
to interact with the puppets to the heartbeat of drums.
And now, please join the Epcot Discovery
Center in experiencing Tapestry of Nations.
Female Announcer:
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, in just 5 minutes Epcot
will celebrate Tapestry of Nations - the Dawning
of a New Era. Come join us as the Sage of Time brings the Millennium
drummers to life and starts the heartbeat for our journey as we
prepare to touch tomorrow today. There are many locations to view
the show from Mexico to the United Kingdom. (Due to lower light
levels around the promenade,) watch your step and take small children
by the hand. Please come dance and move with our Millennium puppets
as we Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand. Tapestry of Nations
will begin in just 5 minutes. Thank you.
[Note: The part in parenthesis was heard only if the show was
performed at dusk or later.]
As the minutes pass, the lights dim around World Showcase and the
background music fades to silence. Soon, the sounds of clocks ticking
and chiming become more and more audible. Music joins the ticking
as this introduction is made. NOTE: The original
narration to Tapestry of Nations (which was used until mid-December
1999) did not include this lengthy introduction. All that was heard
was the ticking and chiming while the Sage of Time entered the promenade.
The Sage of Time's voice for that original version was a bolder,
stronger voice that did not have as much feeling or emotion inflicted
in it.
The Sage of Time Prologue
(These large blue titles denote sections of
the music.)
Male Narrator:
There is an ancient legend of the Sage of Time. It tells us that
when the Sage of Time first walked upon the Earth, the nations
of the world were one human family. They sang and danced together
... there was peace and joy ... and the circle was complete.
A thousand years passed and the Sage of Time walked
the Earth once again. The Sage of Time saw that the nations of
the world had grown apart ... the human family no longer sang
and danced together but strove with each other to possess the
Earth. There was no peace ... and the circle was broken.
A thousand years have passed and the Sage of Time
is once again among us ... walking his great Millennium Walk.
The dawn of a new day approaches when the circle is made whole
again ... when the nations of the world celebrate the gift of
life together ... to the rhythm of drums ... and the joy of dance
... and the harmony of song.
Here, in this circle of nations, the Millennium
Walk reminds us that we are indeed one earthly family. Join us
... as we celebrate the circle of life ... the family of human
kind ... the Tapestry of Nations!
 The Sage of Time appears in front of us standing tall, carrying
his staff, and wearing an elaborate costume (featuring the Roman
Numerals MM for 2000 at the bottom). The first of five Millennium
Clock percussion units on which two drummers pretend to drum using
slow motion and exaggerated movements.
Sage of Time:
Peace and goodwill to all who gather here for this earthly celebration.
May the spirit of humanity bring us together. May the promise
of the new millennium light the child within your heart. And now,
as the millennium drums unite and become one heartbeat, let us
fly, fly together hand in hand on the wings of joy, kindness,
compassion, and love... Behold, the great Millennium Walk.
NOTE: This introduction was used in the original
narration however, the word 'compassion' was not in that version.
Millennium Heartbeat
This section which was released on the CD
track was cut from show (lasts about a minute and a half) and replaced
with different transition section (lasts about 50 seconds)
that still heavily features drums but adds a slower version of the
theme including lines from the chorus.
Drummers begin the heartbeat, the giant clock starts
to turn, and the gates open unveiling the first puppets. The Sage
of Time turns and beckons the Millennium Clock and puppets forward.
Aztec Man is the first puppet seen. There are usually 4 or 5 of
them.
The Great Millennium Walk
Aztec Man is followed by Disk Man (2 or 3) then
the second Millennium Clock unit and then two more Disk Man.
Please note that the order in which the puppets appear and the number
of puppets appearing are not always the same.
Sage of Time:
Time is the heartbeat of the world. The rhythm of our hearts inspires
our drums and the drums call us to dance. Rise up ... join us
... all nations dance ... together!
 Even though we
may not see him, we can still hear the Sage of Time's narration.
This section contains a brief part of the "Celebrate the Future
Hand in Hand" theme. Shortly after this during a slower part
of the music, the puppets all move and sway in the same directions
to choreographed movements. Approximately 13 minutes pass before
the Sage of Time's next narration. Hammer Man (5), Millennium Clock
3, Sprite (6), and Wiggle Girl (4).
Sage of Time:
Peace covers the Earth. The torches of our celebration encircle
the world. The Tapestry of Nations is weaving
itself together. Come ... and be a part of the circle ... dance
with us.
Reach for the Stars
The show has reached the halfway point. All of the performers,
who have ceased moving forward, are onstage forming a continuous
procession from Mexico to the United Kingdom. The lights dim, the
torches go out, strobe lights on the pavilions flash repeatedly,
and the mirror ball atop the Millennium Clocks are lit up casting
stars onto the puppets, guests, pavilions, and trees all around
the World Showcase Promenade. The large searchlights atop several
of the pavilions light up first with the two above Innoventions,
then one by one back and forth across the lagoon until the final
two atop The American Adventure are lit. As the music builds, the
searchlights all meet at one point above the center of the lagoon.
All of the puppets move in a synchronized dance all swaying in the
same direction or dancing with each other. The drummers pretend
to continue drumming but in slow motion with exaggerated movements.
Before the Sage of Time speaks, the puppets stop facing straight
ahead.
Sage of Time:
The gateway of time has opened and the spirit of humanity has
brought us together. Let us reach out and touch the stars as they
light the way to tomorrow ... and bring us hope ... for a better
world.
As the music builds, the searchlights lift up away
from the center of the lagoon, the puppets lean forward and then
rise up straight again, the torches are relit, and the lights come
on illuminating the Promenade. NOTE: These two lines were heard
in the original narration.
The Great Millennium Walk
The music returns to the theme heard in the Great Millennium Walk
section starting from about 8 minutes into the show (or CD track)
and then is pretty much the same as the earlier section only several
refrains were shortened. After the Wiggle Girl puppets, the fourth
Millennium Clock rolls by and then Bird Man (4).
Sage of Time:
Join us as we dance into a new age. Enter the world of our celebration.
Passing by is the Inverted Marionette (2 or 3) and
the fifth and final Millennium Clock unit.
Sage of Time:
The universe is echoing with joy ... and the sound of our voices
and the beat of our drums and the rhythm of our footsteps ...
as we rejoice together.
The final group of puppets is Angel Girl (3 or 4).
Passing the Sage of Time before exiting through the gates, each
puppet bows to the Sage of Time and he acknowledges the puppet and
motions toward the gate.
The Human Spirit
 Nearing
the end of the procession, all of the Millennium Clocks and puppets
have exited the promenade leaving the Sage of Time. He circles the
area, turns to the audience, bows, and wishes us well as we go forward.
Sage of Time:
May peace go with you forever and ever ... as you Celebrate the
Future Hand in Hand.
With his staff held high, the lights dim with the
final drum beat and the Sage of Time exits the stage. Two of the
Angel Girl puppets remain directly behind the gates so that when
opened for the Sage to exit, all we see are those two puppets and
not the backstage area. The torches remain lit as the stage has
been set for the evening's finale: IllumiNations 2000: Reflections
of Earth.
These announcements are used for inclement weather.
Female Announcer:
Ladies and Gentlemen, due to unfavorable weather conditions and
for the safety of our performers, this performance of Tapestry
of Nations has been delayed. We thank you for your patience
and we hope to begin as soon as possible. Once again, this performance
of Tapestry of Nations has been delayed and will
begin as soon as possible.
Female Announcer:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, due to adverse wind conditions
and for the safety of our performers, the Morocco to United Kingdom
segment of Tapestry of Nations has been cancelled.
Viewing locations are still available between Mexico and Morocco.
Once again, the Morocco to United Kingdom segment of Tapestry
of Nations has been cancelled.
Female Announcer:
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, due to inclement weather
conditions and for the safety of our performers, we are unable
to present this performance of Tapestry of Nations.
Once again, this performance of Tapestry of Nations
has been cancelled.
Female Announcer:
Ladies and Gentlemen, due to adverse wind conditions and for the
safety of our performers, we are unable to present this performance
of Tapestry of Nations. Once again, this performance
of Tapestry of Nations has been cancelled.
Tapestry of Nations Original Version
| 2001 Version | Fact Sheet
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Created April 6, 2000 / Last modified
November 18, 2001
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