Grand Millennium Celebration – Reflections of Earth

A celebration was hosted at Epcot on 2 October 1999 to recognize the people who created the Tapestry of Nations parade and Illuminations 2000: Reflections of Earth to celebrate the new millennium.

Images are of an actual invitation and guest pass used by Oliver Peters who worked on the Reflections of Earth project while employed at Century III Teleproductions which was located on the back lot at Universal Studios Orlando at the time. Oliver edited the video clips shown on the large globe in the center of the lake. (Ron Logan narrated an amazing internal viewing of Reflections of Earth with explanation of the video on the globe.)

This is the inside of the invitation sent to all those who worked on the Tapestry of Nations and Illuminations 2000: Reflections of Earth at EPCOT. This is the invitation sent to Oliver Peters, who was at the time an employee at Century III Teleproductions which was located on the backlot at Universal Studios Orlando. Oliver was the editor of all the video clips that appear on the large globe in the middle of the lake.

Transcription: You are invited to a Grand Millennium Celebration to recognize the men and women who made Tapestry of Nations and Illuminations 2000: Reflections of Earth a reality!

DATE: Saturday, October 2, 1999
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Recption/Dinner
6:25 p.m. “Tapestry of Nations” First Pass
8:10 p.m. “Tapestry of Nations” Second Pass
9:00 p.m. IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth
9:15 p.m. Drinks and Dessert
LOCATION: Bistro de Paris, Epcot France Pavilion (Second Floor Entrance)
Please park in the guest parking lot and enter Epcot through the main entrance. Non-Cast Members check-in at Epcot Guest Relations for park admission. Present this invitation for admission into Bistro de Paris.
One admission per Invitation.
R.S.V.P. by September 29: 407-390-[deleted on purpose]

LISTEN (13:04) to Oliver Peters interviewed by his wife and Orlando Public Library staff member, Kim Peters, in May 2011.

Oliver Peters worked for Century III Teleproductions from 1985 until he left in 2002 to form his own company. Over the course of seventeen years, Oliver held the positions of videotape editor, project manager and operations manager. CIII was first located in the old Bee Jay Recording Studios on Eggleston Avenue in Winter Park, Florida, but relocated in 1989 to Universal Studios after being selected from many production houses to be the post production facility on the back lot at Universal Studios. During this time period, Orlando garnered the name “Hollywood East” due to the filming/taping and post production of films and television series in the Central Florida area. His web site is www.OliverPeters.com

This two sided silver coin was presented to persons involved in the “Illuminations 2000: Reflections of Earth” project that debuted at Epcot on October 1, 1999.

Don Dorsey is an American audio production consultant, and a designer and director of fireworks and nighttime spectacular shows (including IllumiNations and Sorcery in the Sky.) From 1975 to 1992 he served as the main audio recording and post-production engineer for the Entertainment Division of Disneyland Park, manning console knobs and faders for recording sessions with Mickey and his cohorts, and for musical groups which ran the gamut from bagpipes, steel drums and accordion to marching band, 100-voice choir and symphony orchestra. While working with Disney, Don also worked with a number of pop musicians, including Quincy Jones, Sergio Mendez, and Donna Summer.His electronic arrangements and performances for Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade have been heard by an estimated 100 million Disney park guests around the world (as of 1997). In 1984 he produced the score for Laserphonic Fantasy and IllumiNations in 1988.Don continues to develop new entertainment projects and technology for Disney parks around the world, and in 1999 he directed IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, to celebrate the new millennium.

If anyone could corner the millennium, Disney could. In presenting the theme music to its Millennium Celebration at Epcot Center in Florida, the mega-corporation attempts a grand, musical year-2000 salute. Naturally, World Millennium Celebration weaves plenty of fiery brass, warm sting passages, stirring voices, and a mix of space, romance, and Earth adventure into the fabric of this fantasy work. Executive Music Producer Steve Skorija’s task seems to be providing a backdrop for live performance, a scrim to unfurl behind the spectacle. And in doing so, the themes “Reflections of Earth,” “We Go On,” “Tapestry of Nations,” “Promise,” and “Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand” (complete as a gospel version as well) have an “Up with People” undercurrent that is ambiguous even as it is mildly diverting. On those merits, Millennium Celebration succeeds as a score. But for sheer entertainment value, the CD needs to give us more of the legendary mouse’s magic and less of its roar. –Martin Keller

Individuals who played roles in the creation of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth Millennium reunited at EPCOT on September 30, 2009, for a 10 year reunion of the premiere of Reflections of Earth on September 30, 1999. This is the group photo of all those present.

To the dismay of all who have been touched by Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, the final performance was on September 30, 2019. Thirty eight members of the team who created and produced this spectacular nightly event gathered one last time to watch the final showing together.

Back Row: Martin Collins, David Connelly, Norm Lesmerises, Rich Taylor, Jerold Kaplan, Doug Dixon, Scott Stephan, Jay Neal, Steve Felder, Frank Alberson, Steve Eckwielen, Bill Wiedefeld, David Hynds, Brian Evans.

Middle Row: Tamara Frost, Ed Glowacki, Joe Kivett, Kyle Poor, Syme Jago, John Haupt, Eric Tucker, Gavin Greenaway, Don Dorsey, Steve Skorija, Phil Baker, Oliver Peters, Laurie Padden Jordan, Bettina Buckley, Ron Logan.

Front Row: Bernie Durgin, Kellie Coffey, Jimmy Wallace, Craig Jenest, Steve Zimmerman, Craig Stickler, Kenneth Montgomery, Lori LaFrance, David Stephens.

Left to right: Don Dorsey (Dorsey Productions, Inc.), Frank and Diane Alberson, Oliver Peters, Allison and Ken Montgomery, Craig Stickler.

One of the most touching aspects of Reflections of Earth is the song, “Promise,” lyrics by Don Dorsey, music by Gavin Greenaway, sung by Kellie Coffey. This song spoke to the future of our world as we began “another thousand circles round the sun” in the new Millennium. It immediately found it’s way into wedding ceremonies and the hearts of all who heard it in the stillness of the night at EPCOT. A copy of the sheet music was signed by all those who worked on the production gathering together for the last time at the 2019 reunion.

The finale of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at the last showing, September 30, 1999, as viewed by the individuals who gathered for the 20th reunion of the creation of this amazing production.