Page 1 of 17 SDR Films
LIGHTING UP FIFTH UNICEF Snowflake Lighting, benefit concert
SCRIPT w/ TIMING Writer: John Courtmanche
Act I 1 (Show opens.)
ANNOUNCER :40 (off-stage) (music under) (VOG/VTPB Open Animation MOS)
Welcome to the first annual UNICEF Snowflake concert! With our host Liv Tyler, and emcee Barry Bostwick! Featuring live performances by the Alvin Ailey dancers, Judy Collins, Kathy Brier and the Dynamites from the Broadway smash “Hairspray,” the Irish Tenors, Brian McKnight, and Kelly Rowland! Mayor Michael Bloomberg will preside over the official lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake, Brightening the World for Children! And now, please welcome, one of the world’s premiere children’s choirs – New York City’s own – Boys Choir of Harlem!
2 Boys Choir of Harlem 10:00 – 3 holiday tunes (live mics + music track) Let it Snow (3:04) Christmas Song (3:57) Hark the Herald (2:59)
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Act II 3 ANNOUNCER :15 (off-stage)
Now please welcome, our Master of Ceremonies – well-known as New York Mayor Randall Winston from the hit TV series “Spin City”– star of Broadway, film and television – Golden Globe and Tony award winner, Barry Bostwick!
4 BARRY 01:10
Thank you! Welcome everyone to the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake! And thank you Boys Choir of Harlem! Weren’t they terrific?
Of course, New York is a magical place to be for the holidays. I’m sure many of you have been here this time of year, and gazed up at this stunning, 30-foot-tall ornament and felt a rush of holiday spirit. I know I have. Our snowflake has brightened the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street for almost 20 years! Now christened "The UNICEF Snowflake", this 3,600-light ornament is a symbol of UNICEF’s work, Brightening the World for Children, a symbol of hope and compassion for children around the world!
Our ceremony tonight is a benefit produced by the United States Fund for UNICEF, which raises awareness and funds, and promotes UNICEF’s important work around the world. The first event they ever produced was right here in New York City, on 42nd Street, in 1948. It was a parade led by Elsie the Borden Cow, who inspired the crowds to help UNICEF send milk to starving children. Sadly, Elsie
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isn’t with us anymore, so they called me, to fill in for a lactating bovine.
5 Please join me in welcoming a tireless champion for children everywhere, the executive director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy.
6 CAROL :25
Thank you Barry, and a warm welcome to all of you. Tonight, great entertainers, corporate sponsors and our Mayor are helping UNICEF tell the story of the world’s children, and we’re grateful for their support. (to audience) And we’re thrilled that so many of you are here supporting us as well – please tell your families and friends that when they’re in New York for the holidays, to come see the UNICEF Snowflake in honor of the world’s children! Thank you, and enjoy the show!
7 BARRY :15
Any “Lord of the Rings” fans out there? We’re only 27 days till “The Return of the King!” Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, star of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and a National Ambassador for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the elegant and charming, Liv Tyler!
8 TYLER :10
Thank you, Barry! It’s great to be here in New York City at the UNICEF Snowflake event! Enjoy!
(Carol and Liv exit.)
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9 BARRY :30
In about 30 minutes, Liv and Carol will be joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, you know, that other mayor, to officially light the UNICEF Snowflake for the 2003 holidays! And they’ll need your help with the countdown. Until then, some of the world’s most talented performers are here to help us celebrate! Please welcome, live from Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre on West 52nd St., stars of the Tony award- winning musical “Hairspray,” Kathy Brier and the Dynamites!
10 Hairspray 01:52 Welcome to the Sixties (with re-written lyrics)
11 BARRY :15
Kathy Brier and the Dynamites, from the Tony- winning cast of Hairspray, Thank you!
We’re honored to have in the audience another National Ambassador for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF – everyone say hello to U.S. Olympic Medalist and TV Personality Summer Sanders!
(Summer stands up and waves – shot of her on Jumbotron)
ACT III 12 BARRY :45
In about 25 minutes, we’ll throw the switch on the UNICEF Snowflake! Some of you may be wondering where the switch is – it’s over on a small stage behind those trees. You may be wondering why it’s not here,
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where we can see it: The extension cord wouldn’t reach.
Actually it’s over there so the people doing the lighting will be able to see the Snowflake. Which brings up another question – Why can’t we see the snowflake? I think it has something to do with the little problem of trying to close Fifth Avenue at rush hour. That’s as easy as telling George Steinbrenner, Don’t worry, it’s just a game. But don’t worry, we will be able to see the lighting. (Shot of snowflake comes up on screens.) See what I mean?
And if the mayor is delayed tonight, who better to stand in for him than me? I had experience running the city for six TV seasons. I’m quite capable of lighting a snowflake. Anybody got a match?
Helping us celebrate right now is a multi-platinum singer-songwriter – the man behind hits like “One Last Cry” and “Back at One” – singing from his holiday CD “Bethlehem,” please welcome Brian McKnight!
13 Brian McKnight 03:58 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
ACT IV 14 BARRY :55
Thank you Brian! We’re now 20 minutes till the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake! I feel like Dick Clark waiting for the ball to drop.
At this time I’d like to welcome a very special friend of UNICEF. Last year the Stonbely (STAHN-BLEE) Family Foundation donated the Snowflake to UNICEF
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as a symbol of hope for the world’s children. Please join us in thanking Mr. George Stonbely for his visionary gift.
(George Stonbely comes on stage.)
BARRY
George, what inspired you to make this generous gift to UNICEF?
STONBELY
Well Barry, I decided I wanted to direct the good will associated with the Snowflake toward a good cause. And there’s no better cause than children. UNICEF was the obvious choice – they’re based in New York, and they serve children around the world.
BARRY
Well, UNICEF thanks you and the world’s children thank you. How about a hand for Mr. Stonbely (STAHN-BLEE) and the Stonbely Family Foundation.
(George exits.)
15 BARRY :30
UNICEF is hoping this first annual Snowflake benefit will grow to be as popular as its annual “Trick-or- Treat” campaign and those famous little orange boxes. “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” has been around since 1950, when the Allison family of Pennsylvania raised $17. Actually it was $18 until little Jeffrey Allison pocketed a buck to buy the candy he’d missed out on!
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When my kids went out this year, they collected money and candy. I’m not raising no fools. This year “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” raised more than 4 million dollars! (holds up orange box) Actually, 4 million, nine dollars and sixty-seven cents.
Let’s take a moment to see how UNICEF utilizes its funds on behalf of children worldwide.
16 UNICEF VIDEO 02:15 – Tape PB (Sound on Tape)
17 BARRY :15
As that video shows, there’s so much to celebrate about UNICEF’s work. And helping us celebrate tonight is one of the country’s most popular singers, one-third of the supergroup “Destiny’s Child,” and now a solo performer in her own right, please welcome the beautiful Kelly Rowland!
18 Kelly Rowland 03:35 Do You Hear What I Hear
ACT V 19 BARRY :50
Thank you Kelly for supporting UNICEF, the United Nation’s Children’s Fund! Kelly and all our performers are generously volunteering their talents tonight and we thank them all!
Tonight’s concert is part of a long history of concerts benefiting UNICEF, including George Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh” in 1971 and other concerts with the Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Celine
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Dion and Earth Wind and Fire. Tonight’s event would not be possible without our sponsors – Town & Country and Hearst Magazines, CBS2, and Parfums (PARFUM) Givenchy (GEE-VAHN-SHEE), who are here with us tonight sharing this event with all of New York! Thank you to our sponsors, they make UNICEF’s important work possible!
BARRY
Through UNICEF, nations in every corner of the world are united over the need to protect and nurture children. That’s one of the reasons UNICEF received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965, and again in 2000!
Joining in our celebration of UNICEF’s work, performing an excerpt from “The Winter in Lisbon”, please welcome a legendary New York institution , the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
20 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 07:00 – music lead + performance San Sebastian
ACT VI 21 BARRY :45
The fabulous and very flexible Alvin Ailey dancers, thank you! If you’d like to see more, Alvin Ailey opens its New York season on December 3rd at City Center for five weeks.
We’re only about five minutes now from the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake with the help of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Liv Tyler. You’ll see the snowflake is suspended between four exclusive retail
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shops on the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street – these are the anchor sponsors of the UNICEF Snowflake, Bergdorf Goodman, The Crown Building, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany’s. Thank you for anchoring our snowflake every year. UNICEF is so fortunate to have your support.
BARRY
In fact, UNICEF has been fortunate to have the support of so many organizations and individuals over the years, especially our celebrities – from Danny Kaye to Audrey Hepburn to our wonderful performers here tonight. This next video is a little “thank you note” from some of our UNICEF celebrity Ambassadors across the decades.
22 UNICEF VIDEO 3:08 – Tape PB (Sound on Tape)
23 BARRY :15
There is truly much to celebrate about UNICEF’s work. And helping us celebrate tonight is a Grammy- award-winning artist who continues to delight audiences with her music, year-after-year. You saw her in the video we just played. Here she is tonight -- singing a song from her CD – “Come Rejoice!” – please welcome UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Judy Collins.
24 Judy Collins 2:30 I’ll Be Home For Christmas Santa Clause is Coming to Town
ACT VII
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25 BARRY :25
Thank you Judy. That was beautiful. I’m a real fan.
And now the moment we’ve been waiting for – the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake for the 2003 holiday season! Joining me again are UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, and our host, Liv Tyler.
(Carol and Liv enter.)
And please join us in welcoming the real Mayor of New York City, the Honorable Michael Bloomberg!
(The Mayor enters to play on music.)
26 BLOOMBERG 2:00 THANKS, BARRY. I THINK YOU WERE MAYOR OF NEW YORK FOR SIX YEARS, WEREN’T YOU?
(PAUSE)
I’M DEFINITELY HOPING TO TOP THAT.
GOOD EVENING. IT'S REALLY STARTING TO FEEL LIKE THE HOLIDAYS, ISN'T IT? AND IT’LL FEEL EVEN MORE FESTIVE IN A FEW MINUTES, I PROMISE YOU, WHEN WE LIGHT THE UNICEF SNOWFLAKE FOR 2003!
AS YOU KNOW…I’M HERE TO FLICK THE SWITCH. AND LET ME TELL YOU – I’M READY. I’VE BEEN IN TRAINING.
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I DID THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE LAST YEAR… I JUST DID THE MARQUEE ON A BRAND NEW BROADWAY THEATER… AND TOMORROW NIGHT, I’M GOING TO LIGHT UP THE BRONX ZOO. SO YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS.
THIS MAGNIFICENT SNOWFLAKE WILL BRIGHTEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.
IT WILL BE SEEN AND ENJOYED BY MILLIONS OF NEW YORKERS AND THE MILLIONS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT NEW YORK OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
ONE OF THE JOYS OF NEW YORK DURING THE HOLIDAYS IS OUR STREET DECORATIONS.
AND PRIME AMONG THEM IS THE SNOWFLAKE! – WHICH CAN BE SEEN FROM RIVER TO RIVER ON 57TH STREET – AND A LONG WAY UP AND DOWN FIFTH AVENUE.
LAST YEAR, HOWEVER, REPRESENTED A PASSING OF THE TORCH -- OR A PASSING OF THE FLAKE… IF YOU WILL.
FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES THE RETAIL
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SHOPS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTED THE SNOWFLAKE AS A WAY TO ATTRACT HOLIDAY VISITORS.
BUT ONE YEAR AGO… THE SNOWFLAKE WAS DONATED TO UNICEF, THE UNITED NATION’S CHILDREN’S FUND -- AND IT NOW SERVES AS A SYMBOL OF CHILDREN WORLDWIDE, AS WELL AS A REMINDER OF OUR OBLIGATION TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
NEW YORK IS A BIG CITY, AND THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT IT IS ITS HEART.
THERE’S A HISTORY OF CHARITY HERE – OF INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND NON- PROFITS COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED -- AT HOME AND ABROAD.
SO IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THAT UNICEF, AND THE UNITED NATIONS ITSELF, ARE BOTH BASED HERE.
NEW YORK IS PROUD OF THESE NOBEL- PEACE-PRIZE WINNING INSTITUTIONS, AND I’M PROUD OF NEW YORKERS FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THEM.
NOW. BEFORE I DO WHAT I CAME HERE TO DO… LET ME JUST THANK ALL THOSE WHO
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CONTRIBUTED TO THIS HOLIDAY EVENT…
THE PERFORMERS… THE NEWS MEDIA… OUR SPONSORS… BUSINESS LEADERS (LIKE GEORGE STAHN-BLEE AND JOHN WHITEHEAD)… GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS… AND CITY AGENCIES LIKE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE NYPD.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE BEST OF WHAT NEW YORK CAN BE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
OKAY… LET THERE BE LIGHT!
27 BARRY 1:30
Thank you Mr. Mayor. Now the Mayor and the light- switch-pulling team will make their way over to the official lighting stage. You’ll see we’ve installed a powerful Snowflake lighting switch. Those of you standing near the stage, don’t worry. It’s perfectly safe! We tested it back in August. We were lucky, we got the test in just a few seconds before the huge blackout, the one from here to Canada!
At this time I’d like to introduce two children who’ll be helping us light our Snowflake – these young girls entered their artwork into this year’s Pier 1-UNICEF Greeting Card contest, and their designs were chosen from thousands of entries. Did you know that UNICEF's annual greeting card fundraiser was inspired by a seven-year-old girl in Czechoslovakia,
Page 14 of 17 who in 1949 sent a hand-made "thank you" card to UNICEF? Ever since, sales of greeting cards have been a major source of income for UNICEF, raising millions of dollars.
Pier 1 turned this year’s winning designs into official UNICEF 2003 greeting cards, available at Pier 1 stores nationwide. How about a hand for 7-year-old Amanda Cibulka from Wisconsin, and 12-year-old Dana Connolly from California!
(Note: Barry on Stage 1. Dana & Amanda on Stage 2.)
BARRY (chats with the girls)
Dana, can you tell us about the picture you drew for UNICEF while we take a look at it?
How about you Amanda, tell us about your picture.
BARRY
MORE QUESTIONS TO KILL TIME: How many pictures did you draw before sending in this one?
Have you ever met a mayor before? Would you be more excited about meeting a real mayor, or a TV mayor?
Are you hoping to be professional artists? What do you want to be?
Are your brothers and sisters jealous of your talent?
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Well, congratulations again.
28 BARRY :20 (fills on Stage 1)
And now, for the lighting of the Snowflake! (to audience) Have you all warmed up your countdown voices, do you need to warm up a little, sing some scales or something? No, you’re all good? Ready for the holidays? 29 BARRY :05 (throws to Stage 2)
Great -- Let’s go to Mayor Bloomberg and Liv Tyler!
(The MAYOR arrives, congratulates the two children.)
(The Mayor, Liv, the children, Carol take hold of the switch.)
LIV TYLER :30
Thanks Barry! Everyone please help us count down to the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake, Brightening the World for Children! 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1
(They light the snowflake. Applause and cheers, & music Cue)
30 BARRY :15
Isn’t that beautiful? Happy holidays everyone. Thank you Mayor Bloomberg, Liv Tyler, Carol
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Bellamy, Amanda and Dana!
(Pause for them to wave to camera)
And now, to close our celebration of UNICEF’s work caring for children worldwide -- singing a medley from their holiday CD “We Three Kings” – please welcome, the incomparable Irish Tenors.
31 The Irish Tenors 3:35 – Medley Winter Wonderland White Christmas Jingle Bells
32 BARRY :30
Thank you gentlemen! And thank you to all of our wonderful performers who so graciously donated their time and talent to entertain us tonight. And thanks to all our sponsors for their generous contributions to UNICEF and its vital work. Thanks to Brooks Brothers For my clothes. And thanks to all of YOU for being here tonight to support UNICEF!
If you’d like an ornament of the UNICEF Snowflake to decorate your tree, I’ll be standing on the corner with a briefcase. No -- they’re available at all Pier 1 stores. Proceeds benefit UNICEF!
We wish all of you and your families the very best for a wonderful holiday season. Be safe, and be kind to each other. Good night!
33 Video Tape PB (MOS) Animation to Screens
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