Stars and Stripes
Scholars believe that Thomas Jefferson meant for the Declaration of Independence to be performed not just read," said Morgan Freeman as he kicked off ABC's Independence Day 2001 on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at 10 P.M. on July 4. "It's words and rhythm were written to be spoken in proud and defiant terms in grand public places." And in grand style, judging from the estimated 1 million people who lined the city's mile-long Benjamin Franklin Parkway to listen as Mel Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg, Benicio Del Toro, Winona Ryder, Renee Zellweger, Kevin Spacey, Edward Norton, Kathy Bates and Ming-Na read passages from the historic document. "This is more about the Declaration than a star turn," said Diane Sawyer, who cohosted the show with her Good Morning America colleague Charles Gibson. "But to see all these powerful and strong actors reading those words [is] amazing." The evening wrapped up at about 11 P.M., just before fireworks lit up the sky and rain pured down on the crowd.
Matthew Cole Weiss
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