Although I can't explain the instrument panel dying first, I've seen all sorts of strange things caused by a bad alternator or battery, things that you just can't figure out. In any case all your other symptoms point towards your alternator/regulator or battery. Check them out and replace what is necessary. If I were you I'd do it in this order: 1. Check and clean up all wiring and cables and terminals/connectors associated with the battery and alternator. 2. Pull off the regulator to see if you still have brushes. You could get off with a $5 fix for new brushes. 3. If that checsk out OK, have your battery tested and then your alternator if the battery checks OK.

If the instrument cluster problem still isn't working after you get your charging problem taken care of, then it's a separate problem that just happened by coincidence. But I'll bet money on your cluster being fixed also.