Narnia Exhibition Heading to Houston, TX

HOUSTON—(August 14, 2009)—The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition will open at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, from Oct. 3 through Jan. 18. Based on the blockbuster film series and C.S. Lewis’ beloved fictional books, the 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art entertainment and educational experience offers visitors the opportunity to tour scenes from the famed literary world of Narnia. Through authentic costumes, props and set dressings from the magical Narnia films, visitors will enter a three dimensional world that combines the wonders of science with aspects of fantasy.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition is presented by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media and is produced by Exhibitgroup/Giltspur. Tickets are on sale now at www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.

“This exhibition is a truly captivating and entertaining experience for all ages,” said Eddie Newquist, President of Branded Entertainment at Exhibitgroup/Giltspur. “From the scene displays and props seen in the Narnia films, to the scientific and educational aspects of the exhibition that stimulate the senses and the mind, guests will be transported into another world to experience Narnia like never before.”

Visitors to the exhibition will view artifacts from C.S. Lewis’ personal study and experience exciting environments such as the famous attic and wardrobe. Once inside Narnia, visitors will encounter falling snow and other interactive and instructive elements including:

A replica of the White Witch’s Throne where visitors can sit on the icy throne and feel the chill. A nearby display describes the impact of climate change on our planet and investigates whether our planet could be frozen for 100 years, like the world of Narnia.

An area featuring King Miraz’s Castle from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian where visitors have the opportunity to build an arch, while learning about the architectural structure and strategy involved in the design.

An area highlighting the mythical creatures of Narnia, which allows visitors to create their own creatures featured in the film. Three stacks of rotating, square blocks stand in three-, four- and six-foot configurations, each level featuring different aspects of a creature. By rearranging the different levels, visitors can create well-known characters from the Narnia films or mix and match the squares to create new characters.

“We are so pleased that the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land was chosen to be the next venue to open The Chronicles of Narnia,” said Carolyn Sumners, Vice President of Astronomy and Physical Sciences. “This special exhibition is truly a unique enhancement to the grand opening of our new facility and it will be a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors of all ages.”

Tickets for the special exhibition are now on sale and include general admission in the Museum’s permanent exhibition halls at Sugar Land. Tickets may be purchased online. For tickets, or more information, visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.

First published in 1950, more than 100 million copies of The Chronicles of Narnia series have been sold in more than 50 languages. The series’ first big-screen adaptation, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, grossed more than $745 million worldwide. The second installment in the series, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, grossed more than $410 million. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is currently in full production with an expected winter 2010 release.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science—one of the nation’s most heavily attended museums—is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham IMAX® Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at One Hermann Circle Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure.

About Exhibitgroup/Giltspur
Exhibitgroup/Giltspur (EG) is an award-winning experiential marketing agency known for creating meaningful and memorable connections between leading companies and their customers. By producing powerful brand experiences through exhibits, events, mobile marketing tours, permanent installations, and temporary retail environments, EG helps clients accelerate the sales process, deepen brand loyalty and consistently deliver superior results. The company also creates branded entertainment experiences that surprise and delight audiences worldwide. Backed by the financial strength of its parent company, Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI), EG employs nearly 600 industry professionals in 28 client care centers throughout the world. For more information about EG, please visit www.e-g.com.

About Walden Media
Walden Media specializes in entertainment for the whole family. Past award-winning films include: “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “Nim’s Island” and “Charlotte’s Web.” Upcoming films include “Tooth Fairy” starring Dwayne Johnson and “Ramona & Beezus” starring Selena Gomez.

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contacts:
Gina McDuffie
Exhibitgroup/Giltspur (EG)
(424) 634-1885
gmcduffie@e-g.com
Melodie Wade
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
(713) 639-4743
mwade@hmns.org

©DISNEY/WALDEN. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, NARNIA, and all book titles, characters and locales original thereto are trademarks and are used with permission.

Thanks to Hermitess of Narnia for the heads-up!