Narnia Fans » Arizona Science Center

COME EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OF NARNIA

The Franklin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is proud to announce it will be the next venue to host The Chronicles of Narnia, The Exhibition, starting November 28th through April 19th, 2009. Tickets went on sale September 23rd and you can get them by visiting The Franklin’s website: The Franklin

Narnia, The Exhibition at the Arizona Science Center closes October 26. Get Tickets Now!

We mentioned the Exhibition’s opening on September 22, and thought a reminder was in order.

I had the opportunity of visiting the Narnia Exhibition a few months ago. While I’ve not had the opportunity to write about it yet (sorry, folks!), someone else has. I will say this, though. It’s every bit as exciting as you’d expect, and even more so. It’s a wonderful experience, and when it comes to a city near you, make the trip to see it. It’s truly beautiful.

Here’s what one fan said:

You walk into the wardrobe and see the fur coats with evergreen branches sticking out. You get snowed on as you walk into the world of Narnia. Then you get to see all of the movie props and costumes from the movie. He got to touch the wall of ice and it was REAL ice! And sit on the Queen of Narnia’s throne which was cold. He was able to pick up Peter’s sword and used the computer to make a shield of his own. We saw the beaver’s tree house and Mr. Tumnus’ house.

They demonstrated how to use a catapult and the science of how it works. They discussed the time when it was the most powerful weapon and how long it took to build.

Get Tickets to the Narnia Exhibition

by Kellie Hwang – Jun. 3, 2008 12:39 PM
The Arizona Republic

Travel through the wardrobe to the magical world of Narnia. Defend against enemies by building an arch on King Miraz’s castle. Sit on the White Witch’s icy throne.

The Arizona Science Center’s newest exhibit, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition,” lets visitors do all of these things and more. The 10,000-square-foot exhibit will feature the Disney films’ props, which guests will have a chance to walk through and at times even touch.

“The planning for this project started over two years ago with the release of the first film . . . and we wondered what to do with all the great artifacts from the film,” said Eddie Newquist, executive producer of the exhibit from the Becker Group. “It’s a hugely popular best-selling book series that has spanned generations and is often required reading in schools. . . . When we pitched our idea, Disney really embraced it because they look at the films the same way we do.”

The exhibit premieres at the Science Center; the plan is to send it to science museums around the world for the next five years.

“We have a strong relationship with the Becker Group that brought us the robots exhibition here,” said Kristin Priscella, a representative for the center. “This is a fantastic honor for the Science Center to bring in new educational, immersive exhibits. It absolutely fits in with our mission to bring cutting-edge and new technology to our visitors.

More importantly, it is not just a prop display but also a learning experience that combines many scientific topics. One of the primary themes interspersed within the fantasy series is global warming.

“We started looking at all of subject matters and realized it is so relevant with what is going on today,” Newquist said. “People are really pushing now to be good stewards of nature.”

Through several interactive elements, videos with commentary from scientists and a downloadable teacher’s guide, the exhibit allows young people to connect a fictional land to the real world.

Climate change is introduced because Jadis, the White Witch keeps Narnia in a permanent state of winter. Questions arise, such as the possibility of a waterfall freezing. Other topics include deforestation, petrified forests and architecture.

“While some of the conclusions of the lessons are obvious . . . we don’t preach or go into details and rather just bring the concerns to the forefront,” Newquist said. “The neat thing is that in Narnia, kids are empowered to help the Narnians, and at the end of the exhibition, we want kids and their families to be empowered to change the world, too.”

According to Newquist, visitors will come face to face with a full-scale centaur, check out a real catapult and lift an actual sword.

Priscella said the exhibit has something for everyone.

“It’s for anyone who has a love of fantasy and love of science combined,” she said. “Many adults grew up with the C.S. Lewis novels, and their kids are seeing the Disney movies. It’s a shared experience through generations, and everyone can learn together.”

She sums up the experience simply.

“It’s a little bit of magic and a little bit of science,” she said. “Most of all, it’s fun.”

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 7 through Oct. 26.

Where: Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St.

Admission: $16-$20.

Details: 602-716-2000, azscience.org.

“THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE EXHIBITION” TO PREMIERE IN ARIZONA THIS SUMMER

PHOENIX, April 18, 2008 — “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition,” a state-of-the-art entertainment and educational exhibition based on the blockbuster film series and C.S. Lewis’ beloved fictional books, will premiere June 7, 2008, at Arizona Science Center. The excitement of the story adored by all generations is now being brought to life with an exhibition that will offer visitors the opportunity to view authentic costumes, props and set dressings from the films portraying the famed literary fantasy world of Narnia. Coinciding with the opening of the new film, “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” the 10,000-square-foot educational exhibition will escort guests of all ages on a learning tour of myth, magic and adventure.

Member tickets to “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition,” which is being created and produced by The Becker Group, Inc. in association with Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, go on sale today, Friday, April 18. Tickets for the general public will go on sale Monday, April 28.

“This exhibition will bring the excitement of the films together with complementary educational aspects to create an experience that stimulates the senses and the mind,” said Glenn Tilley, president and chief executive officer of Becker Group. “We anticipate that this exhibition will captivate the nation and leave audiences with lasting memories.”

Visitors to the exhibition will view artifacts from C.S. Lewis’ personal study and experience exciting, iconic environments such as the famous attic and wardrobe that served as the portal into the Narnia adventures.

Once passing through the portal, guests will explore immersive, themed “scenes,” beginning with a wintry Narnia world, complete with falling snow and cold wind, as seen in the series’ first film, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” The tour then continues through other spectacles from the films, including the White Witch’s ice palace, Cair Paravel and additional displays and environments from the upcoming films.

“We are honored to be the first institution to host ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition,’” said Chevy Humphrey, president and chief executive officer, Arizona Science Center. “The hands-on science education lessons embodied within this exhibition will offer our visitors the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the unique items used in the films and to take home a powerful message about the stewardship of the environment. We know this exhibition will engage people of all ages by bridging entertainment with education.

Incorporating the movies’ original props with newly created interactive elements, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition” will allow visitors to enter three-dimensional settings that combine both fantasy and reality.

Brought to life for the first time, the exhibition will include several interactive elements, including:

• A replica of the Witch’s Throne that will bring the film to life in a unique sensory experience where visitors will have the opportunity to sit on the iconic, icy throne and feel the chill. A nearby display will describe the impact of climate change on our planet and investigate whether our planet could be frozen
for 100 years like the world of Narnia.

• An area featuring King Miraz’ Castle from the upcoming film, “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” where visitors will have the opportunity to build an arch, learning about the architectural structure and strategy involved in the design. Starting from the ground up, visitors will place pieces of the arch in their correct positions, complete the structure by putting the keystone at the top, and finally, step back to marvel at the architectural wonder.

• An area highlighting conflicts in Narnia that will feature an authentic chain-mail suit that can be touched and lifted with the assistance of a museum attendant. Visitors will be invited to hold the chain-mail armor, feeling the tremendous weight and imagining what it would have been like to fight in the suit. This element will be located in the area of the exhibition that features suits of armor worn in the “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” film.

First published in 1950, more than 100 million copies of “The Chronicles of Narnia” series have been sold in more than 48 languages. The series’ first big-screen adaptation, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” grossed more than $745 million worldwide. Since the book series has long been a regarded source of reading inspiration that merges fantasy and historic knowledge, a special teacher’s guide that includes information on weather and climate will be available to academic communities in each of the
exhibition’s touring cities.

For venue sales: (800) 777-9627 or for more information about the exhibition: narniaexhibition.com

© DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. and WALDEN MEDIA, LLC. All rights reserved. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, NARNIA, and all book titles, characters and locales original thereto are trademarks of C.S. Lewis Pte Ltd. and are used with permission.

The licensed contents of this Exhibition is on loan from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, LLC.