Stars and Schedule Announced for Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition World Premiere in Seattle

Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum (EMP|SFM) is proud to announce the Opening Weekend schedule for Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition during the weekend of October 22-24, 2010.

Organized by EMP|SFM and in partnership with Universal Cable Productions and Syfy, Battlestar Galactica's Opening Weekend will feature a star-studded VIP preview including Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh), Tahmoh Penikett (Karl 'Helo' Agathon), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek (2004) and Apollo (1978)), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh) and executive producers Ronald D. Moore, and Glen Larson.

Additional events include panel discussions with cast and producers of both Battlestar Galactica series, live taiko drumming performances, and other activities. The exhibition boasts three stunning, full-size prop spaceships, iconic costumes, new exhibition films, music and props from the original and re-imagined series. Exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, October 23, 2010.

"This exhibition is the first of its kind for Battlestar Galactica," says Brooks Peck, curator of the exhibition. "We dig deep into both the original and new series; explore the complex characters and storylines; and offer a unique presentation of props, interactive stations and educational programs that deliver the drama and adventure directly to our visitors."

"Over its four season run on Syfy, Battlestar Galactica became an iconic series that not only entertained, but fulfilled the promise of all great science fiction. It provoked us into examining our world and ourselves through its politically-charged, socially-relevant, religious and technological themes," said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Syfy, and Co-head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. "It is an honor for us to partner with EMP|SFM in this one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience BSG in an up-close and personal way."

Battlestar Galactica is an epic drama of interstellar proportions. The last vestiges of humanity flee a cybernetic Cylon horde, traversing the stars in search of the fabled promised land of Earth. The setting of Battlestar Galactica may be rife with spaceships and inhuman adversaries, but ultimately the show is a complex narrative about how we attempt to retain our humanity under desperate circumstances. The series acts as a science-fictional lens through which to examine difficult questions that we may encounter in our own lives.

Exhibition sections:

Creation of Battlestar Galactica
Explores the genesis of the two versions of the show (1978 and 2004) and introduces the story and central conflicts.

The Search
Focuses on one of the central elements of the shows, the human quest to find the lost colony of Earth. The Search is also a spiritual one, as the humans seek meaning in a dangerous galaxy and grapple with issues of religion, fate and freedom.

The Ships
Three life-size spacecraft from the later series-two human and one Cylon- are the exhibition show stoppers. Concept art, storyboards, props and films complement the ships.

Humans and Cylons
This section presents the major characters from the shows including: Commander Adama, Starbuck, Boomer, Number Six and the Imperious Leader. Costumes are featured, along with props and concept art.

Exhibition specifics:

• Three full-size prop spaceships:
  • Viper Mark 2
  • Viper Mark 7
  • Cylon Raider

• Series props featuring:
  • Cylon model Number Six's iconic red dress (2004)
  • Commander Adama's duty blues uniform (2004)
  • Fragment of a Cylon Centurion (2004)
  • Cylon Commander costume (1978)
  • Colonel Tigh's flask and eye patch (2004)

• Exhibition films: key themes from the shows are explored featuring new interviews with series producers Glen Larson, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick

• Interactives:
  • Dilemma Stations: Visitors are presented with some of the difficult moral and ethical choices faced by the characters in Battlestar Galactica, and must decide the best course of action.

• Music Kiosk: The story of Battlestar Galactica's groundbreaking scores are presented through a series of short films that feature interviews with Stu Phillips, composer of the original 1978 series, and Bear McCreary who composed the soundtrack for the 2004 series

• Score a Scene: Visitors can conduct a virtual orchestra, laying down their own score from scenes from the 2004 series

  Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition opens to the public October 23, 2010 and runs through March 4, 2012 at EMP|SFM in Seattle. The exhibition will be presented on EMP's third level. Battlestar Galactica will become a traveling exhibition in 2012 after its premiere at EMP|SFM.

Click to view the trailer for Battlestar Galactica: The Exhibition, or click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4S9AnrtPhcInformation kindly provided by Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum (EMP|SFM).