Sneak Peek Weekend for Harry Potter™: The Exhibition at New York City's Discovery Times Square April 1-3

NEW YORK, March 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The magic of Harry Potter swoops into New York City early with a special "sneak peek" weekend for Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Discovery Times Square on Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3.  Tickets for this magical exhibit are available now and can be purchased online at DiscoveryTS.com, at the Discovery Times Square box office (226 West 44th Street) or by calling (866) 987-9692.

This is the exhibition's final North American destination before traveling internationally.   The grand opening is slated for Tuesday, April 5 and the exhibit will run through September 5, 2011.

In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) created the 14,000-square-foot experiential exhibition, where visitors will be able to visit dramatic displays inspired by the Hogwarts™ film sets and see the amazing craftsmanship behind authentic costumes and props from the films.  Original artifacts from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 and the highly anticipated finale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2, will be on display along with hundreds of original props and costumes from all of the previous Harry Potter films.

"This very special sneak peek provides Harry Potter fans with the opportunity to experience the magic of the exhibition prior to the official opening," said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer for GES.  

Harry Potter: The Exhibition offers fans a firsthand view of hundreds of authentic artifacts displayed in settings inspired by the film sets—including the Great Hall, Hagrid's hut, the Gryffindor™ common room—and more.    

Harry Potter: The Exhibition opens Friday, April 1 – Sunday, April 3 for the Sneak Peek Preview Weekend and reopens Tuesday, April 5 and runs through Monday, September 5, 2011.  The exhibition requires a time-entry ticket and guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to ensure the best date and time.  Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased at the Discovery Times Square box office (226 West 44th Street), through the website www.DiscoveryTS.com or by phone at (866) 987-9692. Discovery Times Square is open Monday – Sunday 10am – 8 pm, last admission 1 hour prior to closing. General public admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition is $25 for adults; $22.50 for seniors (65 and over) and $19.50 for children (4-12); children under 4 years of age are free.

About Discovery Times Square

Discovery Times Square (DTS) is New York City's first large-scale exhibition center presenting visitors with limited-run, educational and immersive exhibit experiences while exploring the world's defining cultures, art, history and events. More than a museum, DTS has featured a renowned line-up of exhibitions including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Leonardo Da Vinci's Workshop, King Tut, and now on display, Pompeii: The Exhibit. Discovery Times Square is produced and managed by Running Subway Productions.  

About Global Experience Specialists (GES)

Las Vegas-based Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES), a Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI) company, is a leading provider of exhibition, event and retail marketing services. As a result of its consolidation with Exhibitgroup/Giltspur and Becker Group, GES provides an even wider range of services, including turn-key official show services, cutting-edge creative and design, marketing and measurement services – all with an unrivaled global reach. GES partners with leading shows and brands, including the International CES, Spring Fair Birmingham, International Woodworking Fair, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE and WasteExpo, Bell Helicopter, Genzyme, L'Oreal, Warner Bros., and Simon Property Group. For more information, visit www.ges.com.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

SOURCE Discovery Times Square