Dust off your wands and brush up on your quidditch skills: Harry Potter: The Exhibition is coming to the Pacific Science Center Oct. 23.
Special guest Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the movie series, made the announcement Aug. 10 at the Pacific Science Center. Between the cheers of children wearing scarves and Harry Potter glasses, Lewis talked about the hundreds of props and costumes from the movie series that are included in the exhibit.
"I was totally spellbound, if you'll forgive the pun," Lewis said. "It's mad that they transport so many props and costumes from England. The thing that impressed me the most is that there's so much in the world of Harry Potter that people don't get to see. The props really create the atmosphere but people don't get to experience it."
The Pacific Science Center will be the last stop for the exhibit in the United States and the only one on the West Coast. In the 10,000-square-foot exhibit that recreates the Hogwarts setting, guests will be able to play in a quidditch pitch, sit in Hagrid's chair, and work in a mandrake garden.
"We believe that imagination and creative problem-solving are at the heart of innovation, and we celebrate that innovation here every day at the Pacific Science Center," said Alaina Schulner, special events manager for PSC. "We want guests to be able to learn about the design and art that goes into making a film series like this."
Lewis also talked about the final installation of the movie series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which finished filming three months ago. "[Neville] was a fantastic role for me to have as an actor," said Lewis, who was a fan of the books himself as a child. "It's just bizarre thinking half my life I've been doing this film, looking back and seeing how small we all were."
Part 1 of the movie opens Nov. 19 and will be shown at PSC's IMAX theater.
The exhibit will run from Oct. 23 to Jan. 30, 2011. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Aug. 14 and will range from $17 to $26, which includes general admission to the Pacific Science Center. A special presale is available to PSC members now.
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