The Hugely Popular Downton Abbey: The Exhibition Continues Its US Tour, Making Its Debut In Chicago This Fall!
Chicago, IL- October 19, 2023 – Following successful engagements in Singapore, New York, West Palm Beach, Fl, Boston, and Atlanta, as well as at The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, NBCUniversal and Imagine Exhibitions have announced that Downton Abbey: The Exhibition is set to take up residence at the Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie, IL, just outside of Chicago. The immersive experience celebrating the global hit series will open on November 10th for a limited time. Tickets will go on sale October 26th and a ticket waitlist registration starts today providing advance access to tickets on the exhibition website at www.downtonexhibition.com.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition offers a chance to step inside the world of the multi-award-winning global television phenomenon as well as the two previously released blockbuster feature films, produced by Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Chicago marks the sixth U.S. stop of the exhibition’s hugely popular U.S. tour. The exhibition was hailed by The New York Times as “a cleverly immersive experience mounted with the same exacting care as the show itself.”
Tom Zaller, President & CEO of Imagine Exhibitions, said: “We are excited to bring this popular exhibition to the Chicagoland area, and just in time for the holidays when people are out and about and enjoying the season together. We will only be in Chicago for a limited time, so be sure to get your tickets now. Tickets to Downton Abbey: The Exhibition makes for a wonderful holiday gift as it’s something that the whole family can enjoy. Make sure to keep an eye out for our afternoon tea events, etiquette classes and events for the holidays and on British society.”
Gareth Neame, Executive Chairman of Carnival Films and executive producer of Downton Abbey, said, “We’re thrilled to be bringing Downton Abbey: The Exhibition to America for the sixth time. For those only just embarking on the Downton journey or existing fans excited to experience its splendor, this is the ultimate opportunity to visit some of the most recognizable sets and get up close to real costumes and artifacts from the series and movies. You can also see the historical context and subject matter behind the show, and learn more about the society, culture and issues, which led to the stories we told.”
Michael Silver, President of Global Business Development at Universal Destinations & Experiences said, “We are delighted that Downton Abbey: The Exhibition is launching in Chicago. This immersive exhibition will not only give fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the elaborate sets, detailed costumes and luxurious jewelry of Downton Abbey’s high society inhabitants but also will introduce them to the downstairs world of the servants who kept the estate functioning so smoothly and efficiently.”
The exhibition offers never-before-seen elements designed to further connect fans with their favorite characters, including original costumes, production used props, and exclusive footage from the series. It provides a fascinating look at all aspects of the post-Edwardian period in which the popular TV series is set and offers in-depth insight into the remarkable events that shaped the world. From World War I to the Roaring Twenties, visitors will have the chance to learn about British society, culture, and fashion.
The exhibition will transport visitors on an incredible journey through the grand home of Downton Abbey providing an inside look into the world of the Crawleys and those downstairs who served them. From Mrs. Patmore’s hectic kitchen and Carson’s office, to the family’s glamorous dining room, fans will get the chance to walk through some of the series’ most recognizable and beloved sets. Visitors will also get an up-close look at over 60 of the show’s official costumes, worn by their favorite actors including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Dame Maggie Smith.
Photos Available HERE
Photo Credit: Imagine Exhibitions/NBCUniversal
Exhibition Details
What:
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition
When:
November 10, 2023- March 31, 2024
Where:
Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center
4905 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, IL 60077
Ticket Information
- Tickets go on sale on October 26th at 10:00am CST.
- Ticket prices range from $27.00-$64.00.
- Ticket waitlist registration is available from October 19-25 and provides first access to tickets. Register for the waitlist at www.downtonexhibition.com
- Additional programming with afternoon tea, etiquette classes and events on British society will also complement the event while in its exclusive Chicago run
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition is brought to you by NBCUniversal and Imagine Exhibitions.
For more information on the exhibition, please visit www.downtonexhibition.com.
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Media Contacts
Bettie Bomb Public Relations
Rebecca Kussmann
rebecca@bettiebomb.com
Laura Collins
laura@bettiebomb.com
Imagine Exhibitions
Joy Deibert, Director of Content and Communications
jdeibert@imagineexhibitions.com
About Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey aired for six seasons on MASTERPIECE on PBS in the US and reached more than 26 million viewers in its final season, making it the highest-rated PBS drama series of all time. The series was written and created by Julian Fellowes and executive produced by Carnival Films’ Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant, and Liz Trubridge and Julian Fellowes. Downton Abbey is one of the largest UK drama exports of all time, seen in over 250 territories worldwide. With 15 wins and 69 nominations, it is the most nominated non-US show in the history of the Emmys. Also, the winner of three Golden Globes, a special BAFTA and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, the series has captured an extensive fan-base worldwide. The first feature film, Downton Abbey, earned more than $200 million at the worldwide box office in 2019, making it the highest grossing film of all time for distributor focus features. The movie sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era, was released in 2022.
About Universal Live Entertainment
Universal Live Entertainment partners with best-in-class entertainment companies to bring today’s most popular stories, characters and adventures to life in a city near you. From larger-than-life touring shows to immersive, walk-through exhibitions and family entertainment centers, Universal’s world-class entertainment brands are delivered across the globe for families, friends and people of all ages to enjoy. Productions include Jurassic World Live Tour, Jurassic World: The Exhibition, A Minion’s Perspective, DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition, The Office Experience, American Ninja Warrior Adventure Parks, Film with Live Orchestra concerts and more.
Universal Live Entertainment is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal. With incredible theme park destinations across the globe, Universal Destinations & Experiences offers guests of all ages the most exciting and popular entertainment experiences. Universal theme parks are known for immersive experiences that feature some of the world’s most thrilling and technologically advanced film-and-television-based attractions.
About Imagine Exhibitions
Atlanta-based Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. is a world leader in narrative-driven, immersive theatrical design, story-telling, and immersive experiences, and creates sophisticated, high-quality experiences for museums, brands, venues, and integrated resorts across the globe. From ideation to operation, Imagines’ team of industry pioneers draws upon decades of success in the fields of immersive design experiences and entertainment to consistently create and implement memorable and thought-provoking environments. The company’s custom experiences deliver focused messaging and serve to increase attendance wherever it is presented. Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. is a global pioneer in traveling entertainment, responsible for many internationally recognized exhibitions such as Harry Potter: The Exhibition, Titanic: The Exhibition, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition, Angry Birds: The Art & Science Behind a Global Phenomenon, Jurassic World: The Exhibition, and Downton Abbey: The Exhibition.
Imagine Exhibitions is currently presenting more than 40 unique exhibitions in museums, science centers, aquariums, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues worldwide. The company also continues to design, open, and operate its own venues, along with creating and implementing permanent and semi-permanent museum, brand, entertainment properties, and food and beverage experiences. For more information, visit www.ImagineExhibitions.com or find us on Facebook.
About Carnival Films
Carnival Films is a London-based television and feature film production company, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Led by producers, Executive Chairman Gareth Neame and Managing Director Nigel Marchant, the company is one of the UK’s leading drama producers, having made hundreds of hours of compelling content for millions across the globe. Carnival Films produced all six seasons of the award-winning and beloved TV phenomenon Downton Abbey, which aired in over 250 territories worldwide and set a Guinness World Record for being the most critically well-received show in the world. The company produced the hit feature film of the same name, which earned more than $200 million at the worldwide box office in 2019, making it the highest grossing film of all time for distributor Focus Features. The movie sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era was released in 2022. Other Carnival Films productions include Belgravia for ITV and EPIX, of which the spin-off series titled Belgravia: The Next Chapter is currently in production for MGM+, and smash-hit series The Last Kingdom for Netflix, which has captivated viewers for five seasons, and the feature film ‘Seven Kings Must Die’, which ranked as the global #1 film on Netflix upon its release in April 2023. A contemporary TV remake of Day of the Jackal and a five-part drama about the tragic Lockerbie bombing are also in production, both for Sky and Peacock. In addition to receiving more than 200 international awards and honours including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, Carnival Films has also produced landmark series such as Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel, and Dracula, along with the award-winning mini-series Traffik, Any Human Heart, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and The Hollow Crown anthology.
For more information, please visit www.carnivalfilms.co.uk