PRESS RELEASE

March 16, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Jenna Stoll, (513) 287-7099 office, (513) 373-6592 cell, jstoll@cincymuseum.org

New OMNIMAX Film Sweeps into Cincinnati Museum Center
Nature’s power is revealed in the World Premiere of Tornado Alley

CINCINNATI- Have you ever wondered what it’s like to witness the formation of a tornado from the very heart of it? Now you can, in our new OMNIMAX film Tornado Alley, opening Friday, March 18, with the first show at noon.

In this much anticipated film Sean Casey, star of the Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers, takes you on an adventure like no other. Be a part of this heart-pounding science adventure as they seek to learn the science behind the storms with the VORTEX 2 project, which attempts to gather the most comprehensive extreme weather data ever collected and witness the birth of a tornado.

Discover what it is like to be inside some of Mother Nature’s most dramatic phenomena as Casey takes you alongside top mesometeorologist, Dr. Josh Wurman and the VORTEX 2 project. It is the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins, structure and evolution of tornadoes. Ride along as the team navigates Tornado Alley, the severe weather capital of the world, home to some of the most violent and destructive tornadoes on earth. Grab a seat in their Doppler on Wheels (DOW) and Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) as they experience the relentless strength of these extreme and least understood storms.

Be a part of Weather Weekend on March 26 and 27 with weather programming in the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Duke Energy Children’s Museum and the Cincinnati History Museum. You’ll have the chance to meet Sean Casey and see the TIV as it rolls up to Cincinnati Museum Center on March 27 and 28. Talk with Sean, see what it’s like driving into a tornado and look around the TIV, and possibly win a ride. Stay tuned for more details and how to enter.

Tornado Alley is a production of Giant Screen Films and Graphic Films. Major funding was provided by the National Science Foundation with additional support from the Giant Dome Theater Consortium. The film is distributed by Giant Screen Films of Evanston, IL.

For more information visit www.cincymuseum.org or click here to view the trailer.

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About Giant Screen Films
Over the past decade, Giant Screen Films (GSF) has established itself as a pioneer in the large format/ IMAX® industry. Since 1997, the company has built a reputation for producing and distributing films that, through the magic of immersive sight and sound technologies, offer viewers an inspiring perspective on the world presented on giant IMAX® canvas. GSF’s mission is to create and share films that push the boundaries of the large-format medium, challenging the imaginations of children and adults around the world. At the core of this mission is a dedication to the partnerships that bring a diverse range of subjects to the screen and, through meaningful educational collaborations, extend each film’s impact far beyond the theater.

About Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution as well as national historic landmark. Dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration, Museum Center was awarded the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Our Union Terminal has been voted the nation’s 45th most important building by the American Institute of Architects. Organizations within Cincinnati Museum Center include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. Recognized as Forbes Traveler Magazine as the 17th most visited museum in the county, Cincinnati Museum Center welcomes one million plus visitors annually. Cincinnati Museum Center gratefully acknowledges operating and capital support from the taxpayers of Hamilton County and the State of Ohio. For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org.