NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Metropolitan Talent, Inc. and Special Entertainment Events (SEE) Touring Productions, Inc. have teamed together as the North American tour producers of Star Trek: The Tour. The 35,000 square foot traveling exhibition commemorates Star-Trek's 40th Anniversary.
Slated to launch in December, Star Trek: The Tour will travel throughout the United States and Canada for the next five years; approximately 40 cities are on tap, one month at a time. CBS Consumer Products, for the first time, has exclusively licensed the Star Trek franchise as a new touring exhibit to travel in the US and globally.
Noting that Star Trek has become an essential part of American pop culture, John Scher, co-CEO of Metropolitan Talent, said they are exploring different ways to integrate music and theatre into the project. "We are also making plans to have stars from the Star Trek TV series and films make special appearances in each city visited by the tour," he said.
"After talking to the top entertainment promoters in the country, we easily concluded that Metropolitan Talent is the perfect partner for us," said SEE Touring Productions President Martin Biallas. "They have innovative marketing ideas, years of relevant experience and continually thrive while maintaining an independent status. In the current climate the ability of an independent to maneuver quickly in this industry is paramount."
Those attending the tour will find an innovative and involving environment that will include the U.S.S Enterprise bridge, original costumes, a museum and interactive exhibits. Fans will be able to experience a Borg attack on a full-motion simulator ride and to "beam" themselves from the transporter bay. In addition, there will be opportunities to play roles in original series adventures by using state-of-the-art video and computer graphics simulations.
Single events have been staged in Asia and Europe during the last few years with an average of 100,000-200,000 attendees per venue. "For us, that was considered a test run," said Biallas, "Now we're ready for the ultimate Star Trek market, North America." — Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
