Category: Titanic

Iconic “Titanic violin” to be exclusively on display in America at Titanic Museum Attractions before going up for auction in England

Posted by Ryan Willis – May 20, 2013

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. – For the first and only time in the United States, the iconic violin, depicted in Titanic-themed movies and actually used by Wallace Hartley on board Titanic, will be on display at the Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge, TN, and Branson, MO,  announces Titanic Museum Attractions’ owner, John Joslyn.

According to Joslyn, this storied artifact will be unveiled to the American public on Wednesday, May 22 during a media conference at 10 a.m. at Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge.  It will remain there until Saturday, July 27 before it travels to the Titanic Museum Attraction’s sister-location in Branson.  It will be on display in Branson, Thursday, Aug. 1 through Thursday, Aug. 15 prior to it traveling back to England where it will be auctioned off by Henry Aldridge and Son on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Widely regarded as the world’s leading experts in the sale of RMS Titanic memorabilia, Henry Aldridge and Son have unparalleled experience in auctioning the rarest memorabilia ever to be offered and describe the Hartley Violin as “the Holy Grail.”

“My visit to Pigeon Forge with the Hartley Violin is the culmination of nearly seven years of research,” said Alan Aldridge, Principal of Henry Aldridge and Son.  “I hope my visit to the Titanic Museum Attractions will enable their guests to understand the importance of the Wallace Hartley story.”

Throughout the years, the historic violin has had its share of controversy and some have disputed its authenticity.  However, with the assistance of some leading experts in their respective fields, an extensive provenance package now exists and according to officials with the Titanic Museum Attractions and leading Titanic experts, the violin belonged to Wallace Hartley.

Craig Sopin, leading Titanic expert and owner of the one of the world’s largest private collections of Titanic artifacts, believes in the violin’s authenticity.

“To say I was skeptical at first would be an understatement,” said Sopin.  “But, after I conducted an exhaustively detailed investigation into the history and forensics of the instrument, I became convinced beyond doubt that this violin belonged to Wallace Hartley and that it was with him on RMS Titanic.”

Joslyn explains that in addition to Sopin and Aldridge, other Titanic experts, including a forensic scientist, noted violin-dealer, collectors and historians also believe in the violin’s authenticity and their research is available for discussion.

For example, as per analysis and testing performed by Michael Jones, a 29-year veteran of forensic science and former employee of the United Kingdom’s Home Office Forensic Science Service, the violin is compatible with immersion in seawater.  The FSS was a government-owned company in the U.K. which provided forensic science services to the police forces and government agencies of England and Wales, as well as other countries.

“In my opinion, the findings in relation to the corrosion associated with the metal fixtures of the travel case in which the violin was recovered, and also the silver fish plate attached to the violin would be considered compatible with immersion in seawater,” said Jones.  “The results compared were compatible with material that had been recovered from other Titanic victims including Titanic postal worker, Oscar Woody and third-class passenger, Carl Asplund.”

Another such expert convinced of the violin’s authenticity is Stanley Lehrer, the world’s foremost and largest Titanic collector.  “By analyzing all the facts about the case and the violin, I am convinced that the violin is indeed the one Wallace Hartley played aboard Titanic and valued it enough to safeguard its survival,” explains Lehrer.

Due to this historical exhibit, for the first time the museum will host a special VIP preview at 8:30 a.m. everyday starting Thursday, May 23, limited to 25 people.  Regular admission tickets will begin daily at 9 a.m.  Reservations are required for all tickets and may be purchased online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.

Joslyn says the Titanic Museum Attractions plan to donate a portion of all ticket sales to Strings Crossings, an intensive summer camp for violin, viola, cello and bass students in grades eight through 12 conducted at Belmont University’s comprehensive School of Music.

Additional information about the Wallace Hartley Violin exhibit at the Titanic Museum Attractions can be found online at www.titanicattraction.com.

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Titanic Museum Attractions: Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction. Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than five million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed two million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com or call (800) 381-7670.

Media: For high resolution digital images, museum and exhibit tours, interviews and additional information, contact Erin Freeman at (865) 584-0550 or efreeman@ackermannpr.com.

Titanic Museum Attraction to host first annual Titanic Authors’ Week April 1-7 in Pigeon Forge

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 1, 2013

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. – For the first time, 10 celebrated authors of Titanic historical books and novels will make their public appearances together on Monday, April 1 through Sunday, April 7 from 10am – 5pm at the Titanic Museum Attraction’s First annual Titanic Authors’ Week in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., announces Titanic Museum Attraction’s co-owner, Mary Kellogg-Joslyn.

There have been hundreds of Titanic books written about the legendary ship – books written from every possible perspective. Now, all Titanic fans and followers will have the opportunity to meet and interact with authors of many of these remarkable books during this unprecedented, six day book signing event.

This, free book signing fair will be held outside in the parking lot of the museum attraction. Each author will have his or her own tented reception area where visitors can engage him or her in their favorite subject – Titanic. Photos with the authors can be taken during book signings. Titanic books purchased at the fair, will entitle the buyer to discounted admittance to the Titanic Museum Attraction, where this year, they’ll Discover the Children of Titanic, an amazing new gallery dedicated entirely to Titanic’s smallest heroes.

“We know that Titanic books are the biggest selling items in our gift shop. Grown-ups and children alike are drawn to them. Perhaps, because the written word can stir emotion and imagination unlike anything else,” says Kellogg-Joslyn. “Each book, in its own way, is a chronicle of faith, heroism, sacrifice and survival. They line the shelves of libraries and private homes around the world, and we’re proud to be one of the largest repositories of Titanic books, anywhere. So, bookmark the date, Monday, April 1 through Sunday, April 7, and plan to join us. I hope you do.”

Additional information about Authors’ Week and other special events at the Titanic Museum Attraction can be found online at www.titanicattraction.com. Tickets are not required for the book signing fair, but are needed for tours of the attraction. The Titanic Museum Attraction opens daily at 9 a.m. in Pigeon Forge. Reservations for museum tours are strongly suggested since many days sell out entirely. Passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.

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Media Contact:
Erin Freeman, Ackermann PR
Phone: (865) 584-0550
efreeman@ackermannpr.com

Titanic Museum Attraction brings artworks made of ice to Pigeon Forge

Posted by Erin Freeman – January 7, 2013

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. – The Titanic Museum Attraction’s outdoor visitor area becomes an art museum made of ice on Saturday, January 19, 2013, when the world’s best ice artists gather in Pigeon Forge for an annual ice carving competition. Thousands of spectators gather to watch this free outdoor event as professional and amateur ice carvers race the clock to create stunning, unique works of art made completely from ice.

The Titanic Museum Attraction will host the free event in its parking area from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The popular competition attracted approximately 5,000 spectators last year and visitors are encouraged to arrive early this year to secure the best views for watching the competitors in action.

“The Titanic Museum Attraction works each year with the National Ice Carving Association to host this exciting one-day event,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction and co-leader of the first private expedition to Titanic’s Atlantic resting place.

“Starting with 250-pound blocks of ice, these artists have a limited amount of time to create carvings that would surpass the expectations of passengers attending gala events in Titanic’s first class dining room,” continued Joslyn.

As the artists work on their projects, children and adults can view sculptures in progress, talk to the artists and learn the secrets of championship ice carving from the most accomplished ice artists in the world. Children especially enjoy the opportunity to meet the artists and watch the magical artworks evolve before their eyes.

Professionals and amateur artists are competing for prize monies ranging from $500 to $2,000 in the competition. The official National Ice Carving Association judging panel will announce the competition winners and award prizes at 3 p.m.

“People enjoy the big moment when the winners are revealed,” Joslyn said. “It’s especially fun to cheer on a favorite artist and artwork you were able to interact with during the process of creation.”

The icy artworks are only temporary by nature, so this one-day only event is even more special as families look for exciting and unique entertainment options during a Smoky Mountain winter.

Additional information about the 2013 Ice Carving Competition and other special events at the Titanic Museum Attraction can be found online at www.titanicattraction.com. Tickets are not required for the ice carving event, but are needed for tours of the attraction. The Titanic Museum Attraction opens daily at 9 a.m. in Pigeon Forge. Reservations for museum tours are strongly suggested since many days sell out entirely. Passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.

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Titanic Museum Attraction: Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction. Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2 million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com or call 800-381-7670.

Media: For high resolution digital images, museum and exhibit tours, interviews and additional information, contact Shane Rhyne at (865) 584-0550 or srhyne@ackermannpr.com.

Titanic Museum Attraction wraps up centennial year with fireworks

Posted by Erin Freeman – October 11, 2012

Fireworks at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, TennesseePigeon Forge, Tenn. – A year of paying tribute to the 2,208 souls aboard Titanic comes to a dramatic and energetic conclusion this Thanksgiving at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The night sky will be filled with a major fireworks show on November 22, 2012, to celebrate the lives and legacies of the ship’s passengers, crew and rescuers. It will be the largest fireworks event on the Smoky Mountain Parkway since the Titanic Museum Attraction’s grand opening in 2010.

“We wanted to end the Titanic Centennial year on a note of celebration and hope,” said John Joslyn, expedition leader of the first private exploration dive to Titanic and co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction. “We knew a fireworks show such as the one that helped open the museum in 2010 was the perfect way to provide a celebration in honor of the passengers and crew rivaling anything they could have hoped for if they had arrived safely in New York a century ago.”

The Thanksgiving fireworks provide an opportunity to reflect on the sense of hope and wonder each passenger and crew member must have felt as they climbed aboard Titanic. It also provides an opportunity to look forward to that same sense of hope and wonder found in the Christmas and holiday season. The annual tradition of a magical snowfall from the ship’s bow will be renewed on Thanksgiving weekend and continue every Saturday in December. Father Christmas, dressed in a style most familiar to the children aboard Titanic in 1912, will also be visiting the Pigeon Forge museum on those magical snow days to greet the museum’s guests.

This year’s holiday exhibit also includes a collection of antique dolls from the Civil War to the early 1900s. The vintageFather Christmas visits the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee dolls represent Christmas memories that would have been familiar to passengers of any age aboard Titanic.

Visitors to the Titanic Museum Attraction will also be able to view thousands of holiday lights, Edwardian-period decorations, costumed merry-markers, and a magical Gift Shoppe brimming with original, one-of-a-kind gifts.

“Every day, but especially at Christmas, we remember and honor the men, women and particularly the children who sailed on the Titanic. At this special time, our guests truly experience what it was like onboard the ship in 1912, and how it might have looked on a Christmas voyage almost 100 years ago,” says Joslyn.

The winter events continue at Titanic Museum Attraction into January with the return of the attraction’s annual national ice carving competition on Saturday, January 19, 2013. The competition, held under the auspices of the National Ice Carving Association, is an exciting one-day event attracting world-class professional and amateur carvers competing before a crowd of wonder-struck children and adults alike.

Information about these and other winter events at Titanic Museum Attraction can be found online at www.titanicattraction.com. The Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, opens daily at 9 a.m. Reservations are strongly suggested since many days sell out entirely. Passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.

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Titanic Museum Attraction: Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction. Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2 million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com or call 800-381-7670.

Media: For high resolution digital images, museum and exhibit tours, interviews and additional information, contact Shane Rhyne at (865) 584-0550 or srhyne@ackermannpr.com.

Titanic Museum Attractions’ centennial commemoration wins marketing honors

Posted by Erin Freeman – October 8, 2012

Branson, Mo. – Titanic Museum Attractions’ year-long commemoration of the centennial anniversary of RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage captured the imagination of visitors from around the world and has earned awards within the tourism industry. The attractions received the 2012 Missouri Tourism Marketing Campaign Award at September’s statewide tourism conference.

The award recognized Titanic Museum Attractions’ ability to draw worldwide media coverage during the year, including visits to the Tennessee and Missouri locations by USA Today, CNN, CBS’ Sunday Morning, and Fox News’ Fox and Friends. The museum attractions were also featured this year in media coverage by major media outlets such as the New York Times, People Magazine, and the Associated Press.

“This is a great honor for both Titanic Branson and Titanic Pigeon Forge,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of the attractions and co-leader of first private expeditions to Titanic’s final resting place. “While the award is presented by the state of Missouri, it represents how the two attractions were able to coordinate their efforts to make the best possible impact in both Missouri and Tennessee.”

The Marketing Campaign Award is presented annually by the Missouri Tourism Commission and the Missouri Division of Tourism at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Winners are selected based on their ability to create a positive impact on tourism visitation and economic impact.

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Titanic Museum Attraction: Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction. Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2 million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com or call 800-381-7670.

Media: For high resolution digital images, museum and exhibit tours, interviews and additional information, contact Shane Rhyne at (865) 585-0550 or srhyne@ackermannpr.com.

Forbes.com article features Ackermann PR client

Posted by Erin Freeman – June 22, 2012

KNOXVILLE – Biltmore, an Ackermann PR client, was highlighted in a June 18 article written by Forbes.com’s Marianne Bickle.  Bickle, who had recently traveled to Biltmore Estate on business took time while there to “people watch” and examine consumers’ shopping patterns and how they interact with each other.

Bickle describes Biltmore as a “wonder” and said, “to see the Estate is to be humbled and amazed.”  What Bickle was most amazed by was the effect Biltmore had on its visitors, especially families.  According to Bickle, teenagers were “engaged in conversations with their parents.”  “I didn’t see anyone texting, swaying to music with earphones glued to their head or people complaining that they were bored.  Instead, I watched as families talked with one another,” says Bickle.

According to Bickle, Biltmore is a popular vacation destination spot because it has interests appealing to each member of the family.  From touring the home to kayaking, shopping and even touring the trails on a Segway, Bickle explains Biltmore has something for everyone.

Additionally, Bickle highlights The Vanderbilts: At Home and Abroad, Antler Hill Village’s current exhibition documenting George and Edith Vanderbilt’s lifestyle both home and abroad.  As part of this exhibit, artifacts from the Titanic are on display, some on loan from the Titanic Museum Attraction, another Ackermann PR client.  The Vanderbilt’s were originally scheduled to sail on the Titanic, but at the last minute changed their plans to sail on another ship leaving their valet Edwin Wheeler onboard the ship’s ill-fated voyage.  The exhibition shows a unique connection between Biltmore and the Titanic.

Click here to view the article in its entirety.

For more information on visiting Biltmore or the Titanic Museum Attraction, visit www.biltmore.com or www.titanicpigeonforge.com.

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Media Contact:
Erin Freeman, Ackermann PR
Phone: (865) 584-0550
efreeman@ackermannpr.com

Titanic Museum Attraction bridges generations in centennial tribute event

Posted by Erin Freeman – April 5, 2012

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. and BRANSON, Mo. – The last of Titanic’s original survivors are gone, but the desire to connect with the tragedy’s heroes and victims 100 years later is as strong as ever. The Titanic Museum Attraction is bridging the gap between centuries through the only formal U.S. ceremonies and tribute to the ship, its passengers and crew. The tribute program will be staged on Saturday, April 14, at the Titanic Museum Attractions in Missouri and Tennessee under the watchful eyes of children and grandchildren of those aboard the ship 100 years ago, providing a living connection one of the 20th centuries most captivating stories. The program will begin at noon (Central) at Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri, and 8:30 p.m. (Eastern) at Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

“A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” is a professionally-staged production including the inspiring voices of choirs, the haunting sounds of bagpipes, and comforting words of tribute in honor of the 2,208 people aboard the ship a century ago.

“We wanted the ceremonies to be respectful of the memory of those who were aboard, regardless of their fate,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction and co-leader of the first private expedition to visit the ship’s final resting place on the ocean floor. “We are honored by the many descendants of the ship’s crew and passengers who have chosen to attend our ceremony.”

While many living descendants of Titanic are most commonly found among the great-grandchildren of the ship’s passengers and crew, grandchildren are becoming a rare breed. Rarer still is a living child of the descendants, but Branson will host one of the few remaining children of the ship’s original passengers and crew when Pearl Leemhuis takes her seat at the museum’s ceremonies. Pearl’s mother, Bertha Lehmann was a 17-year-old passenger leaving Switzerland to join her family in Iowa.

Among the descendants attending the tribute in Pigeon Forge will be the grandson of Charles Lightoller, the most senior Titanic crew member to survive the disaster. Timothy Lightoller and his wife are making the trip from their native Scotland to be a part of the tribute.

One of the ship’s most famous passengers, Margaret Brown—known to many as “the unsinkable Molly Brown”—will be represented in Pigeon Forge by her granddaughter, Helen Benziger. Descendants of Isidor and Ida Straus will also be present to pay respects to their ancestors who perished aboard the ship. Isidor Straus was the co-owner with his brother of Macy’s Department Store in New York.

The tribute ceremonies will include performances by choirs, musicians and children as well as a parade of flags, poetry readings, and the lighting of an eternal flame in remembrance of the people aboard Titanic.

Tickets to “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” are available through the Titanic Museum Attractions in Missouri and Tennessee. Visitors may purchase tickets by phone at (800) 381-7670. In addition to museum admission and the musical production, ticket holders will receive limited edition memorials dedicated to the ship’s history, including a DVD containing video tributes of the personal stories of selected passengers and crew.

The Titanic Museum Attractions – the home base for the U.S. RMS Titanic 100 Year Anniversary Commemoration

The Titanic Museum Attractions are located in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Together, the two museums represent the largest permanent monuments in the world dedicated to the memory of Titanic. The museums, immediately recognizable for their ship-shape design, are home to hundreds of artifacts from the ship and its survivors. “Passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the ship’s history and fate.

Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2 million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com

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Editors:  For more information, for high-res museum photos, or to schedule interviews or visits to the museums, please contact Rick Laney or Shane Rhyne at (865) 584-0550.

Titanic Museum Attraction hosts first-ever American tour of famed Titanic photo album

Posted by Erin Freeman – March 14, 2012

Pigeon Forge, TN – In the years since her sinking, RMS Titanic continues to surprise us with the discovery of forgotten or unknown treasures. One such treasure is the photo album of Father Francis Browne, a Jesuit priest and renowned photographer from Ireland. The album, containing the only known photos taken aboard Titanic at sea, is coming to the United States in April 2012, helping the great ship and her passengers symbolically complete a voyage begun long ago. Browne’s original photo album will be displayed exclusively at the Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, as part of the Titanic Centennial Commemoration.

The photos will be on display in Missouri at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson April 6-10, 2012. The historic images will then travel to the Great Smoky Mountains for display at the Titanic Museum Attraction’s Pigeon Forge location on April 12-21, 2012. During their visit, the photos will essentially be on display almost 100 years to the day they were originally taken.

Father Browne photo album page

A sample page from Father Browne's photo albums. The original albums will be on display at the Titanic Museum Attractions, April 6-10 (Branson, MO) and Apri 12-21 (Pigeon Forge, TN). Photo courtesy of The Father Browne SJ Collection/Davison & Associates Ltd.

“The media christened the discovery of Father Browne’s photos in 1986 as the ‘photographic equivalent to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls,’” said John Joslyn, owner of the Titanic Museum Attractions and leader of the first private expedition to the explore the great ship’s resting place. “That may seem like hyperbole, but among the vast collection of photos he took in his lifetime, perhaps one single photo album captured the world’s imagination like no other: a record of his days as a passenger on the maiden voyage of Titanic before he disembarked in Ireland.”

Considered historically priceless, the Titanic album is the only album in Father Browne’s collection to include handwritten captions for each of the 159 photos documented on 63 pages. The original album, insured at more than $1 million, has never left Ireland since Father Browne’s death in 1960. Its display at the Titanic Museum Attractions in April 2012 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Titanic enthusiasts and photography historians to see the original images on exhibit, including the only known photo of the ship’s wireless room, the last photo ever taken of the ship’s captain, and the ship’s anchor being raised from the water for the final time.

“We expect great interest in seeing these photos,” said Joslyn. “They represent a unique first-person account of life aboard Titanic for the first days of its voyage. No other survivor could provide such a visual memory of the ship, her crew and passengers.”

The photos were taken by Browne as he traveled aboard Titanic from Southampton, England, to Cherbourg, France, to Queenstown, Ireland. When Father Browne died in 1960, his Titanic photos and more than 40,000 other notable images from his work were locked away in a metal trunk and forgotten until a chance discovery in 1986.

Even with the discovery of the collection, it has still taken more than a quarter century for the priceless album to make its way to American shores where it will be briefly on display with other artifacts from the ship and its passengers.

“The photos resurfaced at almost the same time we were first learning the location of Titanic’s actual resting place,” said Joslyn. “It’s as if the ship was ready to give up her secrets at last. We look forward to our museum visitors finally having access to view this last great treasure from the ship’s history.”

The Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri, open the door to the past in a one-of-a-kind way by allowing “passengers” to experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by artifacts directly from the ship and its passengers. Visitors gain first-hand experience through interactive exhibits and through vivid, dramatic detail shared by “crew members.” Passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.

Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction. Titanic Branson has welcomed more than four million guests and Titanic Pigeon Forge boards approximately 100,000 “passengers” each month.

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Editors:  For more information, for additional high-res photos, or to schedule interviews or visits to the museums, please contact Rick Laney at (865) 584-0550 or (865) 441-2388.

Titanic Museum Attraction sponsors production of Tony Award-winning Titanic musical

Posted by Erin Freeman – February 28, 2012

Nashville, Tenn. – One hundred years later, the great ship Titanic still has the ability to deliver a surprise or two. The cast and crew of Nashville’s Circle Players learned this first-hand while preparing for a return engagement of Titanic the Musical, April 5-8, at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Polk Theatre. The ship allowed a new surprise to rise to the surface when one of the play’s cast members learned of her own family’s unexpected connection to the shipwreck.

The return of the Tony Award-winning musical to Nashville is made possible through the sponsorship of Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge as part of the museum’s 100th anniversary tribute to passengers and crew aboard RMS Titanic.

Titanic the Musical“It is easy to believe the Titanic is a story about a ship,” says John Joslyn, co-owner of Titanic Museum Attractions and co-leader of the first private expedition to the ship’s final resting place. “In reality, it is the stories of her passengers and crew that captivate us. We use first-person stories and artifacts to tell those stories everyday at the museum. The musical brings those stories to life right before our eyes.”

“On the 100th anniversary of the ship’s maiden voyage, the play is a fitting way to pay tribute to the lives changed forever by Titanic,” said Joslyn.

Circle Player cast member Jennifer Kleine discovered her family was one of those changed forever by the disaster. While researching her role for the musical, Jennifer Kleine learned a distant relative was among the survivors rescued after the ship struck an iceberg in April, 1912. The infant relative, Trevor Allison, was the sole survivor of his family thanks to the efforts of his nanny to get him to a lifeboat. The boy’s parents and sister perished in the disaster and baby Trevor was left in the care of relatives in Canada. These relatives were the great-great aunt and uncle of the actress.

“My father remembers his grandmother telling him stories about the ‘Titanic baby’ raised by the family,” said Kleine. “And now, a century later I have the chance in my own way to tell my family’s story along with the stories of all the families touched by Titanic.”

“The actual events of Titanic may have taken place 100 years ago, but the drama and emotions are just as relevant to our 21st century lives,” said Tim Larson, the play’s director. “In every age, we look to technology to prove our progress as a civilization. When that technology fails, we are left with the question of whether we will allow the failure to define our generation or if we will build anew. Titanic the Musical is a chance to look at the different ways we all react to that dilemma.”

A cast of more than 60 local actors and surprise celebrity walk-ons will take the stage at the James K. Polk Theatre to perform the Tony Award-winning musical. The musical will be performed nightly from April 5-8 with a matinee performance also scheduled for Saturday, April 7. As part of the centennial tribute to Titanic, the Circle Players will also host a gala dinner at the 100-year-old Hermitage Hotel on opening night, April 5. The dinner will include a presentation by John Joslyn about his expedition to Titanic.

Tickets for Titanic the Musical are currently available from the TPAC Box Office in downtown Nashville (505 Deaderick), by phone at 615-782-4040 or online at www.tpac.org. Tickets for the April 5 opening night gala dinner are sold separately on the Circle Players’ venue page at www.ticketsnashville.com.

Additional sponsorship of the 100th anniversary performance of Titanic the Musical is provided by First Tennessee Bank, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Nashville Parent Magazine.

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About Circle Players: Founded in 1949, Circle Players is Nashville’s oldest community theater company and completely staffed and operated by volunteers. The non-profit organization is community-based, and focuses on arts participation and arts access for all. Circle Players was the first theater company in Tennessee to stage Titanic the Musical, one of the most popular productions in the company’s history. For additional information about Circle Players visit www.circleplayers.net or call (615) 332-7529.

About Titanic Museum Attractions: Titanic Museum Attractions operates the world’s largest permanent monuments to the history of the ship, its passengers and crew. With locations in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the museums house the largest permanent collection of Titanic artifacts. The museum is open daily at 9 a.m. Reservations are strongly suggested since many days sell out entirely. Passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.

Media: For interview opportunities or images, please contact Rick Laney at Ackermann PR, (865) 584-0550 or Amanda Saad at the Andrews Agency, (615) 242-4400.

Titanic Museum Attractions hosting U.S. tributes to Titanic crew and passengers

Posted by Erin Freeman – February 15, 2012

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. and BRANSON, Mo. – Titanic Museum Attractions is hosting “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic,” on Saturday, April 14, the 100th anniversary of the night the ship struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Musical performances, historic ceremonies and appearances by actual descendants of Titanic’s passengers and crew will highlight the production honoring the 2,208 people aboard the ship. The musical tribute will begin at noon (Central) on April 14 at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, and at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern) the same day at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Tickets for the unique historical tribute are available beginning Monday, February 20, by calling 800-381-7670.

“There will be ceremonies across the globe to commemorate the Titanic centennial on April 14, but the only place in the United States where guests can attend a formal tribute is at one of the Titanic Museum Attractions,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of Titanic Museum Attractions and co-leader of the first private expedition to visit the ship’s final resting place on the ocean floor.

The Titanic Museum Attractions – the home base for the U.S. RMS Titanic 100 Year Anniversary Commemoration

“A Night to Remember” will use choirs, orchestras and musical theater performances to bring the stories and drama of that fateful night to life for those attending the one-time only tribute.

“From folk ballads to modern pop, people have always used music as a way to commemorate historic events,” said Joslyn. “Titanic was memorialized in song before and after her sinking, so a tribute centered on music seemed an appropriate way to pay our respects.”

Adding to the historic occasion, descendants of people aboard the Titanic’s maiden voyage will also be present at the American tributes. The ceremony will conclude with a symbolic reenactment of the launching of Titanic’s distress flares and the lighting of a memorial flame at the bow of the ship to honor the 2,208 people aboard Titanic.

“The anniversary will be commemorated around the world in television, film, and print,” said Josyln. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for people to be more than passive witnesses to the anniversary. ‘A Night to Remember’ gives the audience a chance to actually be a part of the historic event and part of the community dedicated to preserving Titanic’s legacy.”

Tickets to “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” are available through the Titanic Museum Attractions in Missouri and Tennessee. Visitors may purchase tickets by phone at (800) 381-7670 beginning February 20, 2012. In addition to museum admission and the musical production, ticket holders will receive limited edition memorials dedicated to the ship’s history, including a DVD containing video tributes of the personal stories of selected passengers and crew.

The Titanic Museum Attractions are located in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Together, the two museums represent the largest permanent monuments in the world dedicated to the memory of Titanic. The museums, immediately recognizable for their ship-shape design, are home to hundreds of artifacts from the ship and its survivors. “Passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the ship’s history and fate.

Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2 million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com

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Editors:  For more information, for additional high-res photos, or to schedule interviews or visits to the museums, please contact Rick Laney at (865) 584-0550 or (865) 441-2388.