Star Wars exhibit set to open in Edmonton this weekend

EDMONTON - After a much anticipated wait, the Star Wars Identities exhibit is set to open on Saturday at Edmonton's Telus World of Science, giving visitors a chance to explore the film's characters like never before.

Identities is supposed to be one of the biggest exhibits to ever come to the Telus World of Science (TWS), with 20,000 tickets for it already pre-sold. It's also the second of only two Canadian stops, the first being Montreal.

The science museum actually had to be expanded to accommodate the hundreds of props, costumes and blueprint drawings from one of the most famous film franchises of all time, including dozens of items pulled from the Lucasfilm archive. And for the first time ever, the actual Storm Trooper helmets worn in the movies will be displayed to the public as well.

George Smith, the president and CEO of the TWS, says a lot of people told him the TWS had no chance of getting the exhibit. But that didn't stop him from going after it. And now, just a couple days away from it opening to the public, the excitement is palpable.

"The energy in this building is so high right now..we could power the building from it, I think," he says.

Smith adds that you don't even have to be a Star Wars fan to appreciate the exhibit.

"I can't imagine anyone not loving this exhibit. To be honest, I'm not even a huge Star Wars fan, but I love this exhibit. The first time I had a chance to go through it, I couldn't wait to go through it again, he says.

"The interaction and the...science behind it. Just seeing the depth that was put in behind the characters of Star Wars was something I found fascinating."

One of the exhibit's unique features is that it ventures into the psyches of prominent characters from the films, while attempting to also get visitors to explore their own identities.

Kyra Bowling, the exhibit manager with Lucasfilm, calls the production a "real labour of love," countless hours, creativity, and good will. She says one of her favourite parts is that it puts the visitor at the centre of the experience.

"You follow the character arcs of Anakin and Luke Skywalker, but you also are kind of following your own character arc as well, from their origins and your own origins and the influences you have growing up."

Visitors will even have a chance to build their own personalized Star Wars identity as they make their way through the tour, by answering numerous questions about the components that make up their parallel identity, including genetics, personality and culture.

The exhibit goes until April 1st 2013, and will run extended hours of 10 am to 10 pm. Tickets range in price from $13 to $36.50. You may want to purchase yours early, though, as some weekends have already sold out. For more information, click here.

You can see a sneak peak of the exhibit in the video below:

With files from Erin Chalmers and The Canadian Press

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