Chateau to re-open with Beatles exhibition

Exhibits Development Group is hoping the community will come together around its first exhibition at the Chateau Theatre.

The St. Paul-based firm announced Thursday that it will open the Chateau in October with The Magical History Tour: A Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition.

The interactive exhibition will take visitors through the Fab Four’s early years in Liverpool to their final days together.

Amy Noble Seitz, founder and CEO of EDG, said she expects the display — EDG’s first since winning the bid for the Chateau — to be a regional draw. The Beatles were selected for EDG’s Rochester debut because they are universally loved by people of every generation, she added.

The collection of artifacts, among the most comprehensive in the world, includes everything from personal letters to instruments — all working together to tell the story of the most prolific pop group in history.

“One artifact that really gives people chills and pause is the album that John Lennon’s assassin had him sign right before he shot him,” said Seitz. “So, it really tells you about the highs and lows of the story.”

The traveling exhibition debuted in Vancouver on the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first North American tour and has since been featured at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.

As part of the stop here in Rochester, EDG plans to partner with local organizations to program events around the exhibition. One event revealed Thursday is a musical competition for various skill levels. (More information on programming is expected in the coming weeks.)

You can learn more about EDG’s plans for the space by popping down to Peace Plaza today during Thursdays Downtown. We also went into detail on the firm’s agreement with the city in a report published last week.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.