The Newseum in Washington has selected Cortina Productions to develop a four-dimensional visitor experience for its 450-seat Forum Theater.

The 4D production is expected to be a highlight attraction of the revamped interactive news museum, which is scheduled to open in 2007.

“The Newseum has always gone beyond traditional museum exhibits, pushing the limits of technology, much like the industry it showcases,” said Joseph Cortina, president of Cortina Productions.

“This presentation will take visitors for a dizzying ride through history and great news stories.”

Cortina Productions will lead a team of theatre design and production companies to create an attraction which takes full advantage of evolving 4D technology.

The other team leaders include Jim Bowie of Electrosonic Systems, Barry Kemper of Kemper Associates, Steve Schklair of Cobalt 3D, Alton Christensen of Edgeworx, and John Sergio Fisher & Associates.

The new Newseum will feature more than 62,000sq ft of exhibition space – more than three times that of the original building. Like its predecessor, the new museum will be highly interactive.

Current plans call for more than 120 interactive kiosks, many of them designed for visitors to experience what it is like to be a tv or newspaper reporter, photographer or editor. The scheme will also boast 15 theatres, including the Forum Theater.

The Newseum is funded by the Freedom Forum, a non-partisan foundation dedicated to 'free press, free speech and free spirit for all people'. Details: www.newseum.org