Showtime to Present New Pop-Up Installation in NYC Inspired by MASTERS OF SEX

Showtime is marking the premiere of its new original drama series Masters of Sex with an innovative and interactive exhibition, open to the public daily in Manhattan's Openhouse Gallery from September 20 to September 29. This effort, a first of its kind for the network, offers visitors a unique look into the lives and groundbreaking work of human sexuality research team and real-life couple, Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson. In a live, bricks and mortar setting, Showtime will propel interest, awareness and excitement for Masters and Johnson's pioneering work, which still has relevance today, by allowing audiences to see and experience elements of the series firsthand.

Visitors of the exhibit will have the opportunity to learn more about the couple and their pioneering research through displayed images and historical facts about their lives, a replica of their research laboratory, props from the Masters of Sex set, as well as a wall-length timeline detailing the history of 100 Years of Sex. Visitors can also test their knowledge of Masters and Johnson through a true or false"Masters of Sex Quiz." The exhibit will offer behind-the-scenes video content and commentary about Masters of Sex from series stars, Emmy Award nominee Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan. A complimentary DVD copy of the series' first episode will be available to all visitors before the series premieres on Sunday, September 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

The Masters & Johnson exhibit will be open daily from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Openhouse Gallery in Manhattan located at 168 Bowery. Admission is free. The network will officially unveil Masters of Sex at an invitation-only premiere screening and reception in New York City next week, and will roll out the red carpet for the series' all-star cast, dignitaries and New York elite.

Masters of Sex stars Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, who portray the real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson. The series chronicles the unusual lives, romance and pop-culture trajectory of Masters and Johnson. Their research touched off the sexual revolution and took them from a mid-western teaching hospital in St. Louis to the cover of Time magazine. The series is an adaptation of Thomas Maier's book Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, The Couple Who Taught America How To Love. The pilot episode was directed and executive produced by Academy Award nominee John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), and also stars Caitlin Fitzgerald (It's Complicated) in the role of Masters' wife, Nicholas D'Agosto (Heroes) and Teddy Sears (American Horror Story). Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Beau Bridges and Emmy winner Margo Martindale also appear. Masters of Sex was created and executive produced by Michelle Ashford (The Pacific). The series is also executive produced by Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Judith Verno. Michael Sheen, Tammy Rosen and Thomas Maier serve as producers. Masters of Sex is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX, as well as the multiplex channels Showtime 2, Showtime SHOWCASE, Showtime EXTREME, Showtime BEYOND, Showtime NEXT, Showtime WOMEN, Showtime FAMILY ZONE and THE MOVIE CHANNEL XTRA. SNI also offers Showtime HD, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD, Showtime ON DEMAND and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND, and the network's authentication service Showtime ANYTIME. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a Pay-Per-View basis through Showtime PPV.

Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/SHOWTIME