The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial will host a red carpet reception and special preview screening of Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures' "Unbroken," the new film from Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16. A limited number of tickets are available to the public with all proceeds benefiting the Museum. The reception and special screening are presented by Waddell & Reed and Ivy Funds. "Unbroken" opens in theaters nationwide on Christmas Day.
Event Details:
When: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014
6 p.m. VIP Reception
6 p.m. Preview Reception
7 p.m. Film Screening
Where: National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial
100 W. 26th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Tickets: Available at https://theworldwar.org/unbroken or in person at the Museum.
VIP Reception and Screening ($250); Preview Reception and Screening ($100).
Jolie directs and produces "Unbroken," an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis "Louie" Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) who survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash during World War II-only to be caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a series of prisoner-of-war camps.
Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand's ("Seabiscuit: An American Legend") enormously popular book, "Unbroken" brings to the big screen Louie Zamperini's unbelievable and inspiring true story about triumph over tribulation and the resilient power of the human spirit.
"We are thrilled to offer the public the opportunity to view a film of this stature in advance of its national release," National World War I Museum President & CEO Dr. Matthew Naylor said. "As we commemorate the Centennial of World War I, this film fits into our series of distinguished cultural programs acknowledging global conflict and change. We are grateful to Thomas Tull and the team at Legendary Pictures, Waddell & Reed and Ivy Funds for making this event possible and for their significant contributions to the National World War I Museum."
Presented by Waddell & Reed and Ivy Funds, the reception for the benefit preview screening begins at 6 p.m. and will be followed by the film screening at 7 p.m. in J.C. Nichols Auditorium at the Museum. Tickets to the VIP reception and screening are $250, while tickets to the preview reception and screening are $100. Both are available for purchase online (https://theworldwar.org/unbroken) or in person at the Museum.
"This is an exceptional opportunity for Kansas City to see an initial screening of what already has been judged to be an exceptional film, and to support the National World War I Museum in the process," said Thomas W. Butch, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Museum and Executive Vice President of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. "We are hugely grateful to Legendary and its CEO, Thomas Tull, for enabling this extraordinary event."
World War II veterans from the greater Kansas City area have been invited to attend the event as guests along with local dignitaries and officials.
Guests also have the opportunity to participate in a benefit auction before the screening featuring a commemorative "Unbroken" poster signed by Angelina Jolie and the cast, a copy of the "Unbroken" hard cover book signed by Louie Zamperini, a personal tour of the National World War I Museum with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, a two-night Presidential Suite package at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center and many more exiting items.
Additional support for the event is provided by UMB Bank along with Ash Grove Cement Company, Burns & McDonnell, Edward Jones, Polsinelli, Sporting KC, The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center and the Kansas City Sports Commission.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the National World War I Museum, which is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that receives no federal funding.
The National World War I Museum holds the most diverse collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and personal experiences of the war.
About the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial
The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial is the only American museum solely dedicated to examining the personal experiences of a war whose impact still echoes in the world today. The National World War I Museum holds the most diverse collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum takes VISITORS of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America's official World War I Museum and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National World War I Museum inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.
About Waddell & Reed and Ivy Funds
Waddell & Reed, founded in Kansas City in 1937, is one of the oldest mutual fund and financial planning companies in the country. Through its subsidiaries, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. provides investment management and financial planning services to clients throughout the U.S. Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company serves as investment advisor to the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios and InvestEd Portfolios, while Ivy Investment Management Company serves as investment advisor to the Ivy Funds.
Videos