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| Selfie time! (Photo: Madame Tussauds Washington, DC) |
From our friends at Madame Tussauds...
British Invasion Comes to the Nation's Capital as Madame Tussauds DC Welcomes One Direction
The famed DC attraction welcomed the figures of the British boy band with a special visit to The Children’s Inn at NIH
Madame Tussauds Washington, DC, in concert with their children’s charity Merlin’s Magic Wand, brought the figures of global sensations One Direction to The Children’s Inn at NIH today to spread cheer to families who stay while seeking medical treatment at the National Institutes of Health. The One Direction set features figures of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne. Despite Zayn’s recent departure from the group, Madame Tussauds Washington, DC did not let any Zayn fans down as he continues be featured alongside his former bandmates. One Direction will join the attraction’s line-up of music icons including Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift through May 19, 2016.
To celebrate their exciting arrival, Madame Tussauds brought the figures of the Made in the A.M. singers for an exclusive sneak peek at The Children’s Inn at NIH. The residents and their families, who live cost-free at The Inn while receiving medical treatment at the NIH Clinical Center, were invited to a private One Direction “meet and greet” before anyone else in the DC metro area. Additionally, attendees had a “hands-on” experience with studio artists from Madame Tussauds as they made wax casts of their own hands and learned about the meticulous and artistic process of making wax figures.
“It was an amazing experience to be able to bring One Direction to The Children’s Inn before we launched the figures at the attraction,” explained Therese Alvich, General Manager Madame Tussauds Washington, DC. “The band is so widely loved and it was exciting to see how much joy they brought the patients and their families.”
“We are so grateful to Madame Tussauds for this exciting, fun, interactive day for our families,” said Jennie Lucca, The Inn’s Chief Executive Officer. “You really helped give our kids a chance to laugh and enjoy being kids, which is so important to the success of medical treatments.”
The band, who first found success on The X Factor (UK) in 2010, skyrocketed to global domination with hits including What Makes You Beautiful, Best Song Ever, and Story of My Life. They first met with Madame Tussauds studio artists in London to take the detailed measurements required to create their likenesses in wax in 2013. Each band member was examined, measured, and color-matched. It took a team of more than 40 people over four months and nearly four thousand hours in total to complete all the figures of the band.
In order to capture each of the boys’ unique personalities, Madame Tussauds consulted the band’s stylist when planning the attire of the figures. They are dressed in their signature smart-casual fashions that fans will recognize as drawing inspiration from previous appearances and performances. Harry is wearing his signature skinny pants, leather boots and an open, white button-down shirt. Liam is outfitted in casual jeans paired with a button down shirt under a leather jacket. Zayn sports a faded denim jacket and crisp white tee-shirt while Louis is dressed in dark denim pants, a blazer with a trendy pocket square, and leather shoes featuring his trademark missing socks. Finally, Niall sports high top Nike sneakers, jeans, and a white tee-shirt with a brown jacket.
About Madame Tussauds Washington DC:
Madame Tussauds Washington, DC is a fully interactive, full-sensory experience, where visitors are able to touch, see, and hear major historical events and celebrities. The attraction, highlighted by the Presidents Gallery, featuring wax figures of all 44 U.S. Presidents, showcases likenesses of some of the world’s most recognized individuals, including: international superstars Zac Efron, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Rihanna; entertainment and sports giants Jimmy Fallon, Oprah Winfrey, Babe Ruth, and Tiger Woods; among others.
Madame Tussauds Washington, DC is a proud participant in the Washington, DC Explorer Pass. Go City Card provides multi-attraction passes that maximize the fun, savings, and convenience of sightseeing with flexible purchase options for every type of traveler. For more information, visit www.madametussaudsdc.com or call (202) 942-7300.
About Merlin’s Magic Wand:
Merlin’s Magic Wand brings magic into the lives of seriously ill, disabled, and disadvantaged children by arranging Magical Days Out to Merlin Entertainments attractions. It also helps bring the magic to those children who are too unwell to visit an attraction. For more information on what we do, to make a donation, or to apply for a day out, please visit: Merlin's Magic Wand Foundation website or stay in touch via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About The Children’s Inn at NIH:
The Children’s Inn at NIH is a residential “Place Like Home” for seriously ill children and their families who travel from across the country and around the world to stay in The Inn’s healing environment while receiving groundbreaking medical treatments at the NIH, the world’s leading biomedical research center. While the NIH takes care of the child’s medical needs, The Inn tends to the child’s heart, soul and spirt. Families stay at The Inn free of charge, no matter how long.
