DOWNTON ABBEY's Season 3 Premiere to Screen at Warner Theatre Tonight

Downton Abbey is the most highly anticipated and critically acclaimed television drama of 2013. And CPTV is giving you a special sneak peak. Kick off the new year with Edwardian elegance as CPTV hosts a special reception and preview screening event of Masterpiece's Downton Abbey tonight, January 5 at the historic Warner Theatre in Torrington, Connecticut. This event is part of CPTV's year-long 50th Anniversary celebration.

With the highly anticipated third season of Downton Abbey set to premiere in January, CPTV is giving fans of the show a special early viewing of the series with an evening of high style that could rival one of the Crawleys' own soirees at Downton.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., a pre-screening reception will feature complimentary wines plus a fantastic selection of hors d'oeuvres courtesy of the Litchfield Saltwater Grille. There will be a special presentation of Downton Abbey-era fashions and guests are encouraged to join in the fun and dress in period clothing as well. Those who attend the reception will receive preferred seating for the premiere screening at 7:30 p.m. of Episode One of Downton Abbey's third season. This particular episode features a new addition to the cast - Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine - who portrays Martha Levinson, the American mother of Cora, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern). Tickets for the reception with preferred seating at the screening are $60 each and can be reserved by calling by visiting CPTV.org/DowntonAbbey.

The screening itself is complimentary and open to the public. However reservations are required. Tickets can be reserved and printed at CPTV.org/DowntonAbbey.

Masterpiece's Downton Abbey will premiere its third season on Sunday, January 6 at 9 p.m. on CPTV.

Built by Warner Brothers Studios and opened in 1931 as a movie palace (1,772 seats), the Warner Theatre was described then as "Connecticut's Most Beautiful Theatre." Damaged extensively in a flood, the Warner was slated for demolition in the early 1980s until the non-profit Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts (NCAA) was founded and purchased the theatre. The Warner reopened as a performing arts center in 1983, and restoration of the main lobbies and auditorium was completed in November 2002. In 2008, the new 50,000 square foot Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center, which houses a 300 seat Studio Theatre, 200 seat restaurant and expansive school for the arts, was completed. Today, the Warner is in operation year-round with more than 160 performances and 100,000 patrons passing through its doors each season. Over 10,000 students, pre K-adult, participate in arts education programs and classes. Together, with the support of the community, the Warner has raised close to $17 million to revitalize its facilities. NCAA's mission is to preserve the Warner Theatre as an historic landmark, enhance its reputation as a center of artistic excellence and a focal point of community involvement, and satisfy the diverse cultural needs of the region. To learn more about the Warner Theatre, visit the website: www.warnertheatre.org.

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