TODAY on NBC to be Filmed in the Cistern Yard on May 2

The Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes the 4th hour of TODAY on NBC, hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, to Charleston, S.C., for two special broadcasts in the College of Charleston’s Cistern Yard. Scheduled to air May 2 and 3, 2013, the Charleston editions of the 4th hour of TODAY (national audience of more than five million viewers) will feature a variety of special guests, Lowcountry recipes, and locally made products to spotlight unique aspects of the destination named Condé Nast Traveler 2012 Readers Choice Top U.S. City.

To produce the live-on-location broadcasts, 50 members of NBC’s production team will arrive in Charleston several days prior to the tapings. A team of producers previously visited the area to scout possible venues, while TODAY correspondent Sara Haines recently spent time in the Charleston area filming segments for the special shows.

The two shows filmed in Charleston will be staged in the Cistern Yard on Thursday, May 2. The public is invited to attend the tapings as members of the audience. Fans should arrive at the George Street entrance to the College of Charleston’s Cistern Yard starting at 7 a.m. Security will clear members of the audience through Porter’s Lodge at 7:30 a.m., and audience members must be inside by the start of the 8 a.m. taping (to be aired on Friday). The live show will begin at 10 a.m. A prize will be given to the audience member with the best sign, and members of the audience may be invited to participate in a game of Charleston trivia.

During the TODAY tapings, George Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between St. Philip and Coming Streets, with one lane on St. Philip Street closed for use by satellite trucks. Public parking is available for $5 at several nearby garages, including Wentworth Street Garage (located at the intersection of Wentworth and St. Philip streets) and the St. Philip Street Garage (on St. Philip between Vanderhorst and Calhoun Streets).

For more information, contact the Charleston Area CVB Media Department at (843) 853-8000 or media@explorecharleston.com.