National Amusements books Hannah Montana movie

Dedham-based movie exhibitor National Amusements Inc. said today that 54 of its theaters will show a 3D digital presentation of "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" during the first week of February.

As many young girls know, "Hannah Montana" is a TV program starring Miley Cyrus in the title role; Hannah is a young student by day and a pop star by night.

Looking to extend its Hannah Montana franchise, Walt Disney Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co. of California, recorded several recent Cyrus concerts and is turning the recordings into a 3-D movie with digital surround sound.

National Amusements said it plans to exhibit that movie is some of its Showcase Cinemas theaters, including at such Massachusetts locations as Lowell, Randolph, Revere, Seekonk, and Woburn; tickets go on sale tomorrow.

With more than 1,500 movie screens around the world, National Amusements is pursuing a strategy of trying to reinvent the movie-going experience, in part by using theaters as venues for alternative programming such as concert simulcasts and other forms of entertainment programming.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)