TORONTO.- Public response to the Canadian exclusive of King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs continues to be overwhelmingly positive, with more than 100,000 tickets sold since they became available just under three months ago.

As a result, and to accommodate continued high demand, the Art Gallery of Ontario will continue extended evening hours through Jan. 31, 2010, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 9:30 p.m. (last entry is 8 p.m.). In addition, the King Tut exhibition as well as the Gallery will be open until 5:30 p.m. Family Day, Monday, Feb. 15.

The AGO is also introducing a special dinner and exhibition package through Jan. 31. “Tut at Twilight” offers the option of an Egyptian-inspired dinner at FRANK restaurant (featuring roasted rack of lamb with pomegranate) or the celebrated main menu fare, together with a ticket to King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs the same evening for $75 per person. Dinner seatings are 5:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. with timed exhibition entrance 90 minutes before dinner.

“‘Tut at Twilight’ is a great opportunity to enjoy a superb meal and experience the wonders of ancient Egypt,” says Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO’s director and CEO. “The largest number of visitors, especially those with families, tends to visit during the daytime, particularly on weekends. Our extended evening hours and ‘Tut at Twilight’ are designed for those who want a more intimate experience while visiting the exhibition.”

Featuring more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb and artifacts representing other important pharaohs and notables, the exhibition includes recent scientific research about King Tut. The exhibition focuses on the splendour of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

Among exhibition highlights are the golden mask of Psusennes I and King Tut’s funerary objects including the golden sandals and finger and toe coverings - as well as the golden jewelry (a particular favourite of young women).

While King Tut’s mummy has never left Egypt, the exhibition includes recent CT scans of the mummy and scientific discoveries that emerged from a landmark Egyptian research and conservation project partially funded by National Geographic that provides new insight into King Tut’s legendary life and death.

And a special 3-D movie, EGYPT 3D: Secrets of the Mummies, presented with Dolby 3D Digital Cinema technology, is giving visitors their “mummies’ worth.” Part historic journey and part forensic adventure, the film follows explorers and researchers as they piece together archeological and genetic clues of the Egyptian mummies. A favourite with children, it runs every 30 minutes between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in Jackman Hall, $5 for members, $6 for general public.