The Museum of Discovery and Science celebrates the grand opening of its custom-built HoloTheater, launching a new era of immersive learning experiences with Dinosaur Discoveries
The museum converted an underutilized space into a revenue-generating experience, using dynamic visuals and holographic technology to deliver thrilling, larger-than-life scientific adventures – all without the need of 3D glasses.
Laguna Beach, CA, November 13, 2025 – Pioneering a new frontier in mixed-reality entertainment, BASE Xperiential and MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) have partnered with the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) in Fort Lauderdale to debut the HoloTheater, the first custom-built holographic theater in the U.S. The Museum celebrated the grand opening of the HoloTheater with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony this week. The innovative venue merges holographic projection, cinematic visuals and spatial sound to transform the way audiences experience science and storytelling.
Developed by BASE Xperiential, producers of mixed-media and live holographic entertainment, and brought to market in partnership with content partner MacGillivray Freeman Films, the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant-screen films, the HoloTheater redefines museum storytelling.
(Top) MODS president and CEO Joe Cox (in orange tie) with BASE Xperiential execs including chairman Brian Becker, President Dominic Roncace and others at the ribbon cutting. (Above) Students from Pompano Beach Middle School celebrate the opening of the HoloTheater.
“Audiences are loving the HoloTheater experience, and we are thrilled to transport our guests into extraordinary new worlds through this breakthrough technology,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS. “At MODS, we are committed to creating powerful, immersive experiences that spark curiosity, fuel imagination, and bring science to life for all ages. The HoloTheater represents a bold new chapter in that mission.”
“We transformed an underutilized 1,100-square-foot space into an immersive holographic theater that now generates revenue while delivering a cutting-edge, one-of-a-kind guest experience,” said Dominic Roncace, president of BASE Xperiential. “It’s a model that other venues can replicate to monetize unused space and introduce an exciting new holographic form of educational entertainment.”
Check out this promo video with MODS president Joe Cox
The museum launched its HoloTheater with Dinosaur Discoveries: A Holographic Adventure, a stunning 24-minute visual journey through 140 years of paleontology that brings dinosaurs to life in jaw-dropping fashion. Upcoming holographic experiences in the pipeline include Ocean Giants: A Holographic Odyssey, to be produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and BASE Xperiential for release in 2026. Ocean Giants will bring audiences face-to-face with some of the most magnificent and enigmatic creatures to have ever inhabited the underwater realm, both past and present.
“With Dinosaur Discoveries as the first of many holographic experiences in production, we are building a strong content pipeline that enables exhibitors to maintain consistent programming and gain marketing efficiencies,” said Shaun MacGillivray, president and producer/director of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “It’s an exciting way for museums to offer a truly unique experience while positioning themselves at the forefront of innovative edutainment.”
WSVN News Miami (ABC) was at the ribbon cutting. Check out their story.
HoloTheater’s flexible design delivers larger-than-life holographic and panoramic film experiences and the next generation in educational entertainment for science centers, natural history museums, zoos, aquariums and more. HoloTheater comes equipped with all the necessary holographic projection technology and can be integrated at institutions as a standalone attraction, or retrofitted into a museum’s existing theater, auditorium or other underutilized spaces, with deployable screen options to convert spaces into multi-use.
For more information about HoloTheater and Dinosaur Discoveries, please visit base-xperiential.com and dinosaurdiscoveries.com. To learn about the HoloTheater at the Museum of Discovery and Science, please visit mods.org/holotheater.
About the Museum of Discovery and Science
Opened in 1977 as the Discovery Center, today the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) is at the forefront of science education, innovation and exploration. MODS connects people to inspiring science, providing STEM education and cultural experiences for 450,000+ visitors annually in the 150,000 sq. ft. facility. MODS is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) for three decades. MODS has added to that distinction by being named Broward’s Hub for Resilience Education by the Board of the Community Foundation of Broward, selected by the LEGO Foundation as one of only 21 museums nationwide to join the Playful Learning Museum Network and awarded the prestigious 2023 IMLS National Medal for Museum Service. The Museum welcomes visitors from all walks of life. The Museum hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MODS is located downtown at 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For more information about the Museum, please visit mods.org or call 954. 467.MODS (6637).
About BASE Xperiential
BASE Xperiential’s productions harness the magic of mixed-media, holographic and live entertainment to bring unique and dynamic immersive experiences to audiences and stages around the world. BASE has already developed a library of compelling content including holographic productions of Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Maria Callas, Whitney Houston and Dinosaur Discoveries. The company strives to develop both educational and entertaining content that is visually stimulating and brought to life with application for presentation in a wide range of venues, from experiential and retail major malls to casinos and cruise ships, to theme parks and museums. For more information, please visit base-xperiential.com
About MacGillivray Freeman Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant screen 70mm films with more than 45 films for IMAX® and giant screen theaters to its credit. Throughout the company’s history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award® nominations for The Living Sea and Dolphins and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame, including Everest, the highest grossing giant screen film of all time. MacGillivray Freeman’s films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one-billion-dollar benchmark for worldwide box office. For more information, please visit macgillivrayfreeman.com
For inquiries and to schedule a visit to the Museum of Discovery’s HoloTheater, please contact:
Patty Collins, MacGillivray Freeman Films, pcollins@macfreefilms.com, 949-309-6639
Chip Bartlett, MacGillivray Freeman Films, cbartlett@macfreefilms.com, 310-383-2377
Ryan Latham, Base Xperiential, ryan@basexco.com, 617-756-3185
Dan Robinson, Base Xperiential, dan@basexco.com, 832-326-0593
Andi Fuentes, Museum of Discovery and Science, andi.fuentes@mods.org, 954-713-0901