Project: Beyond All Boundaries Multi-Sensory Theater Experience
Client: National World War II Museum / The Hettema Group
Design Architect: Voorsanger Associates
Project Phases: Concept Design Through Grand Opening

Project Background:
Beyond All Boundaries, showing exclusively in The National WWII Museum’s Solomon Victory Theater, is a 4D journey through the war that changed the world. Narrated by executive producer Tom Hanks, Beyond All Boundaries features dazzling effects, CGI animation, multi-layered environments and first-person accounts from the trenches to the Home Front voiced by Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, Gary Sinise, Patricia Clarkson, Wendell Pierce and more. The process of designing and building the theater and the 4D Experience was extremely challenging to the design team and the owner.

Challenge:
The Hettema Group (THG) was contracted by the National World War II Museum to conceive and produce a new kind of theater experience for the museum. Unlike anything else, the theater show needed to wow guests while telling an introductory story of the events of WWII in a brief, impactful and meaningful way. The client wanted something unique and visceral in a theater experience.

Solution:
THG conceptualized a theater show that combined large screen projection, classic theatrical smoke-and-mirrors trickery, and a host of massive moving scenic elements. It is an aggressive design from a technical and a budgetary standpoint. It’s Alive Co. was contracted by THG to provide technical design and management of the development of the theater and of the show, simultaneously. Over the course of the 4 year project, our team dealt with every technical system, including audio, video, projection, show control, show lighting, special effects, rigging systems, and moving scenery. Our team developed show technical designs, managed outside designers, provide cost estimating, developed and managed the bid/award process, and managed the show vendors through fabrication, installation and commissioning.

The Result:
Beyond All Boundaries became an award-winning project, garnering the prestigious AAM Muse Award and a THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement. Attendance at the museum and Victory Theater was immediately high and word spread quickly. It’s Alive Co. is proud to have been part of this powerful and important project.