An Ark
Closing: April 04, 2026An Ark - 2026 Off-Broadway History , Info & More
The Shed
West 30th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues New York, NY
An Ark is a lyrical meditation on the human condition, traversing the span of a lifetime in just 47 immersive, affecting minutes. From the wonder of childhood and the joy of first love to the complexities of parenting and the inevitability of death, the play invites audiences into a deeply personal exploration of what it means to live, to grieve, and to connect.
An Ark - 2026 - Off-Broadway Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR An Ark
‘An Ark’ brings high-tech performance capture (and Ian McKellen) to live theater (Off Broadway review)
6 / 10
Despite the polished delivery by the barefoot cast, the story can get confusing. Aside from Kene’s character, who feels obliged to exit after accidentally killing a woman while driving drunk, you never really get a grasp on any of these people as individuals. Stephens’ script seems to have slipped into the uncanny valley itself, with fuzzy descriptions of the human experience that offer moments of piquant poetry before slipping back into generalities that are amplified by repeated use of the second person.
An Ark Review: MR Ian McKellen and “you”
7 / 10
In 47 minutes, “An Ark” spans the arc (ark?) of human life, from birth to death, with a lyrical script by acclaimed British playwright Simon Stephens (Tony-winner for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and recent Off-Broadway adaptor of “Vanya.” ) Neither Simons’ lyricism nor producer Todd Eckert’s pioneering mixed reality will work for everybody. The experiment might not wholly satisfy anybody, but it’s too intriguing and artful for me to dismiss.
Category
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 17, 2026
The Shed will present extension of An Ark, starring Ian McKellen and more, as the first play created for and in mixed reality continues to engage audiences in new ways.
by Josh Sharpe - February 5, 2026
Stage and screen legend Ian McKellen sat down with Stephen Colbert during a recent episode of The Late Show for an extended interview covering his long career as a performer. Check it out now.
by Robert Bannon - January 30, 2026
Todd Eckert joins The Roundtable for a BroadwayWorld Exclusive conversation about An Ark at The Shed, the bold mixed-reality theatrical experience redefining what live performance can be. Watch in this video!
by Nicole Rosky - January 23, 2026
An Ark, the first play created for and in mixed reality, makes its world premiere at The Shed. Written by Olivier and Tony Award winner Simon Stephens, directed by UK Theatre Award winner Sarah Frankcom, and produced by mixed reality pioneer Todd Eckert, An Ark is a genre-defying production, transforming universal human experiences into a profoundly intimate theatrical performance. Check out what the critics are saying...
by Stephi Wild - October 29, 2025
An Ark, the first play created for and in mixed reality, will make its world premiere next year at The Shed, starring Ian McKellen and more. Learn more about the production here!
An Ark History
Other Productions of An Ark
| 2026 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
Videos
