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: Mixed Reality Theater Provides Mixed Results
6 / 10
Ultimately the play, directed by Sarah Frankcom, proves more serviceable than profound, but it works effectively in the unique format. First, for no apparent reason, you’re asked to take off your shoes (the venue had the same requirement for their recent immersive production Viola’s Room, making you think that someone there has a foot fetish). Then you take a chair in a large, carpeted space adorned with a huge white orb on the ceiling, and are outfitted with the headset that fits snugly on your noggin. Wearing glasses with it on would prove virtually impossible, but not to worry; corrective lenses can be inserted. It’s like a trip to the optometrist!
‘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.
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
