Introduction to Tom Hanks’ New Play
Tom Hanks has written and will star in a new off-Broadway play about time travel and love. The science fiction romance, titled "The World of Tomorrow," will premiere at The Shed theater in October.
The Plot
The play follows a lonely scientist who travels from the future to the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens in search of love. The story is based on Hanks’ 2017 short story collection "Unusual Type," although he did not appear in the previous production.
The Cast and Crew
The two-time Oscar winner will appear alongside a cast of 10 to 12 actors, sometimes playing multiple roles. The play will be directed by Kenny Leon, who won a Tony Award for his Broadway revival of "A Raisin in the Sun" in 2014.
Tom Hanks’ Theater Background
This will be Hanks’ first stage appearance since his role as Falstaff in Shakespeare’s "Henry IV" in 2018. He made his Broadway debut in 2013, earning a nomination for his role in the newsroom drama "Lucky Guy." Hanks began his acting career with several appearances at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Significance of the Play
Hanks describes his latest project, saying, "To explore the themes of love and longing and the struggles of today, while carrying the eternal memories of the past, meets me in a place like The Shed as a unique experience that is not unlike the World’s Fair in 1939." The play’s artistic director, Alex Poots, calls Hanks "one of the most beloved and trusted storytellers of our time" and suspects the show will be a "classic love story" that also nods to the global tensions of 1939, the first year of World War II.
Performance Dates and Tickets
"The World of Tomorrow" will run from October 20 to December 21, 2025, at The Shed’s 550-seat theater on Manhattan’s West Side. Tickets will go on sale on July 24, with priority access for Shed members starting on July 15.
