Tom Hanks will return to Broadway in fall 2027 for a strictly limited engagement of This World of Tomorrow, a time-travel romance he co-wrote with James Glossman. The production reunites Hanks with Kelli O’Hara and director Kenny Leon following a sold-out Off-Broadway run at The Shed in New York City.
Tom Hanks and Kelli O’Hara Transfer to a Shubert Theater
Two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks is heading back to the Broadwaynews. The production marks his first appearance in a Broadway house in more than 14 years, following his Tony-nominated debut in 2013 in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy. Hanks will once again star opposite Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara, reprising the roles they originated during their eight-week run at The Shed.
Tony Award winner Kenny Leon will direct the limited engagement, which is slated for a Shubert theater to be announced. Exact performance dates and additional casting details remain under wraps, though producers confirmed that further announcements will follow shortly.
The announcement of the Broadway transfer was made by producer Brian Anthony Moreland in association with The Shed, featuring artistic director Alex Poots and chief executive officer Meredith “Max” Hodges. Hanks brings an extensive list of accolades to the stage, including Academy Award and Golden Globe Award wins for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, along with Oscar-nominated performances in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away and Big. Alongside his literary contributions such as the volumes Uncommon Type and The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, his accolades comprise a Kennedy Center Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award, and the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
O’Hara, his co-star, secured a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for The King and I in 2015, alongside eight additional Tony nominations for her performances in The Light in the Piazza, The Pajama Game, South Pacific, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Bridges of Madison County, Kiss Me, Kate, Days of Wine and Roses, and Fallen Angels. Meanwhile, Director Leon holds a Tony Award for A Raisin in the Sun, has earned nominations for directing Fences, A Soldier’s Play, Some Like it Hot, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, Our Town, and The Balusters, and presently functions as Chairman of the board of The American Theatre Wing.
World of Tomorrow Adapts Stories from Uncommon Type
This World of Tomorrow is adapted from a series of short stories found in Hanks’ 2017 collection Uncommon Type. Hanks co-wrote the script with James Glossman, constructing a narrative set at the end of the 21st century.
The story follows Bert Allenberry, a lonely scientist living in a distant future who grows determined to alter his destiny. By traveling back through time repeatedly to a single, remarkable day at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Queens, Bert encounters Carmen, played by O’Hara. The journey develops into a romance exploring human connection across generations.
When Bert journeys back—again, and again, and again—to one remarkable day at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in Queens, he discovers that the future is shaped not by technology, but by the choices we make for love.
Official logline
Hanks Faces Pressures of Writing and Acting on Stage
Starring in a play of his own creation brought distinct pressures for Hanks during the initial New York run.
Tom Hanks & Kelli O’Hara Heading To Broadway Next Fall In 'This World Of Tomorrow' https://t.co/g0OeWEMz7I
Kenny Leon and Producer Brian Anthony Moreland Expand the Play
The Broadway transfer presents director Kenny Leon—whose recent Broadway credits include Our Town with Jim Parsons and Katie Holmes, Othello with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, and The Balusters—a chance to present the production to an expanded audience alongside its original stars.
There is something extraordinary about bringing a story that explores the power of love across time to a place where the magic of live theater happens every night. At its heart, This World of Tomorrow reminds us that no matter how much the world changes, the one thing that remains timeless is our capacity to love.
Brian Anthony Moreland, Producer
Fans seeking updates on ticket sales, performance schedules, and the specific Shubert venue can register through the official production website.
