The critically acclaimed bestselling novel WATER FOR ELEPHANTS comes to vivid life on Broadway in a unique, spectacle-filled new musical.
After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life—and love—beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.
Directed by Tony Award®️ nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with a book by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher) adapted from Sara Gruen’s novel, and a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co., WATER FOR ELEPHANTS unites innovative stagecraft with the very best of Broadway talent in an authentic and deeply moving new musical that invites us all to give ourselves to the unknown.
This cast (non-Equity though you’d never ever know it) walks that tightrope, performing with bravura, singing with crystalline precision and thunderous boom — somehow making it all less overwhelmingly sad through their collective charisma, the desperation and cruelty dialed down just enough to keep the edge, the cut.
And the puppeteer animals? Absolute beauty. Crafted with such grace and operated with such soul, they transcended mechanics and became living, breathing characters. They moved with such grace and emotion that you forgot they weren’t real. The horse (Yves Artieres), in particular, was unforgettable. The actor didn’t just operate the puppet—he became the horse. Every flick of the tail, every tremble of muscle, every glance was so heartbreakingly real that when a sad scene came to pass, tears welled in my eyes. It was devastating and beautiful.
| 2024 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 2025 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
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