The circus is coming to your town. Water for Elephants, which was nominated for seven 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, will launch its first national tour in fall 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.
Casting and the complete touring itinerary will be announced at a later date. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
The new musical officially opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre March 21, where the production began previews February 24. Read the reviews here. Based on Sara Gruen's acclaimed novel, the musical features a book by Rick Elice (Peter and the Starcatcher) and music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. (The Tale of Despereaux). Tony nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo) directs.
“Audiences are gasping on the edge of their seats eight times a week at Water for Elephants on Broadway, and we now have plans in place to bring this full, gorgeous spectacle to theatres everywhere,” said producer Peter Schneider in a statement. “We are thrilled to now be able to share this dazzling production by Jessica Stone and her creative team with the rest of North America.”
The work tells the story of a man who runs away from his life, only
to find himself caught up in a traveling circus. This stage musical
follows a 2011 film adaptation of the novel starring Reese Witherspoon,
Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz.
The production also includes circus design by Shana Carroll, who co-choreographed the piece with Jesse Robb. The creative team is filled out by scenic designer Takeshi Kata, costume designer David Israel Reynoso, lighting designer Bradley King, sound designer Walter Trarbach, projection designer David Bengali, hair and makeup designer Luc Verschuren for Campbell Young Associates, music supervisors and arrangers Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Benedict Braxton-Smith, and orchestrators Daryl Waters, Benedict Braxton-Smith, and August Eriksmoen.
Puppetry design is by Ray Wetmore (Spamalot), JR Goodman (Gutenberg!), and Camille Labarre (Into the Woods).
Elizabeth Doran is music director, and Cha Ramos provides fight
direction. Timothy R. Semon is the production stage manager.
Ghostlight Records will release the original Broadway cast recording on CD August 16; the album is currently available in streaming and digital formats.
Water for Elephants made its world premiere in Atlanta on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre June 7–July 9, 2023.
Visit WaterForElephantsTheMusical.com.
Paul Alexander Nolan, Isabelle McCalla, and Grant Gustin in Water for Elephants
Marissa Rosen, Gregg Edelman, Taylor Colleton, Sara Gettelfinger, Joe De Paul, and Stan Brown
The cast of Water for Elephants
The cast of Water for Elephants
The cast of Water for Elephants
Paul Alexander Nolan and the cast of Water for Elephants
Isabelle McCalla and Grant Gustin in Water for Elephants
Grant Gustin and the cast of Water for Elephants
