Kyle Selig, who created the role of Aaron Samuels in Broadway's Mean Girls and also played Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, steps into the role of Jacob Jankowski in the Tony-nominated musical beginning September 3 at the Imperial Theatre. Selig succeeds Grant Gustin, who played his final performance September 1.
The new musical officially opened at the Imperial 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.
READ: How Water for Elephants Brought the Circus to Broadway
Along with Selig, the current Broadway company Isabelle McCalla (Shucked) as Marlena, Gregg Edelman (City of Angels) as Mr. Jankowski, Paul Alexander Nolan (Parade) as August, Stan Brown (Homicide: Life in the Streets) as Camel, Philippe Aymard as Walter, Sara Gettelfinger (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Barbara, and Wade McCollum (Wicked) as Wade.
VIDEO: Watch 'The Road Don’t Make You Young' From Broadway's Water for Elephants
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. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting with production stage management by Timothy R. Semon.
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.
Water for Elephants made its world premiere in Atlanta on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre in 2023.
The musical will launch its first national tour in fall 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.
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
