Immerse yourself in the spectacle and excitement of the traveling circus with Water For Elephants on Broadway, the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical based on the critically acclaimed 2006 book and 2011 film of the same name. Get Water for Elephants tickets now on New York Theatre Guide, and experience this thrilling Best Musical nominee.
The Water For Elephants musical unfolds through the eyes of Jacob, an older man looking back and reminiscing on his life's adventures. When Jacob was young, amidst the Great Depression, his parents die and he hops a train to seek a new life, inadvertently joining a traveling circus called Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Jacob, a veterinarian, quickly finds a place within the animal-heavy circus, and love finds him, too, when he falls for Marlena — the jealous ringmaster's wife.
Before its time on Broadway, Jacob's awe-inspiring story began as a novel by Sara Gruen. The New York Times bestseller was such a hit that in 2011, a film adaptation came out, starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz. The film grossed $117 million worldwide, and in 2012, it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Drama Movie.
If you're looking for a circus experience even when the circus isn't in town, look no further than this unique Broadway musical featuring show-stopping choreography and circus costumes. It even includes circus acts like puppetry and aerial silk performance.
Get tickets to Water For Elephants on New York Theatre Guide.
2hr 40min. Incl. 15min intermission.
Ages 8+. Children under 4 are not permitted in the theater.
February 24th, 2024
December 8th, 2024
By: Rick Elice, based on the novel by Sara Gruen
Songs by: PigPen Theatre Co.
Director: Jessica Stone
Choreography: Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll
Circus design: Shana Carroll
Cast list: Kyle Selig (as Jacob), Isabelle McCalla (as Marlena), Gregg Edelman (as Mr. Jankowski), Paul Alexander Nolan (as August), Stan Brown (as Camel), Philippe Aymard (as Walter), Sara Gettelfinger (as Barbara), Wade McCollum (as Wade)
Design: Takeshi Kata
Costumes: David Israel Reynoso
Lighting: Bradley King
Sound: Walter Trarbach
Other info: Projections by David Bengali; hair and makeup design by Campbell Young Associates; puppetry design by Ray Wetmore, JR Goodman, Camille Labarre; music supervision and arrangements by Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Benedict Braxton-Smith; orchestrations by Daryl Waters, Braxton-Smith, August Eriksmoen
Accommodations for patrons who are blind, deaf, partially sighted, and/or have hearing loss; partial wheelchair access, handrail access
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Sara Gruen's bestselling novel is now a high-flying musical-meets-circus spectacular. After tragedy strikes, Jacob quits vet school and stows away with a traveling circus — and ends up in a secret love affair with the ringmaster's wife that causes tension under the big top.
Water For Elephants is playing at Imperial Theatre. The theatre is located at 249 West 45th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue), New York, 10036.
The running time of Water For Elephants is 2hr 40min. Incl. 15min intermission.
The recommended age for Water For Elephants is Ages 8+. Children under 4 are not permitted in the theater..
Book tickets for Water For Elephants on New York Theatre Guide.
Rick Elice wrote the book for the Water for Elephants musical, based on Sara Gruen's original novel. He’s known for his Tony-nominated writing on Jersey Boys and Peter and the Starcatcher. The musical collective PigPen Theatre Co. wrote the songs.
Jessica Stone directs Water For Elephants. She was nominated for a Tony Award for directing Kimberly Akimbo in 2023.
PigPen Theatre Co. wrote the original music and lyrics for this show. The songs include “The Lion Has Got No Teeth,” “Just Our Luck,” and “Squeaky Wheel.”
Water For Elephants is recommended for ages 8 and older. The show contains some adult themes, acts of violence, and strong language, but the circus acts and spectacles will dazzle young audiences.
Water For Elephants is based on the critically acclaimed book and film of the same name, and the stage version is a uniquely exciting, larger-than-life spectacle with lots of talent involved. The show offers a rare opportunity to get the entertainment of a circus and a musical in one.
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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