The new musical Water for Elephants will offer an in-person rush and lottery for its forthcoming Broadway run. Based on Sara Gruen's acclaimed novel, the adaptation begins previews February 24 at the Imperial Theatre. Opening night is set for March 21.
Day-of rush tickets will be sold at the Imperial Theatre box office. Each patron may purchase two $49 tickets for that day's performance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lottery tickets will be available through an in-person system at the Imperial box office. Entry begins two hours before curtain, and winners will be drawn at 90 minutes prior. Each lottery winner may purchase up to two $40 tickets for that day's performance.
Seat location and number of tickets for both rush and lottery are determined based on availability, and seats may be partial view.
Water for Elephants will also participate in Manhattan Theatre Club's 30 Under 35 ticketing program. For performances through April 7, MTC 30 Under 35 members with a valid ID and email confirmation of membership may purchase a maximum of two tickets at $35 each. 20 tickets, which will be a mix of orchestra and mezzanine seats, will be available for each performance from the time that the box office opens until one hour before curtain. To join MTC's 30 Under 35 program, click here.
Water for Elephants made its world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in summer 2023. 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.
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. Read reviews for the world premiere here.
The cast features Grant Gustin (The Flash, Glee) in his Broadway debut as Jacob Jankowski, alongside Isabelle McCalla (Shucked) as Marlena. Joining them are Gregg Edelman (City of Angels) as Mr. Jankowski, Paul Alexander Nolan (Parade) as August, Stan Brown (Homicide: Life in the Streets) as Camel, Joe De Paul (Cirque du Soleil's Dralion) as Walter, Sara Gettelfinger (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Barbara, and Wade McCollum (Wicked) as Wade.
The company is completed by Brandon Block, Antoine Boissereau, Rachael Boyd, Paul Castree, Ken Wulf Clark, Taylor Colleton, Gabriel Olivera de Paula Costa, Isabella Luisa Diaz, Samantha Gershman, Keaton Hentoff-Killian, Nicolas Jelmoni, Caroline Kane, Harley Ross Beckwith McLeish, Michael Mendez, Samuel Renaud, Marissa Rosen, Alexandra Gaelle Royer, Asa Somers, Charles South, Sean Stack, Matthew Varvar, and Michelle West.
The production will include circus design by Shana Carroll, who's also co-choreographing with Jesse Robb. Also on the creative team are 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 Campbell Young Associates, music supervisor and arranger Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Benedict Braxton-Smith, and orchestrator Daryl Waters. Puppetry design is by Ray Wetmore (Spamalot) and JR Goodman (Gutenberg!) alongside Camille Labarre (Into the Woods). Elizabeth Doran is music director, and Cha Ramos will provide fight direction. Timothy R. Semon will be production stage manager. All but Trarbach and Doran are continuing with the production after working on the Atlanta world premiere.
Peter Schneider, Jennifer Costello, Grove Entertainment, Frank Marshall, Isaac Robert Hurwitz, and Seth A. Goldstein are producing the Broadway debut.
Visit WaterForElephantsTheMusical.com.
