The new musical Water for Elephants began performances on Broadway February 24, and Playbill has the photos to prove it!
Based on Sara Gruen's acclaimed novel, the adaptation plays the Imperial Theatre. Opening night is set for March 21. Check out photos of the stars first Broadway bows below.
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 Imperial Theatre ahead of Water For Elephants' first Preview
Company of Water For Elephants
Grant Gustin and Company of Water For Elephants
Grant Gustin and Paul Alexander Nolan
Isabelle McCalla and company of Water For Elephants
Isabelle McCalla and company of Water For Elephants
Stan Brown, Isabelle McCalla, Grant Gustin, and Paul Alexander Nolan
Stan Brown, Grant Gustin, and Isabelle McCalla
Company of Water For Elephants
Company of Water For Elephants
Stan Brown and company of Water For Elephants
Isabelle McCalla and company of Water For Elephants
Company of Water For Elephants
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 also includes circus design by Shana Carroll, who has 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 Campbell Young Associates, music supervisor and arranger 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 provide fight direction. Timothy R. Semon is the 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.
