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 this fall in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.

Beginning September 27, the non-Equity tour will be led by Zachary Keller as Jacob, Helen Krushinski as Marlena, Robert Tully as Mr. Jankowski, Connor Sullivan as August, Javier Garcia as Camel, Ruby Gibbs as Barbara, Grant Huneycutt as Wade, and Tyler West as Walter.

They will be supported by an ensemble including Fran Alvarez Jara, Yves Artieres, Chris Carsten, Adam Fullick, Nancy Gutierrez, Ella Huestis, Sam Kellar-Long, ZaKeyia Lacey, Andrew Meier, Marina Mendoza, John Neurohr, Bradley Parrish, Carl Robinett, Summer Severin, Serafina Walker, and Yemie Woo.

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). The work tells the story of a man who runs away from his life, only to find himself caught up in a traveling circus. The stage musical follows a 2011 film adaptation of the novel starring Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz.

The tour will feature direction by Ryan Emmons, recreating the original direction by Tony nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo). 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). Puppet direction is by Joshua Holden. Sarah Pool Wilhelm is music director, and Cha Ramos provides fight direction. The associate circus designer is Antoine Boissereau, with associate choreography by Paige Parkhill and casting by The TRC Company's Claire Burke and Frankie Ramirez.

The Water for Elephants tour stage management team will be led by production stage manager Kathleen Carragee, with supporting stage manager Maris Keller and circus stage manager Stan Barile. The company management team will be led by company manager Heather Moss with associate company manager Taylor Parris. Mimi Intagliata serves as the executive producer for the production. 

The Broadway production played 25 previews and 301 regular performances at the Imperial Theatre in 2024. 

Visit WaterForElephantsTheMusical.com for more information, including further tour stops through 2026.