Full casting has been announced for the upcoming musical adaptation of Water for Elephants, based on Sara Gruen's acclaimed novel. Previews begin February 24, 2024 at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway, with opening night set for March 21. Check out the newly released music video above.
As previously reported, Grant Gustin (The Flash, Glee) will make his Broadway debut as Jacob Jankowski, alongside Isabelle McCalla (Shucked) as Marlena. The cast also features 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.
Newly announced for the musical's company are 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. All but Boyd, Clark, Gershman, McLeish, and Somers are continuing with the production after performing in the world premiere run at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
Water for Elephants 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 new musical made its world premiere at Alliance Theatre earlier this year. McCalla, Brown, De Paul, Gettelfinger, and McCollum are each reprising their roles for the Broadway run.
The work follows a man who runs away from his life only to find himself with 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 musical's 2023 world premiere in Atlanta here.
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, puppet designer Camille Labarre, music supervisor and arranger Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Benedict Braxton-Smith, and orchestrator Daryl Waters. 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.
