Mean Girls' Kyle Selig Will Return to Broadway in Water for Elephants

Kyle Selig, who created the role of Aaron Samuels in Broadway's Mean Girls and also played Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, is returning to the Main Stem next month.

The actor—whose screen credits include Monster High, Cat Person, Christmas in Tahoe, Madame Secretary, and more—will step into the role of Jacob Jankowski in the Tony-nominated musical beginning September 3 at the Imperial Theatre. Selig will succeed Grant Gustin, who will play his final performance September 1.

The new musical officially opened at the Imperial March 21, where the production began previews February 24. Read the reviews here. 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). Tony nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo) directs.

READ: How Water for Elephants Brought the Circus to Broadway

The Broadway company features 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.

VIDEO: Watch 'The Road Don’t Make You Young' From Broadway's Water for Elephants

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.

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. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting with production stage management by Timothy R. Semon.

Puppetry design is by Ray Wetmore (Spamalot), JR Goodman (Gutenberg!), and Camille Labarre (Into the Woods). Elizabeth Doran is music director, and Cha Ramos provides fight direction.

Ghostlight Records will release the original Broadway cast recording on CD August 16; the album is currently available in streaming and digital formats.

Water for Elephants made its world premiere in Atlanta on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre June 7–July 9, 2023.

The musical will launch its first national tour in fall 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.

Visit WaterForElephantsTheMusical.com.