Water for Elephants (musical)

Water for Elephants is a musical with music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. and a book by Rick Elice. It is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Sara Gruen.

The musical opened on Broadway starring Grant Gustin on March 21, 2024, at the Imperial Theatre following previews beginning February 24. Critical reviews were mixed, while receiving praise for its visual spectacle and production values. It received seven nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Synopsis
Jacob Jankowski, an old man living in an assisted living home, thinks back to his youth. In 1931, after his parents were killed in a car accident, Jankowski decides to travel cross-country on the Benzini Brothers Circus train. The ringmaster, August, invites Jankowski to join the circus after learning he is a veterinarian. Soon after, August buys an elephant, Rosie, and puts Marlena, his wife, and Jacob in charge of training her. Jacob soon finds himself falling for Marlena as the two attempt to train the stubborn elephant, all the while slowly realizing August's cruelty.

Development
In 2015, Peter Schneider, Elisabetta di Mambro, Broadway Across America, and Mehr! Entertainment acquired the rights to adapt Gruen's novel into a musical. PigPen Theatre Co. announced their involvement alongside Rick Elice in 2018.

Atlanta (2023)
In March 2023, the Atlanta production announced Water for Elephants would premiere at the Alliance Theatre on June 16, 2023, after previews beginning on June 7, and would run through July 9.

The Atlanta production was directed by Jessica Stone and featured choreography by Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll; Carroll also did the show's circus designs. Sets were by Takeshi Kata, costumes by David Israel Reynoso, lighting by Bradley King, and sound by Jessica Paz. David Bengalli designed the show's projections, while Camille Labarre made the show's puppets. Hair and makeup were done by Campbell Young Associates. The music was surpervised and arranged by Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Benedict Braxton-Smith, with Daryl Waters doing the show's orchestration. Timothy R. Semon served as the production stage manager.

Broadway (2024)
The production's Broadway transfer was announced on September 12, 2023. All of the members of the Atlanta creative team including Jessica Stone as director, returned for the Broadway production, except for Jessica Paz. Much of the Atlanta cast would reprise their roles, with new additions including Gregg Edelman as Mr. Jankowski, Paul Alexander Nolan as August, and Grant Gustin making his Broadway debut as Jacob Jankowski.

In September 2023, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicated that the Broadway production would be capitalized for up to $25 million. A budget of that size would likely make it the most expensive production of the 2023-2024 Broadway season.

Musical numbers

 * Act I
 * Overture - Orchestra
 * Prologue - Company
 * "Anywhere/Another Train" - Jacob, Camel, Wade, Company
 * "The Road Don't Make You Young" - Company
 * "Easy" - Marlena
 * "The Lion Has Got No Teeth" - August, Jacob, Company
 * "I Choose the Ride" - Camel, Jacob, Company
 * "Ode to an Elephant" - Mr. Jankowski, Jacob, Marlena, August
 * "Just Our Luck" - Mr. Jankowski, Barbara, Camel, Walter, Vera, Sue
 * "I Shouldn't Be Surprised" - Marlena, Mr. Jankowski
 * "Silver Stars" - Jacob
 * "The Grand Spec" - August, Company


 * Act II
 * "Funny Angel" - Mr. Jankowski
 * "Zostań" - Company
 * "Squeaky Wheel" - Barbara, Walter, Camel, Jacob
 * "You've Got Nothing" - August, Jacob, Marlena, Camel, Walter, Wade
 * "What Do You Do?" - Marlena
 * "Wild" - Marlena, Jacob
 * "The Road Don't Make You Young (Reprise)" - Wade, Company
 * "Go Home" - Jacob, Company
 * "Zostań (Reprise)" - Jacob, Mr. Jankowski, Company
 * "I Choose the Ride (Reprise)" - Company

Reception
The Atlanta production received mixed reviews. ArtsATL said the show was "a triumph from a technical perspective," praising the show's set design, lighting, and projections, the lifelike puppets, choreography, and actors. However, the site felt the story "[left] a lot to be desired," with gaps in the story, unelaborated character backstories, and songs which didn't move the plot forward.