Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants musical poster

About the show

The critically acclaimed bestselling novel Water for Elephants comes to vivid life on stage in a unique, spectacle-filled new musical.

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Water for Elephants will come to Broadway in 2024 at the Imperial Theatre. Previews begin on February 24 ahead of opening on March 21.

Synopsis

It’s a romantic drama set against the backdrop of a traveling circus during the Great Depression in the United States.

The story revolves around Jacob Jankowski, a young veterinary student who, after a family tragedy, finds himself unexpectedly joining a second-rate travelling circus, the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

Here, Jacob takes up the role of a vet, caring for the circus animals.

At the heart of the story is the complex relationship between Jacob, Marlena, the star performer and wife of the circus’s charismatic but cruel animal trainer, August, and Rosie, an intelligent elephant who plays a pivotal role in their lives.

Jacob and Marlena bond over their shared compassion for Rosie, who is mistreated by August.