Step right up to see Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants is a Sara Gruen's 2006 novel, which was adapted into a musical in 2024 after a 2011 movie version was made with the same name. The show opened on Broadway and received seven Tony Award nominations.

The cast and crew packed up their trunks for a North American tour that opened on June 24, 2026, at James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago.

The story is told through flashbacks as a narrator named Jacob Jankowski reminisces about his younger days working for a traveling circus during the Great Depression. He is lassoed in for a job as a veterinarian to assist the zoo of wildlife within the Benzini Brothers troupe.

Jacob falls for the star of the colorful show, Marlena Rackinger. The only problem is she has a ringmaster husband named August in the picture. Marlena and the animals are being abused by her partner and Jacob does his best to save them all. Turns out Jankowski's Polish background comes in handy when Rosie the elephant understands his language. Things do get better, but everything is not Rosie and sunshine for the circus act in act two. A series of dark events leads Jacob to an eventual brighter future.

Water for Elephants could have fallen into many traps and been a copycat musical, but instead, the creators introduce an original take that is only slightly inspired by other productions.

The production is set in the 1930s and influenced by African American spirituals. “Lion” gives hints of the Fosse musical Chicago and the acrobatics will remind some of Cirque du Soleil.

These elephants aren't working for peanuts, and this menagerie is not looking to compete with The Lion King. The puppetry is unique and sometimes a simple shadow puppet steals the show. The larger creatures are constructed with shiny, realistic eyeballs and often paired with severed body parts to convey their overall stature.

Helen Krushinski as Marlena sings “Easy” while showing affection for her horse and Rosie pulls at the heartstrings from the first moment she lumbers into the room.

The choreography is memorable for being expressive and some of the dancers over-emote at times as part of the act.

Zachary Keller gives outstanding vocals as Jacob Jankowski and there's not a weak link in the cast. Like Water for Chocolate, Water for Elephants is a sweet treat to watch, so don't miss it.

If you haven't seen Water for Elephants yet, tusk, tusk, but there's still time left at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph Street. Step right up for a ticket at broadwayinchicago.com before this circus leaves town on July 5, 2026.