Chi, IL Live Shows on our Radar
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
at the James M. Nederlander Theatre
June 23–July 5, 2026
BOOK BY FOUR-TIME TONY AWARD® NOMINEE RICK ELICE
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY PIGPEN THEATRE CO.
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SARA GRUEN
ORIGINAL DIRECTION BY TONY AWARD NOMINEE JESSICA STONE
RUNNING TIME
2 hours and 20 minutes including an intermission
Age Recommendations:
The show is suitable for ages 8 and up. All persons entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket.
Zachary Keller, Connor Sullivan, Helen Krushinski, and the cast of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
REVIEW
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
The big top is rising, but these roustabouts don't just build, they're multi-hyphenate super-humans who hurl sledgehammers across the stage, while performing choreographed dance moves, singing, and executing circus stunts! Some of my favorite productions of all times incorporate circus arts and/or puppetry in the service of storytelling, and Water for Elephants has a plethora of both!
Zachary Keller, Connor Sullivan, Helen Krushinski, and the cast of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
We’re sure Water for Elephants will be an elephantine hit of massive proportions! This sordid tale, set in the early 30s, has love, loss, murder, mayhem, giant puppets, and mad circus skills. I loved it so much I bought the tee shirt, and that's only happened three times in 18 years of reviewing shows.
ChiIL Live Shows on our radar. Highly recommended. Four out of four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I've been covering the top circus acts in the world for 2 decades from Cirque Eloise to Teatro Zinzanni. I've been behind the scenes at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and numerous Cirque du Soleil shows, and I can attest Water for Elephants is the real deal!
Yemie Woo, Robert Tully, Tyler West, Javier Garcia, ZaKeyia Lacey and Ruby Gibbs
This production features excellent storytelling with superhuman feats, and so many styles of puppetry from breathtaking shadow puppet scenes to haunting, deconstructed circus animals, and even a life-sized elephant!
Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski
And what better venue to host this stunning show, surrounded by elephants and mythical beasts? James M. Nederlander Theatre remains our favorite for its stunning architectural flourishes and macabre history of the Iroquois Theater fire of 1903.
I adored Sara Gruen's 2006 historical novel (first started during the annual NaNoWriMo challenge to write a 50,000 original draft in just 30 days during the month of November.) I've done NaNoWriMo myself 7 times and it's so exciting to see what a draft can become... a best seller, a major motion picture, and a brilliant Broadway production!
The stage production features a world class cast in a moving celebration of chosen family. This production is a triumph over economic hardship and toxic masculinity. Don’t miss this! ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List.
Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and empty nester. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).
The tour will be led by Illinois native Zachary Keller (Jacob), alongside Helen Krushinski (Marlena), Robert Tully (Mr. Jankowski), Connor Sullivan (August), Javier Garcia (Camel), Ruby Gibbs (Barbara), Chris Marth (Wade), and Tyler West (Walter).Additional ensemble includes Fran Alvarez Jara, Yves Artieres, Chris Carsten, Adam Fullick, Meghane Poulet, Ella Huestis, Sam Kellar-Long, ZaKeyia Lacey, Andrew Meier, Marina Mendoza, John Neurohr, Bradley Parrish, Carl Robinett, Summer Severin, Serafina Walker, and Yemie Woo.
After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life—and love—beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times Bestselling novel by Sara Gruen. The Broadway musical has a book by four-time Tony Award® nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co. (The Tale of Despereaux), with tour direction by Ryan Emmons, recreating the original direction by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo).
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS features circus design by Tony Award nominee Shana Carroll (The 7 Fingers), choreography by Tony Award nominees Jesse Robb (Miss Saigon) and Shana Carroll, scenic design by Drama Desk Award winner Takeshi Kata (Clyde’s), costume design by David I. Reynoso (Sleep No More), lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Bradley King (Hadestown), sound design by Tony Award nominee Walter Trarbach (Spongebob Squarepants), projections by two-time Tony Award nominee David Bengali (Good Night, and Good Luck), hair & makeup design by Luc Verschueren/Campbell Young Associates (A Beautiful Noise), puppet design by Ray Wetmore & JR Goodman, Camille Labarre (Into the Woods), puppet direction by Joshua Holden, music supervision and arrangements by Drama Desk Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Some Like It Hot) and Benedict Braxton-Smith (Kristin Chenoweth: For the Girls), orchestrations by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters (New York, New York), Benedict Braxton-Smith and August Eriksmoen, fight direction by Cha Ramos (Jagged Little Pill), associate circus designer by Antoine Boissereau, associate choreography by Paige Parkhill, and casting by The TRC Company, Claire Burke, CSA & Frankie Ramirez, CSA.
The WATER FOR ELEPHANTS tour stage management team is led by production stage manager Kathleen Carragee and is supported by Stage Manager Maris Keller and Circus Stage Manager Stan Barile. The company management team is led by company manager Heather Moss with associate company manager Taylor Parris. The tour music director/conductor is Sarah Wilhelm Pool. Mimi Intagliata serves as the Executive Producer for the production.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS won Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Jessica Stone), Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical (Walter Trarbach), Outstanding Fight Choreography (Cha Ramos) and Outstanding Puppetry (Ray Wetmore, JR Goodman, & Camille Labarre), the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical (Jessica Stone), and the Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Choreography (Jesse Robb & Shana Carroll).
GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS released the WATER FOR ELEPHANTS: Original Broadway Cast Recording, which preserves the show’s soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co., which is available on CD and all streaming and digital formats. The CD’s full-color booklet features production photography, complete lyrics, synopsis, and liner notes by book writer Rick Elice. The album is produced by Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Ian Kagey. Broadway Licensing Global has secured worldwide licensing rights to the critically acclaimed Broadway musical WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. The flagship musical publisher for the world’s fastest growing theatrical licensing company, Broadway Licensing Global, includes Dramatists Play Service and Playscripts.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS had its world premiere in Atlanta on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre, running from June 7, 2023, through July 9, 2023. The critically acclaimed production had The Atlanta Journal-Constitution raving, “WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a triumph! Truly dazzles.” WATER FOR ELEPHANTS premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre, running from March 20, 2024, through December 8, 2024. The production was a New York Times Critic’s Pick, with chief NYT theater critic Jesse Green describing the show as “Huge”, “Heart-filling”, and “Emotionally vivid.”
For more information please visit: www.waterforelephantsthemusical.com
Follow us at @w4emusical
#W4EMusical #ChooseTheRide #WaterForElephantsMusical
WEEK 1
Tuesday June 23 7:00 PM
Wednesday June 24 7:00 PM
Thursday June 25 7:00 PM
Friday June 26 7:00 PM
Saturday June 27 2:00 PM
Saturday June 27 7:30 PM
Sunday June 28 1:00 PM
Sunday June 28 6:30 PM
WEEK 2
Tuesday June 30 7:00 PM
Wednesday July 1 1:00 PM
Wednesday July 1 7:00 PM
Thursday July 2 7:00 PM
Friday July 3 7:00 PM
Saturday July 4 1:00 PM 4th Of July
Saturday July 4 6:30 PM 4th Of July
Sunday July 5 1:00 PM
TICKET INFORMATION (as of 6/23/26, based on availability and subject to change)
Individual ticket prices range from $39.00—$130.00 and may be purchased at www.BroadwayInChicago.com or any Broadway In Chicago box office. A select number of premium seats are available. Additional fees apply for online purchases.
Tickets for groups of 10 or more are available now by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing
GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. Subscribers may add tickets to their subscription by clicking here or by calling (312) 977-1717. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Patrons can participate in a Digital Lottery for a chance to purchase $30 tickets for each performance. In addition to the lottery, a limited number of $49 rush tickets will be offered for each performance—available only in person at the box office on the day of the show. Click here for more information on Digital Lottery and In-Person Rush.
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 26 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium™
For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Follow @broadwayinchicago on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky #broadwayinchicago
