The Broadway musical adaptation of *Water for Elephants* blends circus artistry with theatrical storytelling in a unique collaboration that has brought a traveling circus to life onstage. Based on Sara Gruen’s 2006 novel, the production follows Jacob Jankowski, a 93-year-old man who recounts his younger years working with the Benzini Bros. Circus during the 1930s. After losing his parents in an accident, Jacob, a veterinary student, jumps onto a circus train and soon becomes involved in a complicated love triangle involving August Rosenbluth, the ringmaster, and his wife Marlena, with an elephant named Rosie central to the story’s star performances.

Following a 2023 premiere run in Atlanta, the musical, featuring music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Company and a book by Rick Elice, debuted on Broadway in March 2024. It has since earned seven Tony Award nominations, including best musical. The first national tour is currently underway, performing in Los Angeles through September 27 before moving to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from November 10 to 22.

The show’s distinctive integration of circus and musical theater owes much to the collaboration between co-choreographers Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll. Robb, whose background is in concert and theater, and Carroll, a veteran circus director and choreographer associated with Cirque du Soleil and the circus collective 7 Fingers, have melded their expertise to break down conventional boundaries. Robb describes their process as a fusion of disciplines, creating a fluid dynamic that reshapes expectations for both circus and theatrical performance.

Actor, acrobat, and circus captain Serafina Walker exemplifies that versatility on stage, as does Summer Severin, who serves as the dance captain, understudies the role of Marlena, and performs as an ensemble swing. Severin, who had no prior circus training, spent four weeks learning aerial and acrobatic skills, including a trapeze act. She noted that her strong dance background sometimes made adapting to circus apparatuses challenging, but credited the circus performers for their generosity in sharing skills and fostering a collaborative environment.

Director Jessica Stone has emphasized the importance of unity within the cast, aiming to create an atmosphere where the various artists—actors, circus performers, dancers, musicians, and puppeteers—function as a cohesive circus troupe. Robb praised Stone’s leadership in maintaining this spirit of camaraderie, ensuring the company feels like a single traveling ensemble rather than segmented groups.

Performers acknowledge the physical demands of the show, especially during double performances, but emphasize their trust in one another and the safety protocols ingrained in the choreography. Walker highlighted the importance of “energy conservation,” while Severin spoke to the confidence built into the staging, noting that trust among performers is fundamental to executing the show’s daring acts.

As *Water for Elephants* continues its tour, it showcases a harmonious blend of circus spectacle and musical theater, offering audiences a fresh experience that honors the novel’s nostalgic narrative through an innovative and collaborative artistic approach.