Water For Elephants - Behind the Scenes | Broadway In Chicago

Water For Elephants
Playing at: James M. Nederlander Theatre
Dates: Jun 23 –Jul 5, 2026
Runtime: 2 hours 40 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.

“Many wonders await audiences in this gorgeously imaginative Broadway musical.” – The New York Times

The critically acclaimed bestselling novel comes to “thrilling, dazzling” life (Time Out New York) in a unique, spectacle-filled new musical! Hailed as a Critic’s Pick, The New York Times calls it “stunning, emotional, heart-filled and gorgeously imaginative.”

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.

Tony Award-nominated director Jessica Stone’s “huge, heart-filling” production (The New York Times) features a book by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice adapted from Sara Gruen’s novel, and a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co.

So, step right up to the “spellbinding entertainment” (Variety) at WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, “the best new musical on Broadway” (Theatermania).