It has been announced that the Broadway premiere of the new musical Water for Elephants will begin previews at the Imperial Theatre on 24 February 2024.

Water for Elephants has a book by three-time Tony Award nominee Rick Elice, a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co., is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling novel by Sara Gruen, and is directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone.

This production unites innovative stagecraft with the very best of Broadway talent in an authentic and deeply moving new musical that invites us all to give ourselves to the unknown. Broadway casting is to be announced soon.

Director Jessica Stone said: “What excites me most about Water for Elephants is working with our enormous design and creative team, an incredible group of artists from different avenues of storytelling. From Broadway veterans to puppeteers to circus artists- we have an eclectic collection of internationally acclaimed and innovative creators. What’s amazing about the culture of the circus is that you’re dependent upon one another to do a trick safely, so as a team we really all must lean on one another. If we do our jobs well and connect with our audience we will, quite literally, get the story off the page and into the air.”

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 features circus design by Shana Carroll, choreography by Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, set design by Drama Desk Award winner Takeshi Kata, costumes by David Israel Reynoso, lighting by two-time Tony Award winner Bradley King, sound by Tony Award nominee Walter Trarbach, projections by David Bengali, puppetry design by Camille Labarre, music supervision and arrangements by Drama Desk Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Benedict Braxton-Smith, orchestrations by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters, and casting by Tara Rubin Casting.

Tickets go on sale on 13 September, with priority access available here.