Water for Elephants - National Tour Review

[carlisle14]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 11:24am

I was able to catch the launch of the National Tour of Water for Elephants at the Hippodrome in Baltimore.  Some thoughts.

Tours typically run Tuesday-Sunday, but this being the premier launch of the tour they started with a Saturday show.  Despite it being a Saturday and the tour launch, the Hippodrome still had to offer Lucky Seat and discount rush tickets to fill the house.  Rush and Lucky Seat continue to be offered for the week-long run.  Hippodrome has one of the better subscription bases out there, so that means the demand for single-show tickets must've been lagging for this one.

The show is non-equity, and that does become apparent when you see the cast list's lack of experience.  Mostly see regional and small-theater credits for the cast.  Clearly this is a unique show where you need a cast of acrobats, so casting is a tougher deal .. but the point remains that it is a largely untested assembly.  

The show overlaps the Broadway version very much, from my recollection.  Stunning acrobatics mixed with fun puppetry and chorography, it is still a show that is a big departure from the common touring show.  

Javier Garcia, who plays the limping & elderly character named Camel, stood out to me as a excellent singer and actor.  Likewise, Grant Huneycutt as Wade stole every song he was a part of.  Grant commands the stage and sang with heart and passion that makes you feel Wade's torment, power, and pain.  Connor Sullivan is a great antagonist, loved to hate him the whole show ... he is just snarky and flippant enough to grind your gears from the jump. Tyler West has made his career as a clown, but he transitions to the stage impressively with a solid singing voice and some great funny moments with pratfalls, roller skating, a split, and jokes with great expression.

The gymnasts and acrobats left the audience gasping and applauding with delight several times.  Serafina Walker stands out as the most impressive of the bunch, combining stunt and stunt after stunt while on stage.  She is electric.  All of the stunts were on-point and wowed.  Strong man Yves Artieres never skips arm day!  

Young Jacob (Zachary Keller) and old Jacob (Robert Tully) each had moments where they hit their stride and impressed, but at other times both seemed hesitant.  Perhaps after more shows get under their belt they will let themselves out of the cage more. Helen Krushinski is well-cast as Marlena, as you are instantly drawn to her character and are rooting for her throughout. 

Overall, I'd give a very good to excellent score.  Chemistry and comfort is still building, which is to be expected for the debut.  Love the mix of cast, as see some potential in Krushinski, Garcia, and Huneycutt to keep working up in theater.  If it is coming to your town, I would certainly check it out.  A fun night out for sure.  

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 12/17/25 at 4:44pm

I caught the tour of Water for Elephants in Durham last night. I’ve never read the original novel. Although fun fact, the author, Sara Gruen, happens to be currently living in western North Carolina. Meanwhile, I have seen the 2011 nonmusical film adaptation starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, and Hal Holbrook. That one was pretty good I thought. So what do I think of this musical?

The story begins with an older Jacob Jankowski visiting the circus before it heads out of town. Seeing all this leads to him reminiscing to employees about his very first circus job. This particular framing device does offer the audience an interesting way into the story as Older Jacob looks back throughout the show. The book by Rick Elice does deal with a pretty tricky tone. There are times where it’s funny when it needs to be. There are also times where it’s serious when it needs to be, especially late in the second act. Thankfully, Elice manages to keep things well balanced. The score by indie folk band PigPen Theatre Co. may not be the most accomplished in the world, but it does have some fun, rowdy production numbers as well as some solid ballads.

Under the direction of Ryan Emmons, who was an associate to Jessica Stone on the Broadway production, he pulls off such imaginative staging. The circus work designed by Shana Carroll comes off as stunning as does her choreography with Jesse Robb. Bradley King’s lighting is incredible. There’s very colorful costumes designed by David I. Reynoso. Although the puppets for all the animals are so impressive to behold. Designers Camille Labarre, Rat Wetmore, & JR Goodman truly deserve all the credit for that. Several members of the cast happen to have background working in the circus or in some cases, Cirque du Soleil. It really shows as their experience is put to good use in all the circus sequences.

As for the main characters, Zachary Keller makes for quite a charismatic Jacob, making the audience feel for him throughout the night. Robert Tully, who plays Older Jacob, does such a compelling job narrating the story. Not only that, but he also truly feels like an older version of the main protagonist we’re watching as he even has the same mannerisms. Helen Krushinski gives a very lively and heartfelt performance as Marlena Rackinger, the star performer of the circus who Jacob eventually falls in love with. She also shares very believable chemistry with Keller. Yet the standout of the cast is Connor Sullivan as Marlena’s husband, August Rackinger, the ringmaster. He gives such excellent work as a man who can be charming and generous, but also brutal as he abuses the animals in his care and the people around him.

Water for Elephants isn’t necessarily, as any circus would be advertised as, “The Greatest Show on Earth.” With that being said, it still proves to be a good time at the theatre. Sure, there is a scene in Act II where certain audience members may want to look away. However, there is still so much more to appreciate from the stagecraft to the performances to the story.

Click Here for My Full Review