"Life is a Circus" in the brand new National Tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS!

 

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing "Water for Elephants" on Broadway almost exactly a year ago to the day. And boy did it give me all the feels: laughter, spectacle, nostalgia, happy & sad tears, but most of all hope. This beautiful show ends on a hopeful note, that regardless of all the magnificent highs and sometimes devastating lows, these people have not only chosen the "circus life" but they continue to choose it over and over again. It's a wonderful thing to spend time with these characters (including young Jacob Jankowski) for two hours & 40 minutes and really experience what it was like to be touring with the circus during the Great Depression. And to see everything play out through the eyes of "elderly, present day" Jacob makes it all the more captivating, but also at times catastrophic.

I could go on and on about this breathtaking piece of musical theatre, but instead I'd like to share with you what a few others from the BTL Staff thought about this show. They took a little road trip to Louisville, Kentucky last week to see the National Tour of "Water for Elephants the Musical" and they also had some big feelings about this unique, spectacle-filled musical about the lives of the folks in a traveling circus from all those many years ago. ALSO, I'm including 10 Production photos at the end of this post. Stay tuned for the "Water for Elephants" National Tour, First Look! 

Now back to the other BTL Staff reviews. Take it way y'all...

Andrew Willmon, Executive Director

The first time I saw "Water for Elephants" in NYC I was mesmerized and drawn to all of the puppetry and spectacle of the show. The deeply moving story about passion, love, and commitment to your life's work reminded me so much of why I fell in love with life in the Theatre. When I got to experience the show on the road for a second time I dove head first into all the many stories that you will experience... from Jacob's search for his purpose, Marlena's love of the animals and the circus, but also all the circus folks stories. You meet and get to know this rich, colorful cast of characters that open themselves up and share their truths. Experiencing "Water for Elephants" live on stage is a show, a song, a story, that you will carry with you long after you have left the Theatre. You will be glad that you hopped on the circus train, experienced all of the adventure, and you will be glad that you "Chose the Ride."

Lisa Bollinger, Director of Operations

I loved "Water for Elephants!" I didn't know what to expect because I have not read the book nor seen the movie. I am not a reader, but now I want to read the book! Trust me, when I decide I want to read a book, it is a very big deal! 

"Water for Elephants" has a great story that is told with a great spectacle. The show is about more than a love story between two people, it is also about love within a community. The members (both human and animal) of the traveling circus support and love each other and it's a very beautiful story to watch. Even if you choose not to get too far into the storyline, there are other things to enjoy such as the beautiful puppetry and difficult awe-inspiring circus performances. 

As I watched this show I kept thinking about how unique it is - it is a combination of musical theatre trained performers and circus trained performers who all come together to tell this story and to entertain us through song, dance, stunts and puppetry. Unity, Community & Love told through circus acts, puppets, song and dance - who wouldn't want to be there for the ride?!

Tanja Miller, Group Sales Coordinator

Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Literally. And all the other puppets, as well. The melding of puppetry with live humans to create the animal in "Water for Elephants" was something I was not expecting, and boy did it affect me. From the one woman swinging on the cage as an orangutan to the five actors who operated Rosie, a fully constructed elephant, it was breathtaking. I can still envision the animation in the actor's face who played Silver Star, the horse. It was real, longing, and heart-breaking. All the actors accompanying the puppets acted with their bodies and their faces to create the emotions, the moods, and the levels of urgency in the circus animals. All the actors playing humans interacted with them perfectly, which totally sold the creatures as believable. I never forgot that I was at the circus and that there was always a sense of unpredictability and a bit of danger. It was thrilling.

As far as the story, I was invested from the beginning. You witness Jacob's journey from reliving to reclaiming the life he once had. The dancers, the acrobats, the singers and actors give their all to draw you into this world of spontaneity, excitement, entertainment, and sometimes tragedy. At its core, "Water for Elephants" is a love story, but not in the traditional sense. Sure, there is a romantic angle, but more than that, you see the love for the circus life, the love for the fellow performers, the love for... the ride.

You have EIGHT chances to see "Water for Elephants" at the VBC Concert Hall: May 5 - 10, 2026!

Single Tickets will go on sale November 4, 2025.

"Water for Elephants" National Tour, First Look! 

Photo credit: Matt Murphy for MurphyMade