Sara Gruen

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST & More Lead Los Angeles's September 2026 Top Theatre Shows
by Team BWW - Sep 3, 2026

Los Angeles is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Selections for September 2026 include Beauty and the Beast and more.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a Ride at the Eccles Theater
by Tyler Hinton - Aug 26, 2026

The national tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, currently playing at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, is an awe-inducing ride.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Broadway San Diego
by ErinMarie Reiter - Aug 21, 2026

When 'Water for Elephants' embraces the magic of the circus—the impossible made possible through acrobatics, illusion, movement, and extraordinary puppetry—it is absolutely captivating.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Brings Romance, Puppetry and Circus Magic to Broadway San Diego
by Lucía Serrano - Aug 21, 2026

From acrobats and funny clowns (not the scary kind, don't worry) to big Broadway numbers, puppetry, and an intimate love story, Water for Elephants has a little something for everyone.

Interview: From San Diego to the National Tour: Javier Garcia on Water for Elephants
by Lucía Serrano - Aug 11, 2026

Forget the big top. The circus has found a new home at the San Diego Civic Theatre, where Water for Elephants brings acrobatics, music, puppetry and plenty of theatrical magic to the stage. Based on Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel, the hit Broadway musical brings the spectacle and spirit of a 1930s circus to San Diego from August 18 - 23.

LEGALLY BLONDE, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS and More Set for ATG San Francisco 2026/27 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 3, 2026

ATG San Francisco has revealed its lineup of special theatrical engagements coming to San Francisco throughout the 2026/27 season, including Legally Blonde, Water for Elephants and more.

Tickets to WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Portland's Keller Auditorium on Sale Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 27, 2026

Tickets for the North American tour of Water for Elephants at Portland's Keller Auditorium are now on sale. Water for Elephants is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times Bestselling novel by Sara Gruen.

Tickets for WATER FOR ELEPHANTS in Seattle to go on Sale This Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 13, 2026

Tickets for the North American tour of Water for Elephants in Seattle will go on sale this week. Water for Elephants is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times Bestselling novel by Sara Gruen.

Interview: Jesse Robb & Shana Carroll of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
by Elizabeth Armstrong - Jul 5, 2026

Canadian-born Jesse Robb and American-born Shana Carroll, who now resides in Montréal, serve as co-choreographers on the Tony Award-nominated musical Water for Elephants, presented at Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre from July 7-19.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Tour at Broadway In Chicago
by Rachel Weinberg - Jun 25, 2026

The Water for Elephants tour transports audiences to the circus — and has some dazzling aerial tricks up its sleeve. Based on the popular 2006 novel by Sara Gruen, Rick Elice’s book and PigPen Theatre Co.’s score comprise a memory musical: The elderly Mr. Jankowski (Robert Tully) looks back on his days as a member of a traveling circus back in 1931.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is Now Playing at the James M. Nederlander Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 23, 2026

Water for Elephants is now playing a limited engagement at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. Water for Elephants is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times Bestselling novel by Sara Gruen.

Interview: Paige Parkhill, Associate Choreographer of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre
by Elizabeth Armstrong - Jun 21, 2026

Paige Parkhill, who hails from Kelowna, B.C., serves as Associate Choreographer on the Tony Award-nominated musical Water For Elephants, coming to Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre next month.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at The Overture Center
by Scott Rawson - Jun 17, 2026

I truly enjoyed Water for Elephants far more than I thought I would. I came to the theater fearing the puppetry of the elephant would over shadow the actors. While it was spectacular, it did not over shadow the actors and for that I am grateful. And in an effort of full disclosure, admittedly, I also really hate the circus. No need to judge, just offering a little vulnerability here. Still, in spite of that I enjoyed the performance a great deal.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Ohio Theatre - A Spectacle in Search of a Soul
by Christina Mancuso - Jun 10, 2026

Based on Sara Gruen’s beloved 1932 novel - and its 2011 film adaptation, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a technical triumph wrapped around a dramatically uneven musical.  Directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with book by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), and score by PigPen Theatre Co., WATER FOR ELEPHANTS leans heavily into spectacle over storytelling: aerial silks, acrobatics, puppetry, and constant physical motion that dominate the stage.  However, this spectacle overwhelms the story rather than serving it, resulting unfortunately in a flop under the big top.

Interview: Costume Designer David I. Reynoso of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Ohio Theatre
by Paul Batterson - Jun 8, 2026

Set and costume designer David I. Reynoso thought his chances for making it on Broadway greatly diminished after moving 2,400 miles away from New York City.

CATCH AS CATCH CAN & More Lead Chicago's June 2026 Top Theatre Shows
by Team BWW - Jun 3, 2026

Chicago is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Selections for June 2026 include Catch as a Can and more

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS to Make Wisconsin Debut at Madison's Overture Center
by Stephi Wild - Jun 1, 2026

The North American tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, the Broadway musical based on Sara Gruen's bestselling novel, will make its Wisconsin premiere at Overture Hall in Madison.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at TPAC'S Jackson Hall
by Catherine Burford - May 14, 2026

All I knew about Water For Elephants was that it is a romantic drama set in a traveling circus during the Great Depression. I expected a circus with a rich color palette, beautiful costumes, acrobatics, and an elephant.

Tickets to WATER FOR ELEPHANTS National Tour in Chicago on Sale This Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 16, 2026

Individual tickets for the North American Tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS in Chicago are going on sale! Individual tickets range from $30.00 to $130.00, with a limited number of premium seats available.

Review: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
by Michael Rabice - Apr 15, 2026

Sometimes people really do run away and join the circus. Author Sara Gruen had great success with that idea in her award winning novel WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, and Hollywood soon after took the story to the silver screen. Now a Broadway musical has hopped on the bandwagon and the result is often a often a captivating three ring circus of intrigue.