BOOK BY FOUR-TIME TONY AWARD® NOMINEE RICK ELICE
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY PIGPEN THEATRE CO.
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY SARA GRUEN
ORIGINAL DIRECTION BY TONY AWARD NOMINEE JESSICA STONE
NETworks Presentations is thrilled to announce casting for the North American Tour of the hit Broadway musical, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, presented by Broadway San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation with performances beginning on Tuesday, August 18 through Sunday, August 23, at the Civic Theatre. The tour will be led by Zachary Keller (Jacob), Helen Krushinski (Marlena), Robert Tully (Mr. Jankowski), Connor Sullivan (August), Javier Garcia (Camel), Ruby Gibbs (Barbara), Grant Huneycutt (Wade), and Tyler West (Walter). Tickets are on sale now at BroadwaySD.com
Additional ensemble includes Fran Alvarez Jara, Yves Artieres, Chris Carsten, Adam Fullick, Nancy Gutierrez, Ella Huestis, Sam Kellar-Long, ZaKeyia Lacey, Andrew Meier, Marina Mendoza, John Neurohr, Bradley Parrish, Carl Robinett, Summer Severin, Serafina Walker, and Yemie Woo.
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times Bestselling novel by Sara Gruen. The Broadway musical has a book by four-time Tony Award® nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co. (The Tale of Despereaux), with tour direction by Ryan Emmons, recreating the original direction by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo).
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS features circus design by Tony Award nominee Shana Carroll (The 7 Fingers), choreography by Tony Award nominees Jesse Robb (Miss Saigon) and Shana Carroll, scenic design by Drama Desk Award winner Takeshi Kata (Clyde’s), costume design by San Diego designer David I. Reynoso (Sleep No More), lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Bradley King (Hadestown), sound design by Tony Award nominee Walter Trarbach (Spongebob Squarepants),projections by two-time Tony Award nominee David Bengali (Good Night, and Good Luck), hair & makeup design by Luc Verschueren/Campbell Young Associates (A Beautiful Noise),puppet design by Ray Wetmore & JR Goodman, Camille Labarre (Into the Woods), puppet direction by Joshua Holden, music supervision and arrangements by Drama Desk Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Some Like It Hot) and Benedict Braxton-Smith (Kristin Chenoweth: For the Girls), orchestrations by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters (New York, New York), Benedict Braxton-Smith and August Eriksmoen, fight direction by Cha Ramos (Jagged Little Pill), associate circus designer by Antoine Boissereau, associate choreography by Paige Parkhill, and casting by The TRC Company, Claire Burke, CSA & Frankie Ramirez, CSA.
TheWATER FOR ELEPHANTS tour stage management team is led by production stage manager Kathleen Carragee and is supported by Stage Manager Maris Keller and Circus Stage Manager Stan Barile. The company management team is led by company manager Greg Bawdon with associate company manager Taylor Parris. The tour music director/conductor is Sarah Wilhelm Pool. Mimi Intagliata serves as the Executive Producer for the production.
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 had its world premiere in Atlanta on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre, running from June 7, 2023, through July 9, 2023. The critically acclaimed production had The Atlanta Journal-Constitution raving, “WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a triumph! Truly dazzles.” WATER FOR ELEPHANTS premiered on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre, running from March 20, 2024, through December 8, 2024. The production was a New York Times Critic’s Pick, with chief NYT theater critic Jesse Green describing the show as “Huge”, “Heart-filling”, and “Emotionally vivid.”
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CAST BIOGRAPHIES
ZACHARY KELLER (Jacob Jankowski)is honored to be a part of this amazing company. His theatre credits include the regional premiere of John Proctor is the Villain (Studio Theatre), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Signature Theatre), as well as And Then There Were None (Drury Lane Theatre). TV: “Shameless”, “Law and Order”, “Chicago Med”. Represented by Gray Talent Group and Louise Keshaviah. A special thanks to his loving and supportive family. @zack_keller1.
HELEN KRUSHINSKI (Marlena). National Tour Debut! Pittsburgh native and University of Michigan alum. Regional: An American in Paris (Lise Dassin) and Camelot (Ensemble). Huge thank you to her agents at BWA and TRC. And to her family, friends, mentors, WAS & WDA, and fellow preschool teachers: Thank you for the endless support. Couldn’t do it without you! @krushballerina
ROBERT TULLY (Mr. Jankowski). Bob is thrilled to be a part of the Water for Elephants family. His previous circus themed experience includes performing the role of the the Ringmaster in Circus at Sea for Norwegian Cruise Lines as well as being the Ringmaster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in 1998. Other favorite roles include A Christmas Carol (Scrooge) for Prather Productions, Rock of Ages (Hertz) for Mountain Theater Company, Footloose (Rev. Moore) for Prather and The Full Monty (Harold) for Dutch Apple Dinner Theater. As a playwright, Bob has had several one-acts produced in Los Angeles and New York and his collection of auto-biographical short stories, Price Hill Boy was published in early 2025.
CONNOR SULLIVAN (August). Honored to be part of this First National Tour! Favorite credits include the National Tour of Chicago (Billy Flynn), performing at Walt Disney World and for Disney Cruise Line, and all the shows he and his siblings wrote and performed in the basement growing up. HUGE thanks to this creative team, TRC, and About Artists Agency! Instagram: @connorpsully.
JAVIER GARCIA (Camel) is a Mexican-American actor who is thrilled to be making his National Tour Debut with Water for Elephants. Recent/Favorite credits include Frozen (Oaken, 5 Star Theatricals), Kinky Boots (Don, 3D Theatricals/Saugatuck Center for the Arts, In the Heights (Piragua Guy, Gateway Play House/White Plains Performing Arts Center), debuting two Disney’s Coco inspired shows at Disneyland Park and performing alongside Kristin Chenoweth at the Hollywood Bowl. He is very grateful to his wife, daughter, family and friends for their love and support. But most importantly he is thankful to God for this opportunity. Follow him @yosoyjaviergarcia.
RUBY GIBBS (Barbara). Ruby is thrilled to have actually run away with the circus! Previous credits: Jane Seymour (SIX), Sylvia (Finding Neverland), Lizzie (Borden), Ragtime, Grease, Sister Act, Parade, Little Women. Endless love, adoration, and gratitude to her mom, sisters, partner, and best friends! Take3Talent. @_ruby_gibbs
GRANT HUNEYCUTT (Wade). National tour debut! Grant has a BM in MT from Oklahoma City University. His most recent credit was Willard in MGM Beau Rivage’s Footloose the Musical. He wants to say thank you to everyone who got him where he is today!
TYLER WEST (Walter). In Tucson, Arizona at 14 years old Tyler saw Cirque Du Soleil and knew immediately he wanted to run away with the circus. He received a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Arizona. In 2019 he moved to NYC to become a full-time clown, performing in variety venues as The Slipper Room and House of Yes. Since then he has traveled the world performing in shows like Giffords Circus, Circus Flic Flac, and starring in the Atomic Saloon Show in Las Vegas.
FRAN ALVAREZ JARA (Kinker & Roust). After a restless adolescence looking for an activity that allowed him to focus his energy, Fran was introduced to circus at the age of 16. He then went on to start his circus career at 18 at the preparatory school of Madrid, Carampa, and later at the Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque de Bruxelles. With a focus on improving his technique, and becoming a human trampoline, he continued his training in France, as well as taking part in the creative development of several shows for high-level acrobatic collectives across Europe. Specialising in hand to hand and group acrobatics, Fran enjoys being on stage and putting the high acrobatic level at the service of the scene and his colleagues. In his free time, Fran enjoys coffee, Olympic Weightlifting and reading epic fantasy books.
YVES ARTIERES (Kinker & Roust), from French Guiana, Yves discovered circus through contortion before starting an aerial journey with silks and hoop. Following that path, he graduated the National Circus School of Montreal (ENC) as a specialist in Aerial Hoop and Head Hanging, both disciplines that he performed in the show L’Antre d’Eux directed by Nicolas Boivin-Gravel.
CHRIS CARSTEN (Swing). Recent roles: Addams Family, Fester, National Tour; Rocky the Musical, Mickey, Regional; Little Women, Mr. Laurence, National Tour; A Christmas Story, Jean Shepherd, Ahmanson Theater (Center Theatre Group LA). Thanks to his children for love and inspiration!
ADAM FULLICK (Kinker & Roust). Is a British international acrobatic champion, graduated from the National Centre for Circus Arts in 2018. He has since toured globally with award-winning circus shows, worked in film/TV (Disney, Marvel), and performed at major festivals, luxury events, and cabarets. Adam believes ‘life is to be lived fully—through movement, art, and connection’.
NANCY GUTIERREZ (Kinker & Roust) is a Circus artist born in Guadalajara Mexico, who performs acrobatics, movement, dance internationally. Graduated from the Quebec professional circus school in Canada in 2019 (L’École de cirque de Québec). Her work has been seen in more than 10 countries more of 300 different shows working for the companies, Circa, Cirque du soleil, The 7 Fingers and more.
ELLA HUESTIS (Kinker & Roust). Ella is overjoyed to be making their National Tour debut in Water for Elephants — alongside her best friend Summer! Elon Music Theatre Class of 2025. Huge thanks to TRC Company, Water for Elephants team, the incomparable educators that have made this journey possible, and my incredible family and chosen family! @ellagracehuestis
ZAKEYIA LACEY (Kinker & Roust) is pleased to make her National Tour Debut with Water for Elephants. Regional: High Society (Ensemble, Ogunquit Playhouse) Dreamgirls (Swing, The Muny), Sister Act (Ensemble, The Muny). She would like to thank her friends/family, her amazing agents, and, as always, God.
SAM KELLAR-LONG (Swing). Sam’s mom sent him to Circus Juventas at 4 years old after one cartwheel too many. After 17 years of training, he is now a graduate of Montreal’s National Circus School. Favorite past productions include Hamlet with New York Circus Project and Jenny with Madison Circus Space. IG @samdoescircus.
ANDREW MEIER (Swing) is a born and raised Florida native who is making his National Tour debut. He recently graduated from TCU with a BFA in Musical Theatre and could not be more excited to choose the ride with this incredible company of W4E. His recent credits include White Plains Performing Arts Center’s Hairspray (Brad/Dance Captain), Casa Mañana’s: Grease (Sonny/Dance Captain), Newsies (Oscar/Ensemble), and BatBoy (Ensemble). Other credits include: Cruel Intentions (Greg) and Once Upon a Mattress (Prince Dauntless) at StageWest/Uptown Players, All Shook Up (Chad) and Eurydice (Orpheus) at TCU, and Catch Me If You Can (Frank Jr.) at his hometown theatre Cocoa Village Playhouse. He thanks God and his loving family and friends for supporting him through this incredible opportunity. @andrew.meier
MARINA MENDOZA (Swing) had her Broadway debut with Water for Elephants and is thrilled to continue with the National Tour! She has performed all over the world with Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize, and Les 7 Doigts. Love to family, friends, and T. Fun fact: Marina is also a nurse! @thepaintedturtlecamp @seriousfuncamps @marinaflies
JOHN NEUROHR (Kinker & Roust). National Tour Debut! Regional: North Shore, Goodspeed, Engeman. Pittsburgh native and Boston Conservatory alum. Endless love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, family, friends, and of course, Meghan & Danny at Hudson Artists Agency. This dream would not be possible without all of you. @jnewroar
BRADLEY PARRISH (Kinker & Roust). National Tour debut! Regional: Young Frankenstein (Dr. Frankenstein), Gentlemen’s Guide… (Monty Navarro), & more. Proud Belmont alum & Portland native. All the love to family and friends in OR, TN, & NY. Glory to God for the plot twists, pratfalls, and provision.
CARL ROBINETT (Kinker & Roust). National Tour debut! Recent credits: Young Frankenstein (DC, u/s Frederick) & Newsies (Davey, u/s Jack Kelly) at Forestburgh Playhouse. Pace Musical Theatre alumni. 2022 Rising Star Jimmy Award Recipient. Representation: Resolute Artists Agency. @carlrobinett
SUMMER SEVERIN (Swing). Summer is so thrilled to be making her professional and National Tour debut in Water for Elephants alongside her best friend/sister Ella. Elon Music Theatre class of 2025. Thank you W4E Team, TRC Company, Elon, Family, and Chosen Family. @summerseverin
SERAFINA WALKER (Kinker & Roust). is from Brattleboro, VT and she has an extensive background in circus, dance and gymnastics. She toured for 6 summers with Circus Smirkus before attending École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal where she trained as an aerialist and acrobat. Last year she performed in La Géante as part of the MCC festival and this year she completed her studies with the show L’Antre D’Eux. Serafina is now living her dream of traveling and performing.
YEMIE WOO (Kinker & Roust). National tour debut! Recent graduate of Pace University. Yemie thanks her friends and teachers for their support and her family – 엄마, 아빠, Yerin, and Yena – for their love and belief in her! @yemiewoo
“STUNNING AND EMOTIONAL.” – The New York Times, Critic’s Pick
“SPELLBINDING ENTERTAINMENT.” – Variety
“★★★★ DAZZLING AND THRILLING.” – Time Out New York
“THE BEST NEW MUSICAL ON BROADWAY!” – Theatermania
Visit WEBSITE: https://www.broadwaysd.com/upcoming-events/water-for-elephants/