By SHARON EBERSON
National Tour Director Ryan Emmons wants you to know that Water For Elephants: The Musical is purposefully, unapologetically theatrical.
The live show takes its inspiration from the 2006 novel by Sara Gruen, in which an elderly man reflects on finding love, passion and a new home when, as a young man who has lost everything in 1931, he hops a train with the crew of a traveling circus. Seen through the eyes of his older self, Jacob’s adventure becomes “a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.”
The novel, more than the 2011 movie starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, is the source for the musical, which earned seven Tony nominations, including for Best Musical.
The stage version comes alive with circus performers and life-sized puppets, including the elephant Rosie, a horse named Silver Star, and a dog named Queenie.
“The novel has deeply nuanced descriptions of what life was like during the Great Depression, but using the puppets is what makes it a thrilling piece of theater,” Emmons said. “All of the elements synthesizing — the acrobats, the puppets, music and dance — they say: THIS IS THEATER! It’s people, not automation or projections, and ultimately, that is what is so effective. You see undeniable skill. A human throws another human into the air, leaps and grabs a pole, halfway down, and you are there, in the room with them. That’s what makes it so compelling.”
As it was explained in The New York Times, “Many wonders await audiences in this gorgeously imaginative Broadway musical.”
Emmons was associate director to Jessica Stone for the Broadway show, written by Rick Elice, with songs by the seven-man PigPen Theatre Co., all Carnegie Mellon alums. The animal puppets are designed by Ray Wetmore, JR Goodmore and Camille LaBarre.
Ensemble roles in Water for Elephants are labeled “Kinker & Roust,” combining circus performers (“kinkers” may be acrobats and aerialists) and circus laborers (“roustabouts” or “rousts”). Among them are Pittsburgh native John Neurohr, in his National Tour debut.
Marlena, the star equestrian performer and romantic lead in Water for Elephants, is played by Helen Krushinski, who grew up in Wexford and also is making her tour debut.
Emmons said the show asks a lot of everyone involved.
“In some ways, everyone has a slew of new skills to learn,” he said. “It is important to us that they are one company of actors, and not just, those are the acrobats, those people are the ensemble. … It’s acrobats learning puppetry, everyone is dancing, and it’s just thrilling to see everyone picking up new skills.”
The acrobatics that are key moments in the show provide thrills and skills, while also necessitating that Emmons increase his vocabulary.
“I’ve worked on lots of shows, and thought about the core tenets of storytelling, but I’ve never worked with circus elements — even learning new terminology.
For example, his lingo now includes the word for a human launch. Banquine is when base performers propel one or more flyers into the air to perform acrobatic, synchronized leaps. Shrimp may be a prawn to you and me, but to an acrobat, a shrimp flip is defined as a ground-based move involving a somersaulting, crawling, or rolling motion.
Despite the degree of difficulty, no injuries have occurred on tour, Emmons said, although safety and anything unexpected “does require flexibility” for adjustments that only a practiced observer would notice.
Another feat at every tour stop is the loading in and out of giant elephant puppets, like a puzzle to figure out. However these are not your typical puppets. If you are able to look closely, you may notice that they are made of materials that include what you might find in a circus, such as curtain trim or bedazzled fabric.
The fragments relate to older Jacob Jankowski (Robert Tully), as he is puzzling out his past. At times, “You meet [the animals] in pieces,” Emmons said. “The head of a horse, nuzzling, or the trunk of the elephant, or a wagging tail.”
However, “a sequence with a horse unlocks what puppetry can do.”
Emmons, whose tours include Matilda and Miss Saigon, understands that there are so many movie adaptations these days, audience members may have certain expectations.
“I was an intern on Ghost, the Musical, standing in the back, near a restroom, and I heard someone say, ‘I mean, why is she blond?’ Because that’s not Demi Moore! … A theatrical telling of a story is different from a novel, different from a movie. If you are a diehard fan, I hope you would come, with an open mind and heart.”
If you do, you may share that feeling that Emmons still gets, of being in the room where it’s happening.
“That is what keeps it extremely alive and vibrant and present,” he said. “I’ve been with this show since 2020, and I still don’t stop holding my breath wherever there’s a leap into the air.”
TICKETS AND DETAILS
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh presents the tour of Water for Elephants: The Musical at the Benedum Center, Downtown, March 31 – April 5, 2026. Tickets: https://trustarts.org/production/100748/water-for-elephants .
Categories: Feature Stories, Our Posts, Show Previews
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