Water for Elephants (High School Edition)Water for Elephants, based on the bestselling novel by Sara Gruen, is a dazzling, heart-filled musical about Jacob, a young man desperate to escape his past, who jumps aboard a moving train uncertain of the road ahead. Finding himself on the ride of a lifetime, Jacob joins the colorful company of a traveling circus and is hired by the imperious ringmaster, August, as caretaker to the animals. Jacob soon develops an unspoken attraction to the star performer and August’s wife, Marlena. A last-ditch effort to save their struggling show brings an elephant into the troupe, drawing Marlena and Jacob dangerously close, forever changing the circus’s fate. Nominated for 7 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, Water for Elephants features a book by four-time Tony Award® nominee Rick Elice (Peter and The Starcatcher, Jersey Boys) and a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co. (The Old Man and The Old Moon). Hailed by The New York Times as a “miracle,” Water for Elephants will fill your heart and make you feel alive. Licensing available to schools and education programs. Materials will be shipped in time for productions scheduled to begin performances in Fall 2025. |
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Roles
2W, 5M, 1 Any +Ensemble
Musicians
12
Acts
2
Duration
2 hrs 30 mins |
Creators
PigPen Theatre Co.
Music & Lyrics By PigPen Theatre Co. began creating their unique brand of theatre, music, and film as freshmen at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in 2007. They have since produced their original plays in New York City and toured the country –...
Rick Elice
Book By Jersey Boys, Rick’s first Broadway credit, co-authored with Marshall Brickman, won the Tony Award®, the Grammy Award and the Olivier Award for Best Musical, and is in the record books as the twelfth longest-running show...
Videos
Reviews
"Dazzling and thrilling."
Time Out New York
"★★★★ Stunning and emotional."
The New York Times
"A gorgeously imaginative Broadway musical."
The New York Times, Critic's Pick
Orchestration
12 Musicians
PIANO/CONDUCTOR (w/ Optional Harmonica) - KeyboardTEK Programming Available Summer 2025
KEYBOARD 2 - KeyboardTEK Programming Available Summer 2025
REED 1 (Clarinet, Piccolo, Flute, Alto Sax)
REED 2 (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax)
TRUMPET (Trumpet, Flugelhorn)
TROMBONE (Trombone, Bass Trombone)
VIOLIN
CELLO
BASS (Acoustic, Electric)
DRUMS
GUITAR 1 (Steel String Acoustic, Nylon String Acoustic, Banjo (5 string), Tenor Banjo, Archtop)
GUITAR 2 (Resonator [opt.], Nylon String Acoustic, Steel String Acoustic, Mandolin)
Casting
Mr. Jankowski - 60s-70s
An elderly man who used to work as a vet at Benzini Brothers' Most Spectacular Show on Earth. While he is now in assisted living, he is full of life and the memories from his youth. He takes joy in recounting his story to anyone who will listen.
Jacob - 20s-30s
The younger version of Mr. Jankowski. A young man coming into his own. Jacob had been training as a veterinarian before a personal tragedy propelled him to run away from life as he knew it. After hopping a train, he finds himself amongst the performers of Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth and joins the show as the animal caretaker.
August - 30s-40s
Owner and ringmaster of Benzini Brothers' Most Spectacular Show on Earth. He is compelling and utterly charming, but there is a certain darkness beneath the surface that keeps everyone around him on edge, and a quiet cruelty running through him that shows up in the way he treats the animals of the circus and his wife, Marlena.
Marlena - 20s-30s
The Star Performer at Benzini Brothers' Most Spectacular Show on Earth and wife of August. Marlena is a talented equestrian who has a profound, almost spiritual connection with her horses. She joined the circus after running away from home at a young age, and after ten years of marriage, she has developed a tough skin and learned how to look out for herself.
Barbara - 30s-40s
A former headliner, now a dancer with Benzini. A long-time member of the circus, Barbara is brassy but kind.
Camel - 40s-60s
The been-there, done-that head roustabout at Benzini Brothers' Most Spectacular Show on Earth who likes to use big words and is the first to show Jacob the ropes at Benzini, quickly becoming a father-figure to him.
Wade - 20s-30s
A former army sergeant, now a roustabout at Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth, and August’s “fixer." Wade has a large and imposing stature. He keeps his friends close and has a healthy distrust of strangers.
Walter or Wallis
All Genders - Mid 20s-40s
A clown and audience favorite at Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Walter/Wallis is slow to warm but, once won over, is a loyal friend.
Ensemble
All Genders - All ages
Characters from the ensemble include VERA, SUE, CARETAKER, ORDERLY, ROUSTABOUTS including TALL ROUST, TICKET ROUST, ROUSTS 1-4 (sing in quartet), FAST BARKER, SLOW BARKER, CHANTEUSE and ANIMALS: QUEENIE (Labrador Retriever), REX (Lion), ROSIE (Elephant), SILVER STAR (Horse), AGNES (Orangutan), among other animals.
Production Materials
The required production package will include the materials listed below. These materials will be shipped upon receipt of payment if your license request is approved.
18 Cast Script/Vocal Books
A combination of the show’s full script and the full vocal book. All dialogue within each song is printed in the score to prevent flipping back and forth during rehearsals. All books are spiral-bound and double-sided.
2 Director’s Scripts
A single-sided, spiral-bound script designed with plenty of space for the director to take notes and add blocking during the rehearsal process.
1 Stage Manager’s Script
A single-sided, three-hole punched script that can be inserted into your three-ring binder.
1 Piano/Conductor Score
A keyboard score that is a key part of the show’s actual orchestration. This score contains both vocal parts and a cue staff, which guides the conductor through the full orchestration by informing them when instruments enter the song, as well as providing specific part lines when necessary.
1 Piano/Vocal Score
This piano score includes all vocal parts. It can be used during the rehearsal process and during performance.
Orchestration Set
Bass, Cello, Drums, Guitar 1, Guitar 2, Keyboard 2, Reed 1, Reed 2, Trombone, Trumpet, Violin
ShowReady and StageTracks (through our partners at Right On Cue Services) and keyboard programming (through our partners at KeyboardTEK) will be available as a supplemental resource in Summer 2025. For any questions regarding these materials, please contact your Licensing representative.
Promotional Resources
Official Logo Pack
Included with license
Includes color and black and white high-resolution logo files in JPG, PNG, and EPS formats.
Official Show Artwork
$175
Creating artwork for your performance has never been easier – customize online in minutes, download a print-ready PDF, order printed posters, access layered files.
Social Media Marketing Kit
$250
Includes everything you need to plan and implement the promotion of your show – 50+ graphics for social media, original show specific content, social media guide, promotion calendar and press release template.
Production Resources
Additional Printed Books
Additional books (Cast Script/Vocal, Piano/Conductor, etc.) are available.
$25 each
Full Conductor Score
An ideal solution for those who choose to conduct their show from the podium, as opposed to the piano. Each detailed instrument staff is always right in front of you--giving you the most comprehensive layout for full control of your orchestra.
$125/Print, $100/Digital, $175/both
Digital Orchestration PDFs
Prefer playing or rehearsing from your tablet? All of our orchestration scores (including PC and PV) are available in digital copies.
Digital PC or PV $50
Full Digital Orchestration Set $150
Sound Effects Package
Our easily downloadable SFX package includes all the necessary noises to enhance your production. No additional software is required so you can simply run these from a computer, phone or tablet.
$100
Broadway Plus
A workshop experience in which a Broadway artist speaks and works with students in an educational setting through our partnership with Broadway Plus.
Prices Vary by Product
TurnKey Transpositions
Our catalogue is full of iconic music, and we can customize many of our titles to your performers' unique voices with our TurnKey Transpositions. Get the perfect key for the perfect actor! Our team will transpose any songs at your request during any point in your license period. All files will be delivered digitally and priced for your specific needs.
$50 per song for PV or PC
$150 per song for all orchestral parts (including PC/PV)
Credits
Based on the novel by Sara Gruen
Broadway Licensing’s author-approved High School Editions are carefully curated to be made suitable for teenage actors and family audiences. These versions soften offensive language and sexual content while maintaining the integrity of the show and preserving the authors’ intent. We are proud to work with our authors and create opportunities for student actors to engage with relevant material in an age-appropriate manner.
