Musical adaptation of Sara Gruen's novel about a veterinary student who joins a traveling circus during the Great Depression, directed by Jessica Stone.
Water For Elephants opens at The Fabulous Fox Theatre on January 19, 2027, and runs through January 31. It's a musical adaptation of Sara Gruen's bestselling novel, and it's coming to St. Louis as a touring Broadway production.
The story follows Jacob Jankowski, a veterinary student who, after losing what matters most, jumps a moving train and finds a new home with the crew of a traveling circus during the Great Depression. From there, it blends theatrical storytelling with circus-performance elements, so you'll see the circus acts working their way into the scenes rather than just as a backdrop. It's a production that leans into that spectacle, and it's built around the original novel's plot.
There's a fair amount of Broadway pedigree behind it. The show was directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone, who also worked on Kimberly Akimbo. The book is by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice, known for Jersey Boys and Peter and the Starcatcher, and the score comes from the PigPen Theatre Co. Together they've taken Gruen's story and turned it into a full-scale musical.
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As for the venue, The Fabulous Fox Theatre is in Grand Centre at 527 N Grand Blvd, and it's been completely restored to its original Siamese-Byzantine decor. It's one of the city's main spots for touring Broadway shows, and it also hosts music, dance and comedy concerts, movie premieres and special events. The run starts Tuesday, January 19, and goes through Sunday, January 31.
