ARTS & CULTURE

By Kaydith Maddox | Photos courtesy of Walton Arts Center

Water for Elephants Comes to Thrilling, Dazzling Life

Step right up, and join in for what Variety is calling “spellbinding entertainment.” Based on the critically acclaimed bestselling novel, Water for Elephants hits the stage in a unique, spectacle-filled musical. This larger-than-life production is headed to Walton Arts Center with eight performances Feb. 24 through March 1.

Seen through the eyes of his older self, the show follows young Jacob as he jumps on a moving train, unsure of where the road will take him after losing what matters most. During his journey, Jacob finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and life — and love — beyond his wildest dreams. His adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.

“They say in a musical, you are speaking until the emotion is so high you have to sing, and then you are singing until the emotion is so high you have to dance,” said Shana Carroll, co-choreographer for the show, “and in Water for Elephants, the emotion becomes so high that performers have to flip through the air, so you get the best of a Broadway musical and the best of what you might love about a show like Cirque du Soleil.”

From thrilling acrobatics to astonishing puppetry work, the stage performance brings a 1930s circus to life. The show also includes elements of illusions or, as Jacob calls them, deceptions. Additionally, the ancient storytelling form of puppetry animates the entire performance. Visitors won’t be able to look away during the gravity-defying aerial choreography that brings bold excitement to the show.

This is Water for Elephants’ first national tour, and it is making its Arkansas premiere at Walton Arts Center. NETworks Presentations announced the cast for the North American tour of the hit Broadway musical last summer, and it includes a cast member with local ties. Grant Huneycutt from Greenwood is a 2025 graduate of Oklahoma City University with a degree in musical theater. Huneycutt will portray Wade on his first national tour.

2. Helen Krushinski and Zachary Keller, Photo by Matt Murphy for MurphyMade.jpg

“The score by the collective PigPen Theatre Co. ranges across styles capably, from the country-flavored ‘The Road Don’t Make You Young,’ to a jubilant boogie-woogie tune, ‘The Lion Has Got No Teeth,’ describing how illusion is at the heart of any circus’s appeal, and a more traditional, moody love-cementing duet for Jacob and Marlena,” said Charles Isherwood of The Wall Street Journal. “The songs are flavorful and well-wrought, and perhaps the show’s most accomplished achievement.”

Don’t miss the chance to see Water for Elephants come to “thrilling, dazzling” life, according to Times Out New York. But wait! The enchantment doesn’t end there. Shake up a night at the theater with a hands-on cocktail class before the performance. Stir up creativity and toast to a night of delightful discovery. Purchase a cocktail class for $45 and Walton Arts Center experts will teach you how to make two specialty drinks while you enjoy light appetizers and learn about each delicious cocktail and its ingredients. No illusions here, just an evening of magical creations at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 or at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 and 28.

Many wonders await! Tickets for these performances and cocktail classes are available for purchase by visiting www.waltonartscenter.org, by calling (479) 443-5600 weekdays 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. or in person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.