Water for Elephants (Broadway)
Open run 2h 20m
Water for Elephants (Broadway)
89

Water for Elephants (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets

89%
(766 Ratings)
Positive
91%
Mixed
6%
Negative
3%
Members say
Entertaining, Enchanting, Absorbing, Delightful, Great staging

About the Show

The bestselling novel becomes a Broadway musical, exploring life's new starts in a spectacular way.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (476)

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73 Reviews | 12 Followers
100
Intelligent, Romantic, Great staging, Entertaining, Clever

See it if you like the circus, good story, beautiful puppetry

Don't see it if if you don't like the circus or love stories but really no reason not to see it

772 Reviews | 148 Followers
100
Entertaining, Refreshing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if Refreshing for its a traveling circus with acrobatics and a love story.

Don't see it if The parts poor Rosie gets hit. Read more

236 Reviews | 47 Followers
100
So acrobatic!, Great staging, Entertaining, Delightful, Clever

See it if it's well written! it's well staged! great singing and acting! fun puppetry!

Don't see it if you can't sit for 2.5 hours in the Imperial theater (hello knee cramps) show ran longer than expected so don't schedule back to back

70 Reviews | 7 Followers
96
Entertaining, Dizzying, Great singing, Must see, Great staging

See it if Big musicals

Don't see it if you don't like emotional stories

50 Reviews | 8 Followers
95
Great puppetry, Clever, Superb acting and singing, Amazing choreography, Energetic and absorbing

See it if you enjoy an energetic Broadway musical with great singing, acting and acrobatics

Don't see it if you hate musicals and/or elephants

186 Reviews | 25 Followers
95
Great acrobatics, Great staging, Entertaining

See it if you enjoy an energetic production that is reminiscent of traditional Broadway musicals

Don't see it if you want something edgy Read more

166 Reviews | 177 Followers
93
Physically demanding acrobatics, Ambitious, Enchanting

See it if touching story with terrific, artfully used acrobatics and choreography. Amazing, skilled acrobats were always spot on perfect. Great cast!

Don't see it if very minimal set design was underwhelming until I realized it awakened the imagination needed to fully appreciate the puppetry and story. Read more

159 Reviews | 17 Followers
92
Enchanting, Entertaining, Great writing, Great staging, Great singing

See it if You’re a fan of new musicals, with puppetry and some circus skills thrown in. You might also be familiar with the novel, which I wasn’t.

Don't see it if You don’t like musicals, puppeteers and/or circus performances. Otherwise there’s a lot to enjoy.

Critic Reviews (17)

The New York Times
March 21st, 2024

CRITIC'S PICK: "...it features an eventful story and compelling characters"
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Time Out New York
March 21st, 2024

"The main attraction is the pull of the circus itself."
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New York Theatre Guide
March 21st, 2024

"new musical beautifully juggles circus and theatre"
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New York Magazine / Vulture
March 21st, 2024

"...much of 'Water for Elephants' will delight on the basis of spectacle alone"
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The Wall Street Journal
March 21st, 2024

"this musical adaptation of the hit novel loses much of its source’s pungency and grit."
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Deadline
March 21st, 2024

"Water For Elephants is a pleasant, visually beguiling show"
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Variety
March 22nd, 2024

"...a unique and imaginative creation of the stage and live performance."
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The Observer
March 21st, 2024

"Everything is so exaggerated and phony that it’s hard to believe"
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