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Water for Elephants Tour Dates 2026 and 2027: Every City

Joe Styler

By Joe Styler · Updated November 8, 2026 · Sources checked November 8, 2026

Water for Elephants, the circus musical built from Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel, is in the second year of its North American tour. It played ASU Gammage in Tempe last week and finishes its West Coast run in Costa Mesa and San Francisco this month. After a holiday break it picks up in Connecticut in January, then heads to St. Louis, Atlanta, Florida, Detroit and Texas before wrapping up the announced route in Appleton, Wisconsin, in early May 2027. Here is every announced stop, plus what to know about the show before you buy.

Water for Elephants tour schedule

These dates come from the tour route posted by NETworks Presentations, which produces the tour. Dallas is also confirmed by Broadway Dallas’s 2026 to 2027 season announcement. Rows marked Played have already happened. Curtain times are set by each venue, so check the venue’s page for the performance you want.

City Venue Dates Status
Tempe, AZ ASU Gammage October 27 to November 1, 2026 Played
Fresno, CA Saroyan Theatre November 3 to 4, 2026 Played
Eugene, OR Hult Center November 6 to 8, 2026 Final weekend
Costa Mesa, CA Segerstrom Center for the Arts November 10 to 22, 2026 Confirmed
San Francisco, CA Orpheum Theatre November 24 to 29, 2026 Confirmed
Waterbury, CT Palace Theater January 8 to 9, 2027 Confirmed
Utica, NY Stanley Theatre January 13 to 14, 2027 Confirmed
New Brunswick, NJ State Theatre New Jersey January 15 to 17, 2027 Confirmed
St. Louis, MO Fabulous Fox Theatre January 19 to 31, 2027 Confirmed
Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre February 2 to 7, 2027 Confirmed
Melbourne, FL King Center February 9 to 10, 2027 Confirmed
Sarasota, FL Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall February 12 to 14, 2027 Confirmed
Fort Myers, FL Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall February 16 to 21, 2027 Confirmed
Wilmington, NC Wilson Center February 23 to 24, 2027 Confirmed
Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre February 26 to 28, 2027 Confirmed
Detroit, MI Fisher Theatre March 2 to 7, 2027 Confirmed
Lincoln, NE Lied Center for Performing Arts March 11 to 14, 2027 Confirmed
Kansas City, MO Kauffman Center March 30 to April 4, 2027 Confirmed
Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall April 6 to 11, 2027 Confirmed
Dallas, TX Music Hall at Fair Park April 13 to 25, 2027 Confirmed
Appleton, WI Fox Cities Performing Arts Center April 27 to May 2, 2027 Confirmed

Earlier in 2026 the tour played Houston in January, Playhouse Square in Cleveland in March, and the Bushnell in Hartford and the Overture Center in Madison in June. Several of the stops above are short. Waterbury, Utica, Melbourne and Wilmington each have only two or three performances, so those tend to sell out sooner than a two week run like St. Louis or Dallas.

What the show is about

The musical follows Jacob Jankowski, a young veterinary student whose life falls apart during the Great Depression. With nowhere to go, he jumps onto a passing train and finds himself working for the Benzini Brothers circus. He falls for Marlena, the star of the horse act, who is married to August, the circus’s volatile ringmaster. When the show acquires an elephant named Rosie, Jacob’s skill with animals makes him valuable and puts him in danger. The story is told as a memory by an older Jacob, now in his nineties, looking back on the summer that changed his life.

What sets this production apart is how it tells the story. The show was conceived with real circus artists in the cast, so acrobatics, aerial work and tumbling are woven into the scenes rather than staged as separate acts. Puppetry brings the animals to life, including Rosie herself, who is built from pieces of the circus world. If you have seen a traditional book musical and want something with more physical spectacle, this is a strong pick.

Who made it

Water for Elephants opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in March 2024 and earned seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. The book is by Rick Elice, who also wrote the books for Jersey Boys and Peter and the Starcatcher. Music and lyrics are by PigPen Theatre Co., a group known for folk influenced storytelling. Jessica Stone directed, and the circus design is by Shana Carroll, a cofounder of the Montreal circus company The 7 Fingers. The tour follows the same staging, adapted to move from city to city.

Is it right for kids?

This is not a children’s circus show, even though the poster might suggest one. The story includes drinking, a violent character, a love triangle and a plot that turns on the mistreatment of animals, though nothing is shown in a graphic way. Most venues suggest it for older kids and teens. If you are deciding for a younger child, read the venue’s age guidance and consider whether your child is comfortable with a story that has real danger in it. For a list of shows that suit younger audiences, see our guide to Broadway shows for kids.

How to buy tickets

Every stop is sold through the venue or its local Broadway presenter. Start there, because that is where face value seats are sold and where any discounts or added performances are announced first.

  • Two week runs give you choices. St. Louis, Costa Mesa and Dallas have the most performances, so you have more dates and more price levels to compare.
  • Short stops sell fast. In cities with only two or three shows, buy as soon as you know your date. There is little room for prices to come down.
  • Compare the total price. Fees vary a lot by venue and seller. Our explainer on theater ticket fees covers the all-in pricing rule and what to look for before you pay.
  • Use resale carefully. If you buy on a resale site, check that the section and row are shown, compare the total to face value, and avoid listings that will not say which seats you are getting. Our guide on whether your tickets are safe covers the warning signs.

Choosing seats for a circus musical

Because so much of this show happens in the air, seat choice matters more than usual. Very close orchestra seats put you near the performers, but you will be looking up for the aerial work and may miss how the whole stage picture comes together. Many people find the sweet spot is the middle to rear orchestra or the front of the first balcony, where you can see the full height of the stage. In large venues like the Fox Theatre in Atlanta or the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis, both with seating well above 4,000, the upper balcony is far from the stage, so spend a little more to stay lower if you can.

Planning your visit

Plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before curtain. Many of the theaters on this route are large historic houses with busy lobbies, security screening and limited parking. In St. Louis and Atlanta, parking lots near the theater fill quickly on weekends, and both venues encourage you to arrange parking ahead of time. Bring only a small bag, because most venues screen bags and some restrict larger ones.

Tour versus Broadway

The Broadway production closed in December 2024, so the tour is now the only way to see Water for Elephants in the United States. A touring company keeps the direction, choreography and design of the original, scaled to fit a different stage every week. For more on how touring shows compare to their Broadway versions, read our guide to touring shows versus Broadway.

Dates can still change

The tour route can shift, and more cities may be added beyond Appleton. We update this page when the producer posts changes. Before you travel, confirm your date and time on the venue’s site.

Related guides

City season guides

Venue guides

More tour dates

Water for Elephants Tour: Common Questions

When does the Water for Elephants tour end?

The last announced stop is Appleton, Wisconsin, from April 27 to May 2, 2027. More cities may be added.

Is Water for Elephants still on Broadway?

No. The Broadway production closed in December 2024, so the tour is the way to see it now.

Is Water for Elephants coming to Dallas?

Yes. It plays the Music Hall at Fair Park from April 13 to 25, 2027, as part of the Broadway Dallas season.

Is Water for Elephants appropriate for kids?

It is best for older kids and teens. The story includes drinking, violence and the mistreatment of animals, though nothing is graphic.

Who wrote the Water for Elephants musical?

The book is by Rick Elice, with music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. Jessica Stone directed and Shana Carroll designed the circus elements.

Where are the best seats for Water for Elephants?

The middle to rear orchestra or front of the first balcony shows the full height of the aerial work.

Sources and corrections

Dates and details were checked on November 8, 2026 against these sources:

Dates change. Always confirm your performance on the official page before you buy. Spot an error? Email info@theatertickets.com and we will check it and update this page.

Joe Styler

Joe Styler runs TheaterTickets.com. He worked as a ticket broker and has built and run websites for more than 20 years. That background shapes the site's practical advice on finding touring shows, choosing seats and buying tickets safely through official sellers.