When Life Feels Like a Moving Train, Water for Elephants Shows How One Leap Can Lead to Aerial Acrobatics, Heartfelt Music, and a Circus Family That Reminds Us Anything Is Possible.

November 11th, 2025

Zachary Keller as Jacob Jankowski, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade

There’s a kind of magic that happens when a show manages to transport you completely to a world where the impossible feels tangible and where every movement, note, and glance tells a story. Water for Elephants, running at the Broward Center through November 23rd, does exactly that. From the moment the curtain rises, it’s impossible to look away.

Zachary Keller and the Cast of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade

The production is grandiose in the best way, utilizing a large, dynamic ensemble reminiscent of a Cirque du Soleil stage. There’s seemingly always a cast member in the background, performing jaw-dropping feats of strength, balance, and contortion, and at times ascending on aerial silks, turning the stage into a living, breathing circus. Even the animals or at least the puppets representing them become dancers in this mesmerizing whirlwind. The elephant design, in particular, is a surreal triumph with detailed and expressive features and eyes that seem to blink just for you.

Helen Krushinski, Robert Tully, Zachary Keller, and Yves Artieres, Photo by Matt Murphy for MurphyMade

Choreography by Tony Award nominees Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll is playful, daring, and intimate. Jump ropes, juggling, and acrobatics punctuate the story yet never overwhelm it. Each moment feels purposeful and celebrates the circus’s scrappy and resilient spirit. “Squeaky Wheel” in Act II exemplifies this, an upbeat, rough-edged, yet heartfelt rallying cry performed by an ensemble including Javier Garcia (Camel), Ruby Gibbs (Barbara), Tyler West (Walter) and Zachary Keller (Jacob). Garcia’s national tour debut as Camel radiates seasoned energy and grounds the ensemble in authenticity.

Zachary Keller, Connor Sullivan, Helen Krushinski, and the cast of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, Photo by Matt Murphy for MurphyMade

But this is not just a showcase of spectacle. At the heart of the production are Jacob, played by Zachary Keller, and Marlena, played by Helen Krushinski, whose chemistry is picture perfect. Krushinski, in particular, shines, and her Act I rendition of “Easy” was a show-stopping moment that hints she is a star in the making. Their romance, set against the backdrop of a Depression era circus, is both tender and exhilarating.

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

Costume designer David I. Reynoso deserves his own standing ovation. He blends the drab grit of the Great Depression with the flamboyant excess of circus life, creating a visual feast that complements Bradley King’s evocative mood lighting. Every costume from sequins to suspenders adds texture and depth to this fully realized world.

The Cast of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, Photo by Matt Murphy for MurphyMade

The narrative, adapted from Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice, is as poignant as it is adventurous. Through the eyes of an older Jacob, we witness a young man who after losing everything jumps on a moving train into the unknown and finds a home among extraordinary circus performers. It is a story that reminds us life can begin again even after heartbreak and even at any age.

Connor Sullivan, Helen Krushinski, and Zachary Keller, Photo by Matt Murphy for MurphyMade

With direction by two-time Tony nominee Jessica Stone, a soaring score by PigPen Theatre Co., and award-winning contributions across puppetry, fight choreography, sound, and orchestrations, Water for Elephants is an emotional, imaginative, and utterly unforgettable experience. It is perfect for anyone eight and up, though adults and older teens will likely savor it the most. At 2 hours and 25 minutes, including intermission, it is an immersive ride that leaves you breathless, teary-eyed, and ready to snuggle a loved one.

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

In short, Water for Elephants is not just a musical. It is a celebration of courage, love, and the circus itself, a dazzling reminder that life’s most extraordinary moments often arrive when you take the leap.