Cast of 'Water for Elephants' Musical Shares Tour Life as Show Opens in Buffalo

The national tour of the theatrical adaptation of the bestselling novel kicks off at Shea's Buffalo Theatre.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:24pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of glittering sequins and shimmering fabric textures in high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the glamour and spectacle of a theatrical production.The national tour of "Water for Elephants" brings the spectacle and glamour of the circus to the stage, blending traditional musical theater with dazzling acrobatic performances.Buffalo Today

The cast of the new musical adaptation of "Water for Elephants" is sharing their insights as performances begin at Shea's Buffalo Theatre. The show features a mix of seasoned theater performers and former circus artists who are making their first national tour debuts, including leads Zachary Keller and Helen Krishinski. The production also includes an elephant character, Rosie, who is brought to life by a team of multiple performers.

Why it matters

The "Water for Elephants" musical is the latest high-profile theatrical adaptation of a popular novel, blending traditional musical theater with circus-inspired acrobatics and stunts. The show's mix of experienced actors and circus artists highlights the creative collaboration required to bring this unique production to life on tour across the country.

The details

Based on the bestselling novel by Sara Gruen, "Water for Elephants" follows a young man who jumps onto a moving train and finds a new home with a traveling circus. The national tour features leads Zachary Keller and Helen Krishinski making their touring debuts, along with former circus performers like Serafina Walker who contribute aerial and acrobatic stunts. The show's centerpiece is the elephant character Rosie, who requires a team of multiple performers to bring to life on stage each night.

  • The "Water for Elephants" musical is running at Shea's Buffalo Theatre from April 15-17, 2026.
  • The national tour will continue on to Ohio following the Buffalo performances.

The players

Zachary Keller

An actor making his national tour debut playing the lead role of Jacob in "Water for Elephants".

Helen Krishinski

An actress making her national tour debut playing the lead role of Marlena in "Water for Elephants".

Serafina Walker

A former circus performer with Circus Smirkus and École Nationale de Cirque who now contributes aerial and acrobatic stunts to the "Water for Elephants" production.

Ella Huestis

One of the performers responsible for bringing the elephant character Rosie to life on stage each night.

Rosie

The elephant character at the center of the "Water for Elephants" musical, brought to life by a team of multiple performers.

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What they’re saying

“It's been an amazing experience. This is my first time touring, so it's taken a lot of work to figure out, 'How do you make this work for you? How do you find your routines? How do you find things that really ground you as you're on the road?' and it's ironic as we're doing a show that is about a circus that is on the road.”

— Zachary Keller, Actor, Lead Role of Jacob

“And to get to travel the country has been one of the most special experiences of my life. We couldn't do it without absolutely everyone in this company.”

— Helen Krishinski, Actress, Lead Role of Marlena

“They get to share so much knowledge of musical theater with us circus artists, and it's just a really, really great way to bring the two communities together.”

— Serafina Walker, Acrobat and Aerialist

“We started during rehearsals with wooden dowel rods studying movement of elephants and how they walk and how they breathe and behaviors. It's really magical, really beautiful and it's really fun. I love especially student matinees when school groups come to the show; that moment is always really special with kids in the audience.”

— Ella Huestis, Elephant Performer

What’s next

The "Water for Elephants" musical will continue its national tour after the Buffalo performances, with the next stop scheduled in Ohio.

The takeaway

The "Water for Elephants" musical blends traditional theater with circus-inspired acrobatics, showcasing the creative collaboration required to bring this unique production to life on tour. The mix of seasoned actors and former circus artists highlights the show's ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences.