Tours To You

Casting Announced for North American Tour of ‘Water for Elephants’

Matthew Herzog

NETworks Presentations is thrilled to announce casting for the North American Tour of the hit Broadway musical, Water for Elephants, with performances beginning on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, MD.

The tour will be led by Zachary Keller (Jacob), Helen Krushinski (Marlena), Robert Tully (Mr. Jankowski), Connor Sullivan (August), Javier Garcia (Camel), Ruby Gibbs (Barbara), Grant Huneycutt (Wade), and Tyler West (Walter).

Additional ensemble includes Fran Alvarez Jara, Yves Artieres, Chris Carsten, Adam Fullick, Nancy Gutierrez, Ella Huestis, Sam Kellar-Long, ZaKeyia Lacey, Andrew Meier, Marina Mendoza, John Neurohr, Bradley Parrish, Carl Robinett, Summer Severin, Serafina Walker, and Yemie Woo.

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

Water for Elephants is based on the critically acclaimed and New York Times Bestselling novel by Sara Gruen. The Broadway musical has a book by four-time Tony Award® nominee Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co. (The Tale of Despereaux), with tour direction by Ryan Emmons, recreating the original direction by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo).

Biographies

ZACHARY KELLER (Jacob Jankowski) is honored to be a part of this amazing company. His theatre credits include the regional premiere of John Proctor is the Villain (Studio Theatre), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Signature Theatre), as well as And Then There Were None (Drury Lane Theatre). TV: “Shameless”, “Law and Order”, “Chicago Med”. Represented by Gray Talent Group and Louise Keshaviah. A special thanks to his loving and supportive family. @zack_keller1. 
 
HELEN KRUSHINSKI (Marlena). National Tour Debut! Pittsburgh native and University of Michigan alum. Regional: An American in Paris (Lise Dassin) and Camelot (Ensemble). Huge thank you to her agents at BWA and TRC. And to her family, friends, mentors, WAS & WDA, and fellow preschool teachers: Thank you for the endless support. Couldn’t do it without you! @krushballerina 
 
ROBERT TULLY (Mr. Jankowski). Bob is thrilled to be a part of the Water for Elephants family. His previous circus themed experience includes performing the role of the the Ringmaster in Circus at Sea for Norwegian Cruise Lines as well as being the Ringmaster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in 1998. Other favorite roles include A Christmas Carol (Scrooge) for Prather Productions, Rock of Ages (Hertz) for Mountain Theater Company, Footloose (Rev. Moore) for Prather and The Full Monty (Harold) for Dutch Apple Dinner Theater. As a playwright, Bob has had several one-acts produced in Los Angeles and New York and his collection of auto-biographical short stories, Price Hill Boy was published in early 2025. 
 
CONNOR SULLIVAN (August). Honored to be part of this First National Tour! Favorite credits include the National Tour of Chicago (Billy Flynn), performing at Walt Disney World and for Disney Cruise Line, and all the shows he and his siblings wrote and performed in the basement growing up. HUGE thanks to this creative team, TRC, and About Artists Agency! Instagram: @connorpsully. 
 
JAVIER GARCIA (Camel) is a Mexican-American actor who is thrilled to be making his National Tour Debut with Water for Elephants. Recent/Favorite credits include Frozen (Oaken, 5 Star Theatricals), Kinky Boots (Don, 3D Theatricals/Saugatuck Center for the Arts, In the Heights (Piragua Guy, Gateway Play House/White Plains Performing Arts Center), debuting two Disney’s Coco inspired shows at Disneyland Park and performing alongside Kristin Chenoweth at the Hollywood Bowl. He is very grateful to his wife, daughter, family and friends for their love and support. But most importantly he is thankful to God for this opportunity. Follow him @yosoyjaviergarcia. 
 
RUBY GIBBS (Barbara). Ruby is thrilled to have actually run away with the circus! Previous credits: Jane Seymour (SIX), Sylvia (Finding Neverland), Lizzie (Borden), Ragtime, Grease, Sister Act, Parade, Little Women. Endless love, adoration, and gratitude to her mom, sisters, partner, and best friends! Take3Talent. @_ruby_gibbs 
 
GRANT HUNEYCUTT (Wade). National tour debut! Grant has a BM in MT from Oklahoma City University. His most recent credit was Willard in MGM Beau Rivage’s Footloose the Musical. He wants to say thank you to everyone who got him where he is today! 
 
TYLER WEST (Walter). In Tucson, Arizona at 14 years old Tyler saw Cirque Du Soleil and knew immediately he wanted to run away with the circus. He received a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Arizona. In 2019 he moved to NYC to become a full-time clown, performing in variety venues as The Slipper Room and House of Yes. Since then he has traveled the world performing in shows like Giffords Circus, Circus Flic Flac, and starring in the Atomic Saloon Show in Las Vegas.

Water for Elephants features circus design by Tony Award nominee Shana Carroll (The 7 Fingers), choreography by Tony Award nominees Jesse Robb (Miss Saigon) and Shana Carroll, scenic design by Drama Desk Award winner Takeshi Kata (Clyde’s), costume design by David I. Reynoso (Sleep No More), lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Bradley King (Hadestown), sound design by Tony Award nominee Walter Trarbach (Spongebob Squarepants), projections by two-time Tony Award nominee David Bengali (Good Night, and Good Luck), hair & makeup design by Luc Verschueren/Campbell Young Associates (A Beautiful Noise), puppet design by Ray Wetmore & JR Goodman, Camille Labarre (Into the Woods), puppet direction by Joshua Holden, music supervision and arrangements by Drama Desk Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Some Like It Hot) and Benedict Braxton-Smith (Kristin Chenoweth: For the Girls), orchestrations by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters (New York, New York), Benedict Braxton-Smith and August Eriksmoen, fight direction by Cha Ramos (Jagged Little Pill), associate circus designer by Antoine Boissereau, associate choreography by Paige Parkhill, and casting by The TRC Company, Claire Burke, CSA & Frankie Ramirez, CSA.

The Water for Elephants tour stage management team is led by production stage manager Kathleen Carragee and is supported by Stage Manager Maris Keller and Circus Stage Manager Stan Barile. The company management team is led by company manager Heather Moss with associate company manager Taylor Parris. The tour music director/conductor is Sarah Pool Wilhelm. Mimi Intagliata serves as the Executive Producer for the production.

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