theater

Jordan High Theatre to Debut High School Premiere of Water for Elephants in Six-Show Run

Set amid a Depression-era traveling circus, Water for Elephants follows Jacob Jankowski as he discovers found family, first love, and the grit it takes to keep the show on the road.

Wes Platt

Wes Platt

— 3 min read
Jordan High Theatre to Debut High School Premiere of Water for Elephants in Six-Show Run
Billed as the first high school staging of Water for Elephants in the United States, shows run Nov. 13-15 at Jordan High. Photo: Jordan High School Theatre.

Jordan High School Theatre will present the North Carolina - and reportedly the nation’s first - high school staging of Water for Elephants on Nov. 13–15 and Nov. 20–22, 2025, with all performances at 6:30 p.m. in the Jordan auditorium.

The production adapts Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel and the recent Broadway musical for the high school stage.

Set amid a Depression-era traveling circus, Water for Elephants follows Jacob Jankowski as he discovers found family, first love, and the grit it takes to keep the show on the road. Jordan’s staging will blend live music, innovative set pieces, and large-scale puppetry - created with local artist and puppeteer Jeghetto - to evoke the big-top spectacle.

How It Came Together

Jordan Theatre director Olivia Bellido says the opportunity grew from connections at the Educational Theatre Association’s awards and conference, where she was honored as the ASCAP Foundation Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year in 2024. That recognition helped open the door to conversations with the show’s creative team at PigPen Theatre Co., who have collaborated with Jordan to tailor the Broadway production for a high school ensemble.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students,” Bellido said. “The exposure they are receiving is unparalleled.”

Jordan Theatre - an inclusive, no-audition program serving hundreds of students each year - has a track record of strong regional showings and festival accolades. Bellido’s program drew fresh local attention this spring, with profiles highlighting the department’s student-centered approach and technical ambition.

Tickets & Dates

  • Thu, Nov. 13 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Fri, Nov. 14 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Sat, Nov. 15 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Thu, Nov. 20 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Fri, Nov. 21 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Sat, Nov. 22 – 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now through Jordan Theatre’s Ludus page; local listings show $20 general admission.

Landing a national pilot/premiere gives Jordan students rare access to Broadway-level creatives while putting South Durham’s arts education scene in a regional spotlight - especially timely as the Broadway tour of Water for Elephants stops at DPAC in December. It’s a full-circle season for Triangle audiences: see the big-top story first through a student lens, then catch the touring production downtown a few weeks later.

Where: C.E. Jordan High School Auditorium, 6806 Garrett Rd., Durham
Tickets: Available now via Jordan Theatre & Chorus Boosters (Ludus).

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