Grant Gustin and Isabelle McCalla Embrace in First Photos of Broadway's “Water for Elephants” Musical (Exclusive)

The adaptation of Sara Gruen's 2006 novel will open at New York City's Imperial Theatre on March 21, 2024

Water for Elephants is bringing the circus to Broadway.

PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at the upcoming stage adaptation of Sara Gruen's 2006 novel, which begins performances at the Imperial Theatre in New York City on Feb. 24, 2024 ahead of a March 21 opening.

Grant Gustin, of The Flash and Glee fame, leads the production alongside theater veteran Isabelle McCalla (The Prom, Shucked). The two will play Jacob and Marlena, roles popularized by Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in the 2011 film version.

This will be Gustin's first Broadway credit. "Being on Broadway has always been a dream of mine and I can’t think of a better story to be telling with my Broadway debut," he tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. "It’s about the journey each of us has to take to find your place in the world and the chosen family you find along the way."

Related: 'Water for Elephants' Musical Adaptation Coming to Broadway Spring 2024

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The show will be directed by the Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with a book by Rick Elice (Peter and the Starcatchers, Jersey Boys).

Music and lyrics will be created by the musical group PigPen Theatre Co. "The music that PigPen Theatre Co. has created for this show is unlike anything I’ve ever sung before," says Gustin, 33. "They’re putting their unique spin on musical theater with songs that everyone will leave the theater humming."

That sentiment is echoed by McCalla, 30: "The music has a bluegrass bass that evokes the spirit of Americana, with some gorgeously poetic lyrics that really hit you in your gut if you’re listening carefully. And then you have some pastiche numbers which ground us in the time and place of life in a traveling circus in the 1930’s. Each character has their own unique music style and voice based on what drives them."

Water for Elephants tell the Depression era-set story of a young veterinary student who, after being forced to leave school, takes a job as an animal caretaker on a traveling circus. While there, he falls for Marlena — the event's star attraction — but her cruel husband August stands in the way of their love.

"It’s a show about deep hope amidst tragic loss — who can’t relate to that?" says McCalla, of the musical's message. "I think it’s always the right time to watch a show about people choosing to be good in a world that can be so quick to make you cruel."

"I hope audiences will walk away with restored faith in human resilience. That we can heal in time, and choose better lives for ourselves," she adds. "And if not that, then they will certainly have a newfound appreciation for the capabilities of the human body because these circus artists are literally bending over backwards and performing death defying acts as if it were as easy as breathing."

Other stars in the musical include four-time Tony Award nominee Gregg Edelman (City of Angels), Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle Award nominee Paul Alexander Nolan (Slave Play), Stan Brown (Homicide: Life in the Streets), Joe De Paul (Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion), Sara Gettelfinger (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Wade McCollum (Wicked).

The ensemble includes Brandon Block, Antoine Boissereau, Rachael Boyd, Paul Castree, Ken Wulf Clark, Taylor Colleton, Gabriel Olivera de Paula Costa, Isabella Luisa Diaz, Samantha Gershman, Keaton Hentoff-Killian, Nicolas Jelmoni, Caroline Kane, Harley Ross Beckwith McLeish, Michael Mendez, Samuel Renaud, Marissa Rosen, Alexandra Gaelle Royer, Asa Somers, Charles South, Sean Stack, Matthew Varvar and Michelle West.

Related: 'The Notebook' Musical with Songs by Ingrid Michaelson Gets Broadway Debut Date

Water for Elephants had its world premiere in Atlanta on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre over the summer. And seeing her words transferred to the stage was "magic," Gruen tells PEOPLE.

"The first time I saw it I cried three times, I was laughing, I was astonished. It was magical," she says. "It’s the story that I wrote but it feels like completely new. They kept the spirit and the feel… and they distilled the human experience of the story."

"This is a dream I didn’t know I had," she continues. "I’m thrilled to be along for the ride. I am so delighted and so grateful to everyone in this production. It has meant so much to me. It’s a highlight of my life."

Tickets for Water for Elephants are on sale now. More information can be found on the production's official website.

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