# The Magician's Elephant (musical)

The Magician's Elephant is a musical with book and lyrics by Nancy Harris and music and lyrics by Marc Teitler, based on the 2009 children's novel of the same name by Kate DiCamillo.

## Production history
### Stratford-upon-Avon (2021)

The musical was announced to make its world premiere as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's winter 2020 season, running in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the production was postponed to run over the 2021 winter season running from 18 October 2021 to 1 January 2022.
The production is directed by Sarah Tipple, designed by Colin Richmond with lighting design by Oliver Fenwick.
On 9 July 2021, initial casting was announced and a recording of a song from the show "If This Is True" was released on YouTube, followed by another song "A Lot Like Me" released on 26 July 2021.

### Sandy, Utah (2024)

The musical made its United States premiere at Hale Center Theatre in Sandy, Utah during their 2024 season, running from September 16 to October 19 2024. The production was directed by Dave Tinney with scenic design by Jenn Taylor and puppetry design, fabrication and direction by AchesonWalsh Studios, lighting design by Jaron Kent Hermansen.

## Cast and characters

| Character | Stratford-upon-Avon | Sandy, Utah |
| Character | 2021 | 2024 |
| Narrator | Amy Booth-Steel | MackMalia Morris |
| Peter Duchene | Jack Wolfe | Hyrum SmithWeston Wright |
| Vilna Lutz | Mark Meadows | Ric StarnesMark Knowles |
| Adele | Miriam Nyarko | Hailey BurnhamPaige Hochalter |
| Leo Matienne | Marc Antolin | Keith Evans |
| Gloria Matienne | Melissa James | Jordyn Aspyn DurfeyBecky Jeanne Knowles |
| Countess Quintet | Summer Strallen | Korianne JohnsonMichelle Blake |
| Count Quintet | Sam Harrison | Brett MyersJustin Bills |
| Madame LaVaughn | Renu Arora | DeLayne DaytonSharon Lynn Kenison |
| The Magician | Alastair Parker | Josh DurfeyBryan Dayley |
| The Elephant | Zoe Halliday | Jordan DahlSam Cooper |
| The Elephant | Wela Mbusi | Benjamin TateJulia Wihongi |
| The Elephant | Suzanne Nixon | Miranda Renee SmithDaniel Miskin |
| The Elephant | — | Jessica Zöe BirdSarah Neipp |
| Police Chief | Forbes Masson | Zac ZumbrunnenJake Ben Suazo |
| Milliner / Dance Teacher / Police Officer | Sharif Afifi | Aitana AlapaSara Schmidt |
| Baker / Police Officer | Alison Arnopp | Ren CottamIan Webb |
| Young Police Officer / Lamplighter | Chrystine Symone | Riley GrovesMaxx Teuscher |
| Sister Marie | Mandi Symonds | Michelle SundwallBrittany Andam |
| Lisette | Lauren Jones | Fay Pauline DrysdaleElisabeth Wilkins |
| Mrs Griswald | Wendy Somerville | Mak MilordBrooke Holladay |
| Fishmonger | Lucca Chadwick-Patel | Zachary BallardAmmar Al Saffar |
| Doctor | Stephen John Davis | Jordon LeBaronAndrew Reeser |
| Peter's Mum / Swing | Hannah Brown | Jackie MarshallBrittany James |
| Peter's Dad / Swing | Michael Carolan | Riley GrovesMaxx Teuscher |
| Swing | Rianna Ash | — |
| Swing | Matt Bateman | — |

## Musical Numbers
### Act I

* "Welcome To the Town of Baltese" – Narrator
* "Discipline, Control, Routine" – Lutz
* "If This Is True" – Peter
* "What If Why No Could It Be" – Leo Matienne
* "No One Must Know" – Police Chief and Police
* "Your Mind Is Playing Tricks On You" – Police Chief and Police
* "Discipline, Control Routine" (reprise) – Lutz
* "I Intended Only Lilies" – Magician and Madame LaVaughn
* "Secrets" – Company
* "Follow The Elephant" – Company
* "Elephant Messiah" – Company
* "If This Is True" (reprise) – Peter

### Act II

* "The Sight Of An Elephant" – Company
* "Adele The Brave" – Adele
* "A Lot Like Me" – Peter
* "Two Of a Kind" – Company
* "Don’t Spoil It Pt. 1" – Company
* "Don’t Spoil It Pt. 2" – Company
* "Real Magic" – Company
* "Count Who Doesn’t Count" – Count and Adele
* "What Good Are Dreams" – Company
* "If This Is True" – Peter
* "A Lot Like Me" – Peter
* "Anything Could Happen" – Company

## Reception

The Stratford-upon-Avon production received positive reviews from the critics and audiences receiving mostly four star reviews.