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.
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.
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.
In 2025, Music Theatre International (MTI) acquired the licensing rights to The Magician's Elephant. The show is now available for performance by community theaters, schools, and other amateur groups. This release allows broader access to the musical, following its original production by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2021. The licensing includes materials such as scripts, scores, and director guides, making it accessible for non-professional theater companies to stage their own productions.
The Stratford-upon-Avon production received positive reviews from the critics and audiences receiving mostly four star reviews.