Photo Flash: First Look at Drama Learning Center's Area Premiere of HANDS ON A HARDBODY

Drama Learning Center's professional training company for emerging young artists will present the area premiere of new American musical Hands on a Hardbody this month. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Inspired by true events and based on the acclaimed 1997 documentary of the same name by S. R. Bindler, Hands on a Hardbody follows 10 hard-luck Texans searching for a new lease on life. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, each contestant fights to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. In the hilarious, hard-fought contest that is Hands on a Hardbody, only one winner can drive away with American Dream.

Hands on a Hardbody boasts a book by Tony Award and Pulitzer-Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, The Little Mermaid, Grey Gardens), music and lyrics by Amanda Green (Brint It On: The Musical) and music by Trey Anastasio (acclaimed for hiw work with rock band Phish). Hands on a Hardbody ran a limited run on Broadway in March and April of 2014. On directing this area premiere, Stephanie Lynn Williams states: "I'm so excited to direct this show. It is a true gem: topical and relevant, yet nostalgic. It's absurdly funny in one moment and gut-wrenchingly poignant in the next."

The focal point of the scenic design is a full-sized Nissan hardbody pickup truck, which Drama Learning Center has acquired from a theatre in Liberal, Kansas. To help offest the expenses of this non-traditional set piece, Drama Learning Center ran two fundraising campaigns late last year.

Drama Learning Center's Professional Training Company, TYA (Teaching Young Artists), presents its Fall/Winter production of Hands on a Hardbody from January 13-21, 2017 at Drama Learning Center in Columbia. Available by audition only, the TYA program allows students to work in a professional theatre environment as they learn about all aspects of theatrical work.

For tickets and more information, visit www.dramalearningcenter.com or call 410-997-9392.

Hands on a Hardbody is presented by permission through special arrangement with Samuel French.

Photo Credit: Bruce F Press Photography

The cast of the area premiere of HANDS ON A HARDBODY

Dumar Valencia as Chris

(foreground) Lila Cooper as Kelli, Luka Yetter as Jesus, and Mark Quackenbush as Benny

Alicia Philadelphia as Norma

Ellie Parks and Eli Vogel as Virginia and JD Drew