Benny Perkins News

Minneapolis Musical Theatre is returning to the proverbial stage this spring with 'Hands on a Hardbody.' The musical, about 10 hard-luck Texans vying to win a new pickup truck as part of a radio contest, will be produced in the showroom at Luther Cadillac April 22-May 8, 2022.

Five-time Broadway veteran Bart Shatto (War Paint, Hands on a Hard Body, The Civil War, Les Miserables) stars in an invitation-only workshop production of The Confessions of Davy Crockett.

Refuge Theater Project is proud to announce the cast and production team for its second production in its 2018 - 2019 season, Hands on a Hardbody, March 15 - April 27, book by Doug Wright, with lyrics by Amanda Green,  and music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, directed by Refuge Theatre Project's Artistic Director Christopher Pazdernik and music directed by Jon Schneidman.  

This September, The Firehouse Theatre will present Elton John and Time Rice's AIDA, directed by Artistic Director, Derek Whitener. The heart wrenching pop-rock musical about an imprisoned Nubian princess will open on September 7th in the old Farmers Branch Firehouse, with performances running through September 23rd. Tickets range from $13-$25.

Blackfriars Theatre continues their 2016/17 season with Hands on a Hardbody, Book by Doug Wright, Lyrics by Amanda Green, Music by Trey Anastasio & Amanda Green. A musical that is new to most audience members, Hardbody is an upbeat, powerful story, brought to life by relatable characters and incredible toe-tapping music.

For 10 hard-luck Texans, a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they'll fight 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 the American Dream. Inspired by the true events of the acclaimed 1997 documentary of the same name by S.R. Bindler, produced by Kevin Morris and Bindler.

For 10 hard-luck Texans, a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they'll fight 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 the American Dream. Inspired by the true events of the acclaimed 1997 documentary of the same name by S.R. Bindler, produced by Kevin Morris and Bindler.

Let's get this out of the way first, the 'hardbody' in the title is a truck, a Nissan pickup truck to be exact; and while the name of the musical, HANDS ON A HARDBODY, might sound a teensy bit risque, it is filled with encouraging messages and life-affirming themes set to a high energy modern score. Presented by TheatreWorks Florida, the musical runs through February 21st at the Garden Theatre, and features an extremely game and talented cast, who unfortunately is not used in a way that comes close to maximizing their immense collective talent. The musical by Doug Wright (book), Amanda Green (music and lyrics), and Trey Anastasio of the band Phish (music) is based on a 1997 documentary of the same name about a Texas contest in which the person who keeps his or her hand on a truck the longest, wins it. While the show's ensemble construction gives nearly every cast-member multiple moments to vocally shine, it seems like a substantial amount of them have been shoehorned into roles that don't exactly match up with their particular vocal ranges, resulting in fairly regular pitch issues. That not-so minor issue aside, the show is a joyous, toe-tapping celebration of all the things, good and bad, that make people special.

The Garden Theatre is proud to present TheatreWorks Florida's production of Hands on a Hardbody showing January 29 - February 21, 2016. Hands on a Hardbody is sponsored by Joe Worsham and Becky Worsham Farrant at Pacific Global Investment Management Company, Insight Credit Union and Toole's Ace Hardware.

Truckin' on to the Barn Theatre stage is Rex Smith starring in HANDS ON A HARDBODY! Playing tonight, August 11, through August 23.

Fasten your seat belts for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati's 30th anniversary lineup! The 2015-2016 season opens with the regional premiere of Luna Gale, an intense and heartbreakingly honest drama by award-winning playwright Rebecca Gilman. This forceful and sobering story examines our foster care system and how an innocent baby girl becomes the object of a family's life-altering game of tug-of-war. Luna Gale plays September 8-27, 2015 and is directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

Truckin' on to the Barn Theatre stage is Rex Smith starring in HANDS ON A HARDBODY! Playing August 11 - 23.

You might wonder how a musical about ten Texans competing to win a Nissan truck by being the last person standing with hands on it could be interesting. There can be little action since everyone is stuck to the truck by white cotton gloves. Yet, this musical is not about outward action so much as it is about inward struggle. These are varied characters with diverse personalities. The truck is the vehicle that ties them together. These white-gloved hands are what hang onto hope. I promise you that it is interesting!

The Omaha Community Playhouse musical production Hands on a Hardbody will run tonight, Feb. 13-March 22, 2015 in the Howard Drew Theatre.

The Omaha Community Playhouse musical production Hands on a Hardbody will run Feb. 13-March 22, 2015 in the Howard Drew Theatre.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens its 29th season with the regional premiere of Hands on a Hardbody, the thrilling, powerfully emotional new musical featuring a country-rock-pop score by Trey Anastasio (frontman for the rock band Phish) and Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), and a script by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Doug Wright (Grey Gardens, I Am My Own Wife). The show, which features a full-size Nissan hardbody truck on stage alongside its cast of 15, plays September 2-21, 2014 and is directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens its 29th season with the regional premiere of Hands on a Hardbody, the thrilling, powerfully emotional new musical featuring a country-rock-pop score by Trey Anastasio (frontman for the rock band Phish) and Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), and a script by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Doug Wright (Grey Gardens, I Am My Own Wife). The show, which features a full-size Nissan hardbody truck on stage alongside its cast of 15, plays September 2-21, 2014 and is directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', the musical revue that celebrates the music of Fats Waller, is the next show that will open at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Hunter Foster is directing this production, and he is no stranger to directing shows at Bucks County Playhouse (BCP). In the 2013 season at BCP, Foster directed THE SUMMER OF '42 and THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. In addition, Foster, is known for roles such as Bobby Strong in URINETOWN, Benny Perkins in HANDS ON A HARDBODY, as well as many others took the time to speak with me about directing AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' and the importance of live theatre.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has announced the cast of The Best Little W...house In Texas, playing July 15 - 20 for TUTS' 47th consecutive year of offering free musical theatre at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is proud to announce the cast of The Best Little W…house In Texas, playing June 15 - 20 for TUTS' 47th consecutive year of offering free musical theatre at Miller Outdoor Theatre.