Kelli Mangrum News

Marietta Theatre Company will present HANDS ON A HARDBODY, a musical about 10 contestants competing for a truck. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati will close its 2023-2024 Season with the regional musical revival of the fan favorite Hands on a Hardbody.

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.  

Back by popular demand, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre will once again open its doors for a New Year's Eve performance! This year we would like to welcome back RMRT alumna Matilde Bernabei! An incredibly talented singer and songwriter, Matilde graced the Rocky Mountain Repertory stage back in 2013 and again this past fall for Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver. Some of her favorite roles include Judy (A Chorus Line), Kelli Mangrum (Hands on a Hardbody), Woman (Ring of Fire) and Hagrid the Pirate (Peter Pan).

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.

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.

Beginning September 8, the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit MATILDA THE MUSICAL will welcome Natalie Venetia Belcon as Mrs. Phelps, Allison Case as Miss Honey, Rick Holmes as Mr. Wormwood, and Amy Spanger as Mrs. Wormwood. They join a principal cast that features Christopher Sieber as Miss Trunchbull, and the four girls sharing the title role: Mattea Conforti, Rileigh McDonald, Mimi Ryder, and Alexandra Vlachos.

Beginning September 8, the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit MATILDA THE MUSICAL will welcome Natalie Venetia Belcon as Mrs. Phelps, Allison Case as Miss Honey, Rick Holmes as Mr. Wormwood, and Amy Spanger as Mrs. Wormwood. They join a principal cast that features Christopher Sieber as Miss Trunchbull, and the four girls sharing the title role: Mattea Conforti, Rileigh McDonald, Mimi Ryder, and Alexandra Vlachos.

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

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.

An often over-looked subject in the musical genre is the hardworking, semi-rural blue-collar working class American, but that is exactly the focus of HANDS ON A HARDBODY. The Texas-centric musical, based on the 1997 documentary of the same title, is enjoying a phenomenal Texas Premiere.

Looking over a list of New Line Theatre's shows for the past 23 years is a very telling experience. This is a group dedicated to restoring the old and embracing the new. That's why their current production of HANDS ON A HARDBODY shouldn't shock you that it's so damn good (it really is), because this is exactly what they do so well. They take something tuneful and different, perform it enthusiastically in an intimate environment, and the audience is rewarded with a fresh and invigorating experience. Go see HANDS ON A HARDBODY now!