Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

STAGE TUBE: Preview Songs from La Jolla's HANDS ON A HARDBODY

By:
Get Show Info Info
Cast
Photos
Videos



Recently, La Jolla Playhouse's world premiere of HANDS ON A HARDBODY, starring Tony Award-nominees Keith Carradine, Hunter Foster and Mary GorDon Murray, previewed their songs in a rehearsal hall, and the production team talked about the show.

Click below to watch the video!

The show, which also includes Allison Case and more, opened May 12, and runs through June 17, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. The commissioned musical has a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, Creditors), lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity), music by Trey Anastasio (lead singer of the popular band Phish) and Amanda Green, with direction by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and musical staging by Benjamin Millepied (BLACK SWAN).

Based on the documentary film of the same name, Hands on a Hardbody features a brilliant rock, folk and country score from Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio, along with a masterful story by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright. The creative team features music director Zachary Dietz (In the Heights), Christine Jones (Spring Awakening), Susan Hilferty (Wicked), Kevin Adams (American Idiot), sound designer Steve Canyon Kennedy (Jersey Boys), and Playhouse Resident Dramaturg Shirley Fishman.

When an auto dealership in Longview, TX launches an endurance contest, ten economically-strapped strangers embark on a journey that puts their hearts, minds and bodies to the test. The contestant who keeps at least one hand on a brand-new hardbody truck the longest gets to drive it off the lot. What initially seems like a mere publicity stunt soon becomes a soul-baring battle of wills. Only one can win, but for all involved, the truck holds the key to their own private American dream.

The cast features Tony Award nominee Keith Carradine (Nashville, Broadway's The Will Rogers Follies) as "JD Drew," Allison Case (Hair revival on Broadway) as "Kelli Mangrum," Tony Award winner Jarrod Emick (Broadway's Ring of Fire) as "Mike Ferris," Hunter Foster (Playhouse's Little Miss Sunshine; Broadway's Urinetown) as "Benny Perkins," Jay Armstrong Johnson (Broadway's Catch Me If You Can) as "Greg Wilhote," David Larsen (Broadway's Good Vibrations) as "Chris Alvaro," Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone (Legally Blonde national tour) as "Heather Stovall," Mary GorDon Murray (Broadway's Little Me) as "Virginia Drew," Connie Ray (author/performer, Smoke on the Mountain, Broadway's Next Fall) as "Cindy Barnes," Jon Rua (Broadway's In the Heights) as "Jesus Pea," Keala Settle (Broadway's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) as "Norma Valverde," Dale Soules (Grey Gardens) as "Janis Curtis," Jacob Ming Trent (Lincoln Center Theatre's On the Levee) as "Ronald McGowan," Scott Wakefield (Broadway's It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues) as "Frank Nugent" and William Youmans (Playhouse's Dracula, Twelfth Night) as "Don Curtis/Dr. Stokes."





Don't Miss a San Diego News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...

Local Shows
The Most Happy Fella in San Diego The Most Happy Fella
North Coast Repertory Theatre (6/03-6/28)
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice in San Diego The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
Tenth Avenue Arts Center (6/11-7/03)
OnWord Theatre Presents Adult Storytime in San Diego OnWord Theatre Presents Adult Storytime
OnWord Theatre (6/11-6/28)
The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition in San Diego The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition
Sunshine Brooks Theater (7/10-7/19)
The Marriage of Figaro in San Diego The Marriage of Figaro
Bornemann Theatre (8/28-8/30)
Goose – The Band in San Diego Goose – The Band
Cal Coast Credit Union Air Theatre (8/13-8/13)
RadioPlay! in San Diego RadioPlay!
The Merc (2/22-8/30)
Disney''s Beauty and the Beast in San Diego Disney''s Beauty and the Beast
San Diego Civic Theatre (7/07-7/12)
Teddy Swims in San Diego Teddy Swims
Pechanga Arena (11/13-11/13)
HELL’S KITCHEN in San Diego HELL’S KITCHEN
San Diego Civic Theatre (8/11-8/16)


BroadwayWorld TV