Todd Schaefer, Jeffrey M. Wright & More to Lead New Line Theatre's HANDS ON A HARDBODY; Full Cast Announced

New Line Theatre, "the bad boy of musical theatre, " has announced the cast for the final show of its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre ,the regional premiere of the Broadway musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, running May 29-June 21, 2014.

New Line's season closes with the regional premiere of this new rock musical, inspired by true events, with music and lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), music by Trey Anastasio (of the rock band Phish), and a script by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife), adapted from the 1997 documentary of the same name.

Set at a Texas truck dealership that holds an endurance contest every year to win a hardbody pickup truck, a new lease on life feels so close for these ten hard-luck Texans that 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 this funny, intense, emotional, and revealing battle of pure stamina, only one winner will drive away with the American Dream.

The New Line cast includes Todd Schaefer (as JD Drew), Jeffrey M. Wright (Benny Perkins), Rey Arceno (Jesus Peña), Mike Dowdy (Mike Ferris), Cindy Duggan (Janis Curtis), Zachary Allen Farmer (Frank Nugent), Ryan Foizey (Greg Wilhote), Alison Helmer (Virginia Drew), Marshall Jennings (Ronald McCowan), Taylor Pietz (Heather Stovall), Anna Skidis (Norma Valverde), Margeau Baue Steinau (Cindy Barnes), Luke Steingruby (Chris Alvaro), Keith Thompson (Don Curtis), and Marcy Wiegert (Kelli Mangrum), with direction by Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy, scenic design by Rob Lippert, lighting design by Kenneth Zinkl, costume design by Sarah Porter and Marcy Wiegert, and sound design by Kerrie Mondy.

Artistic director Scott Miller says, "I fell in love with this score the first time I heard it - pop, rock, R&B, gospel, Latin, you name it. This is a show with brains, a big heart, and all the heat of the Texas sun. You just can't help but get emotionally caught up in these decent, ordinary people who just need this one break. But it's also a story about America and Americans, about tough people surviving tough times. And though it's set in 1997, it's really about right here, right now."

More information about Hands on a Hardbody is on the New Line website at http://www.newlinetheatre.com/hardbodypage.html.

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