Hands on a Hardbody
Hands on a Hardbody is a musical based on the documentary film Hands on a Hardbody. The book is by Doug Wright, music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, lyrics by Amanda Green. The documentary was adapted into a musical commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, California.[1]
Production History
Hands on a Hardbody had a private reading in April 2011 in New York City.[1] The musical had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse, California, running from April 2012 through June 2012.[2] Broadway previews began February 23, 2013 at the Brooks Atkinson Theater, with the official opening on March 21, 2013. Directed by Neil Pepe, the cast featured Allison Case, Keith Carradine, Hunter Foster, Keala Settle and Mary Gordon Murray. Musical staging is by Sergio Trujillo, scenic design by Christine Jones, costumes by Susan Hilferty and lighting by Kevin Adams.[3] The entire original La Jolla cast performed on Broadway. Sergio Trujillo replaced Benjamin Millepied, who had choreographed the reading and La Jolla production.[1][4] The musical closed on April 13, 2013, playing 28 previews and 28 performances.[5]
The first regional production was mounted by New Line Theatre in St. Louis, MO in May and June 2014. Directed by Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy, the cast featured Todd Schaefer (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 scenic design by Rob Lippert, lighting design by Kenneth Zinkl, costume design by Sarah Porter and Marcy Wiegert, and sound design by Kerrie Mondy.[6]
Theatre Under the Stars in Houston produced the show in June 2014, but artistic director Bruce Lumpkin substantially rewrote the show, without permission, reassigning songs and lyrics, rearranging the order of the songs (and therefore, the order of when contestants dropped out of the contest), adding new incidental music, and cutting sections of songs entirely. Shortly after opening, licensing agent Samuel French sent TUTS a cease-and-desist letter, and the production was closed prematurely.[7]
The northeast regional premiere of Hands on a Hardbody took place in July 2014 at Park Playhouse in Albany, New York.[8]
The first amateur production of Hands on a Hardbody was mounted by Pit & Balcony Community Theatre in Saginaw, MI in October 2014. Directed by Tommy Wedge, the cast featured Micheal Curtis (JD Drew), Greg Allison (Benny Perkins), Jo-el Gonzalez (Jesus Peña), Kale Schafer (Mike Ferris), Lucy Malacos (Janis Curtis), Christian Schwager (Frank Nugent), Gio Rosas (Greg Wilhote), Holly Jacobs (Virginia Drew), Randy Robinson (Ronald McCowan), Meagan Eager (Heather Stovall), Anne Russell-Lutenske (Norma Valverde), Toysha Welch Sinclair (Cindy Barnes), Brian Bateson (Chris Alvaro), Tim Maughtew (Don Curtis), and Ekia Thomas (Kelli Mangrum), with lighting design by Heather Leighann Brown and costume design by Michele Weadock Hoeppner.[6]
Synopsis
Ten contestants vie for a “hardbody” truck in Longview, Texas. The last contestant who has his or her hands on the truck wins it. The truck is a Nissan “hardbody” pickup (on stage).[5] The lives of each contestant, along with the car dealer and a radio announcer are revealed during the “hardbody” contest.
Musical Numbers
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Video
2013 Tony Award Show Clips: Hands On A Hardbody
Cast
| Keith Carradine | JD Drew |
| Allison Case | Kelli Mangrum |
| Hunter Foster | Benny Perkins |
| Jay Armstrong Johnson | Greg Wilhote |
| David Larsen | Chris Alvaro |
| Jacob Ming-Trent | Ronald McCowan |
| Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone | Heather Stovall |
| Mary Gordon Murray | Virginia Drew |
| Jim Newman | Mike Ferris |
| Connie Ray | Cindy Barnes |
| Jon Rua | Jesus Peña |
| Keala Settle | Norma Valverde |
| Dale Soules | Janis Curtis |
| Scott Wakefield | Frank Nugent |
| William Youmans | Don Curtis |
| Dr. Stokes |
Creative Crew
Book by Doug Wright
Music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green
Lyrics by Amanda Green
Based on a Film by S.R. Bindler
Musical Director: Carmel Dean
Music orchestrated by Trey Anastasio and Don Har
Vocal arrangements by Carmel Dean
Directed by Neil Pepe
Musical Staging by Sergio Trujillo
Associate Choreographer: Lorin Latarro
Scenic Design by Christine Jones
Costume Design by Susan Hilferty
Lighting Design by Kevin Adams
Sound Design by Steve Canyon Kennedy
Make-Up Design by Jimmy Cortés
Associate Scenic Design: Brett Banakis
Associate Costume Design: Tricia Barsamian
Associate Lighting Design: Paul Toben
Associate Sound Design: Walter Trarbach
Critical Response
The New York Times reviewer wrote that the musical “sings sincerely and with a rough-edged humor of the dusty margins of American life…. features a wry, economical book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright…, along with a soulful score by Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio”.[10]
The Time reviewer called the musical “engaging”, writing:
Trey Anastasio… and lyricist Amanda Green have contributed a flavorful country-Western score that is tuneful, well integrated and evocative of the setting. And choreographer Sergio Trujillo had found inventive ways to keep the stage active, despite the obvious restrictions.[11]
Awards and Nominations
On April 30, the musical received three Tony Award nominations for the 67th Tony Awards.[12] The musical received nine 58th Drama Desk Award nominations including Outstanding Musical but won none.[13] The production received three Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, but did not win any awards.[14]
Keala Settle received a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance.[15] The musical received one nomination for the 31st Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards but did not win.[16]
Broadway Production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Nominated | |
| Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Keala Settle | Nominated | ||
| Fred & Adele Astaire Awards | Outstanding Choreographer of a Broadway Show | Sergio Trujillo | Nominated | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Keith Carradine | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Keala Settle | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Sergio Trujillo | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Music | Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lyrics | Amanda Green | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Doug Wright | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Trey Anastasio and Don Hart | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Steve Canyon Kennedy | Nominated | ||
| Tony Award (67th) |
Best Original Score | Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green | Nominated | |
| Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Keith Carradine | Nominated | ||
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Keala Settle | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Award | Keala Settle | Won | ||
References
- Hetrick, Adam and Jones, Kenneth. “New Musical ‘Hands On A Hardbody’ Will Roll Into La Jolla Playhouse in 2012” playbill.com, October 14, 2011
- ” ‘Hands On A Hardbody’ Listing at LaJolla” lajollaplayhouse.org, accessed July 8, 2012
- Jones, Kenneth. ” ‘Hands On a Hardbody’ Will Truck Into Broadways Brooks Atkinson Cast and Design Team Confirmed” playbill.com, October 2, 2012
- Moore, Sarah. “Sergio Trujillo Replaces Benjamin Millepied on Broadway Creative Team of ‘Hands on a Hardbody’” theatermania.com, September 21, 2012
- Gioia, Michael and Jones, Kenneth. ” ‘Hands on a Hardbody’ Will Close April 13″ playbill.com, April 8, 2013
- “Hands on a Hardbody” New Line Theatre website, 2014
- Sherman, Howard. “Rebuilding ‘Hardbody’ At A Houston Chop Shop” hesherman.com, June 20, 2014
- “Park Playhouse — July Production”. Park Playhouse. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- Viagas, Robert, ed. (2013). The Playbill Broadway Yearbook: June 2012 to May 2013. US: Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. p. 161. ISBN 1-48034-159-2.
- Isherwood, Charles. “Symbolism and Struggle in a Contest of Dreams. Hands on a Hardbody at La Jolla Playhouse” The New York Times, June 5, 2012
- Zoglin, Richard. Hands on a Hardbody: Broadway’s New Pickup” Time, March 27, 2013
- Purcell, Carey (2013-06-09). “Kinky Boots, Vanya and Sonia, Pippin and Virginia Woolf? Are Big Winners at 67th Annual Tony Awards”. Playbill. Retrieved 2103-06-10.
- Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew. “Billy Porter, Andrea Martin, ‘Pippin’, ‘Matilda’, ‘Vanya and Sonia’ Win Drama Desk Awards” playbill.com, May 19, 2013
- Gans, Andrew (May 13, 2013). “Pippin Is Big Winner of 2012-13 Outer Critics Circle Awards”. Playbill. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
- Gans, Andrew. “69th Annual Theatre World Awards Presented June 3” playbill.com, June 3, 2013
- Gioia, Michael and Hetrick, Adam. “‘Pippin’ and ‘Motown’ Receive 2013 Astaire Awards” playbill.com, June 4, 2013
External Links
Listing Internet Broadway Database
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