Hands on a Hardbody: cast and theatre announced

The producers of the La Jolla Playhouse production of the new American musical Hands on a Hardbody, due to bow on Broadway during the 2012-2013 season, have announced that the show will that the show will open at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 21 Mar 2013, following previews from 23 Feb 2013. Schedule and ticketing details to be announced shortly.

The Broadway production will feature the full cast from the La Jolla Playhouse engagement: Keith Carradine (Tony Award-nominee, The Will Rogers Follies), Allison Case (Hair), Hunter Foster (Tony Award-nominee, Little Shop of Horrors), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Catch Me If You Can), David Larsen (American Idiot), Jacob Ming-Trent ('Shrek The Musical'), Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone ('Tales of the City'), Mary Gordon Murray ('Into The Woods'), Jim Newman ('Curtains'), Connie Ray ('Next Fall'), Jon Rua ('In The Heights'), Keala Settle ('Priscilla Queen of the Desert'), Dale Soules ('Hair'), Scott Wakefield ('Ring of Fire') and William Youmans ('Wicked').

The creative team features scenic design by Christine Jones, costume design by Susan Hilfertyd, lighting design by Kevin Adams and sound design by Steve Canyon Kenned.

Inspired by true events and based on the 1997 documentary of the same name that was created by S.R. Bindler and produced by Bindler and Kevin Morris, the musical features a book by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife), lyrics by Amanda Green (Bring It On: The Musical), music by Trey Anastasio (Phish) and Amanda Green, direction by Neil Pepe (Broadway's Speed-The-Plow), and musical staging by Sergio Trujillo (Memphis, Jersey Boys).

For ten 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 hard-fought contest that is Hands on a Hardbody only one winner can drive away with the American Dream.

Directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-The-Plow), the world premiere production of Hands on a Hardbody played at La Jolla Playhouse (San Diego) from 12 May to 17 Jun 2012.

The musical is being produced on Broadway by Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Rich Entertainment Group (Bob and Mindy Rich), Barbara Whitman, Latitude Link, Dede Harris, Sharon Karmazin, and Howard and Janet Kagan.

Hands on a Hardbody was commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director & Michael S. Rosenberg, Managing Director).