Hands on a Hardbody

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.

Springfield Contemporary Theatre presents the rollicking musical Hands on a Hardbody in February.

In the hilarious, hard-fought contest that is Hands on a Hardbody only one winner can drive away with the American Dream. A story made most impactful by our recent economic tumult that has brought age-old fissures of race, class and income inequality to the fore.

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.

“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 'hard body' pickup, on stage. The lives of each contestant, along with the car dealer and a radio announcer are revealed during the ‘hardbody’ contest,” according to Wikipedia.

“The show opens with a pickup truck on stage and Benny Perkins walking up to it, illustrating how a 'hands on a hardbody' contest works. The rest of the contestants and contest runners join the stage and all sing about the truck and the contest (Human Drama Kind of Thing). The song ends as the contest begins. As the contestants begin to bond they talk about what a truck means to a Texan and why the contestants want the truck and what difference it would make in their life (If I Had This Truck).”

"You can hear the sound of America singing in this daring new musical" - The New York Times. "Hands down it's musical theatre heaven!" - New York Magazine. 

The Springfield production is directed by Richard Dines, Music directed by Alex Huff, Choreography by Josh Inmon. The cast features Doug Cannon, Tori Citro, David DePriest, Savannah Gibbons, Carly Hayes, Travis Holt, Seth Dylan Hunt, Jalen Lee, Judy Luxton, James Brandon Martin, Pete Nielsen, Ali Smith, Todd Smith, Ellen Spann and Tony Wheeler.

This show contains some adult language.

Hands on a Hardbody performances are February 12-14, 19-21, and 26-28; Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., at SCT’s Center State, 431 S. Jefferson Ave # 136, in Springfield. Tickets are on sale online at www.springfieldcontemporarytheatre.org, by phone at (417) 831-8001, or in person at the box office, Tues-Fri, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., or one hour before performances.

The Gayly – February 12, 2016 @ 11:30 a.m.