256:
and Benny says that it's essentially the beginning of the end. The laughter transitions into a joyful gospel hymn ("Joy of the Lord") that everyone joins in singing, save for Chris Alvaro, the stoic veteran who's been unmoving and unspeaking for the whole competition until he cuts off the song, yelling for everyone to shut up. Everyone's unhappy with Chris's cynical nature and foul language, none more so than Benny, whose son also served. The two exchange nasty words before Chris sings about what it was really like to serve overseas ("Stronger"). By the end he's crying and runs offstage, the second to lose the contest. Benny's lack of respect for Chris and overall nasty attitude infuriates the other contestants. Fueled by their anger, Benny claims that if they can't "Hunt with the Big Dogs" they should stay on the porch with the pups.
273:
more important that she doesn't hurt herself and runs after her. Heather is completely jacked up on the uppers she has been taking and begins complaining about how uncomfortable the gloves they have to wear for the contest are. They begin driving her crazy and she confesses that she was set up to win the competition and forfeits ("It's a Fix (Reprise)"). Benny confesses to J.D. that his legs are going numb, which he said at the beginning is when it's all over. J.D. encourages him to hold on, but Benny loses faith quickly and recounts what life has done to him when he hoped and prayed ("God
Answered My Prayers") and reveals that his son killed himself while he was overseas. He lets go, saying that God finally answered his prayers with a "yes."
244:
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"). The news crew covering the competition start interviewing the contestants and Janis Curtis and her husband Don catch their attention. Even though he isn't participating in the contest, he is forcing himself to go through everything that his wife has to go through because they're in it together. ("If She Don't Sleep").
252:
about how they used to be when they were young ("Alone With Me"). Then it is revealed that
Heather, the Southern beauty in the competition, was chosen by Mike Ferris, one of the people running the competition to win, because she would look good in the advertisements and bring Floyd King Nissan more revenue. He's promised to do what he can to make the competition easier. As he brings lets her sit in the air conditioning they sing ("Burn That Bridge").
248:
the whole time. Thusly, he isn't doing so well. He illustrates such with his song "My
Problem Right There" while the girls, Kelli, Heather, and Norma are rooting for him because they don't like Benny. The song ends with him taking his hands off and giving up. Benny says that once the first person drops, more people will soon follow.
277:
takes her hands off to clap along to the music. That leaves J.D. as the last man standing and he wins the competition, giving the truck he won to his wife, Virginia. In the end, all the characters recount what happens for them after the competition and how the competition changed their lives ("Keep Your Hands on It").
276:
Ronald comes back to see how the competition is going, and to support Norma. Norma loses her faith when her
Walkman runs out of juice, so Ronald as well as Chris, who never went back home after losing, begin to sing ("Joy of the Lord (Reprise)") to bring back her spirit, but it works too well, as she
264:
Act II begins almost like a commercial with Mike Ferris and Frank Nugent, another host, singing the title song, "Hands on a
Hardbody". Cindy Barnes, the female host, approaches Jesus Pena, a Mexican contestant and says to him that if he wins she's going to have to see his green card. She repeats what
272:
Contestants begin dropping like flies as Jesus, Kelli, and Greg all fall quickly. Jesus hallucinates he's playing with his dog and takes his hands off as if to throw a ball. Kelli is in a daze and walks right off the stage. Greg is hesitant to follow her and give up the competition, but decides it's
255:
Meanwhile, Kelli
Mangrum and Greg Wilhote have been bonding. They decide that if either of them wins they will go together to LA ("I'm Gone"). Norma, who's been using her walkman and her faith in God to get her by, begins to crack and breaks into uncontrollable laughter. This bothers Janis immensely
247:
It's a ways into the competition now and no one has fallen yet. Benny has been teasing many of the contestants, trying to intimidate them, as he is the only one of them who has won the contest in the past or even participated. He begins belittling Ronald McCowan, who has been snacking on candy bars
243:
The show opens with a pickup truck on stage and Benny
Perkins explaining 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
268:
Janis suddenly pipes up and claims that
Heather has taken her hands off the truck to put some lipstick on. Mike does his best to defend Heather but Janis becomes enraged claiming that the competition is fixed ("It's a Fix") and leaves the contest in a blaze of fury, becoming the third contestant
251:
Benny and the older man in the competition, J.D. Drew have taken to an unlikely partnership. J.D.'s wife, Virginia, keeps visiting and checking up on him, taking care of him during their 15-minute breaks. J.D., however, doesn't like being coddled and pushes her away, saddening her, and she sings
225:
produced the show. Artistic
Director Bruce Lumpkin substantially rewrote the show without permission, reassigning songs and lyrics, adding new incidental music, cutting sections of songs, and rearranging the order of the songs, therefore, changing the order of when contestants dropped out of the
234:
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). The lives of each contestant, along with the car dealer and a radio announcer are revealed during the "hardbody"
33:
382:
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".
396:
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
269:
eliminated. As J.D. and Benny bond further, they begin talking about where they live and J.D., Benny, and Norma become wistful about how the town has been taken over by industry and has none of the personality that it had when they were young ("Used to Be").
265:
she can in extremely broken Spanish, though he has told her repeatedly that he speaks English and was born in Texas ("Born in Laredo"). Later, J.D. reflects on his and Virginia's marriage ("Alone With Me (Reprise)").
546:
531:
926:
782:
610:
158:
had a private reading in April 2011 in New York City. The musical had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse, California, running from April 2012 through June 2012.
704:
689:
625:
644:
561:
968:
799:
753:
889:
521:
595:
576:
226:
contest. Shortly after opening, licensing agent Samuel French sent TUTS a cease-and-desist letter, and the production was closed prematurely.
873:
206:, who had choreographed the reading and La Jolla production. The musical closed on April 13, 2013, playing 28 previews and 28 performances.
127:
78:
815:
994:
670:
218:
909:
1092:
1025:
1097:
1038:
418:
nominations including Outstanding Musical, and won in the Outstanding Sound Design category. The production received three
498:
430:
429:
for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance. The musical received one nomination for the 31st Annual
1087:
1067:
464:
419:
844:
865:
163:
1082:
649:
62:
719:
426:
167:
203:
187:
144:
92:
800:"Sergio Trujillo Replaces Benjamin Millepied on Broadway Creative Team of 'Hands on a Hardbody'"
869:
32:
664:
516:
415:
411:
210:
159:
97:
769:
694:
566:
536:
506:
388:
191:
171:
166:, with the official opening on March 21, 2013. Directed by Neil Pepe, the cast featured
675:
630:
581:
378:
195:
136:
43:
1076:
422:
nominations, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, but did not win any awards.
214:
179:
143:, lyrics by Amanda Green. The documentary was adapted into a musical commissioned by
202:. The entire original La Jolla cast performed on Broadway. Sergio Trujillo replaced
724:
709:
679:
600:
585:
551:
488:
183:
140:
47:
1061:
831:
615:
199:
132:
67:
659:
407:
107:
102:
1003:
947:
787:
Will Truck Into Broadways Brooks Atkinson Cast and Design Team Confirmed"
634:
222:
175:
112:
285:
125:
is a musical based on S.R. Bindler's 1997 documentary film
999:
Is Big Winner of 2012-13 Outer Critics Circle Awards"
862:
The Playbill Broadway Yearbook: June 2012 to May 2013
440:
1026:"69th Annual Theatre World Awards Presented June 3"
87:
73:
61:
53:
39:
21:
477:Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
392:reviewer called the musical "engaging", writing:
890:"Symbolism and Struggle in a Contest of Dreams.
356:Joy of the Lord (Reprise) - Ronald, Chris, Norma
194:, scenic design by Christine Jones, costumes by
845:"Rebuilding 'Hardbody' At A Houston Chop Shop"
503:Outstanding Choreographer of a Broadway Show
311:Burn That Bridge - Heather, Mike, and Company
296:Human Drama Kind of Thing - Benny and Company
209:The first regional production was mounted by
8:
943:Are Big Winners at 67th Annual Tony Awards"
910:Hands on a Hardbody: Broadway’s New Pickup"
772:lajollaplayhouse.org, accessed July 8, 2012
770:" 'Hands On A Hardbody' Listing at LaJolla"
353:God Answered My Prayers - Benny and Company
305:My Problem Right There - Ronald & Women
758:Will Roll Into La Jolla Playhouse in 2012"
485:Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
347:Used to Be - JD, Benny, Norma, and Company
323:Hunt with the Big Dogs - Benny and Company
31:
18:
748:
746:
744:
547:Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
460:
406:On April 30, the musical received three
162:previews began February 23, 2013 at the
855:
853:
810:
808:
740:
532:Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
359:Keep Your Hands on It - JD and Company
79:Hands on a Hard Body: The Documentary
7:
802:theatermania.com, September 21, 2012
217:in May and June 2014. In June, 2014
814:Gioia, Michael and Jones, Kenneth.
317:Joy of the Lord - Norma and Company
1037:Gioia, Michael and Hetrick, Adam.
752:Hetrick, Adam and Jones, Kenneth.
705:Best Featured Actress in a Musical
338:Born in Laredo - Jesus and Company
14:
1063:Hands on a Hardbody
866:Applause Theatre and Cinema Books
469:Outstanding New Broadway Musical
414:. The musical received nine 58th
335:Hands on a Hardbody - Frank, Mike
967:Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew.
690:Best Featured Actor in a Musical
302:If She Don't Sleep - Don, Janis
969:"Billy Porter, Andrea Martin,
760:playbill.com, October 14, 2011
350:It's a Fix (Reprise) - Heather
1:
993:Gans, Andrew (May 13, 2013).
925:Purcell, Carey (2013-06-09).
789:playbill.com, October 2, 2012
611:Outstanding Book of a Musical
499:Fred and Adele Astaire Awards
431:Fred and Adele Astaire Awards
299:If I Had This Truck - Company
1047:Receive 2013 Astaire Awards"
860:Viagas, Robert, ed. (2013).
847:hesherman.com, June 20, 2014
437:Original Broadway production
341:Alone With Me (Reprise) - JD
320:Stronger - Chris and Company
308:Alone With Me - Virginia, JD
822:playbill.com, April 8, 2013
16:2012 musical by Doug Wright
1114:
1068:Internet Broadway Database
1049:playbill.com, June 4, 2013
1028:playbill.com, June 3, 2013
983:playbill.com, May 19, 2013
626:Outstanding Orchestrations
465:Outer Critics Circle Award
420:Outer Critics Circle Award
718:
658:
520:
515:
476:
468:
463:
455:
452:
449:
446:
30:
645:Outstanding Sound Design
562:Outstanding Choreography
443:
425:Keala Settle received a
190:. Musical staging is by
147:, La Jolla, California.
1093:Musicals based on films
344:It's a Fix - Janis, Don
219:Theatre Under the Stars
164:Brooks Atkinson Theater
981:Win Drama Desk Awards"
894:at La Jolla Playhouse"
834:New Line Theatre, 2014
402:Awards and nominations
399:
314:I'm Gone - Kelli, Greg
1098:Musicals set in Texas
832:"Hands on a Hardbody"
394:
888:Isherwood, Charles.
820:Will Close April 13"
650:Steve Canyon Kennedy
410:nominations for the
892:Hands on a Hardbody
818:Hands on a Hardbody
785:Hands On a Hardbody
756:Hands On A Hardbody
720:Theatre World Award
671:Best Original Score
522:Outstanding Musical
427:Theatre World Award
156:Hands on a Hardbody
128:Hands on a Hardbody
122:Hands on a Hardbody
24:Hands on a Hardbody
897:The New York Times
596:Outstanding Lyrics
204:Benjamin Millepied
188:Mary Gordon Murray
151:Production history
145:La Jolla Playhouse
93:La Jolla Playhouse
1088:Broadway musicals
908:Zoglin, Richard.
875:978-1-48034-159-3
843:Sherman, Howard.
733:
732:
577:Outstanding Music
433:but did not win.
372:Critical response
368:
367:
131:. The book is by
118:
117:
1105:
1050:
1035:
1029:
1022:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1011:
990:
984:
965:
959:
958:
956:
955:
922:
916:
915:, March 27, 2013
906:
900:
886:
880:
879:
857:
848:
841:
835:
829:
823:
812:
803:
796:
790:
781:Jones, Kenneth.
779:
773:
767:
761:
750:
517:Drama Desk Award
441:
416:Drama Desk Award
412:67th Tony Awards
286:
211:New Line Theatre
198:and lighting by
35:
25:
19:
1113:
1112:
1108:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1103:
1102:
1073:
1072:
1058:
1053:
1036:
1032:
1023:
1019:
1009:
1007:
992:
991:
987:
979:Vanya and Sonia
966:
962:
953:
951:
941:Virginia Woolf?
933:Vanya and Sonia
924:
923:
919:
907:
903:
887:
883:
876:
868:. p. 161.
859:
858:
851:
842:
838:
830:
826:
813:
806:
797:
793:
780:
776:
768:
764:
751:
742:
738:
695:Keith Carradine
662:
567:Sergio Trujillo
537:Keith Carradine
507:Sergio Trujillo
439:
404:
374:
369:
283:
281:Musical numbers
262:
241:
232:
192:Sergio Trujillo
172:Keith Carradine
153:
110:
105:
100:
95:
83:by S.R. Bindler
82:
46:
23:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1111:
1109:
1101:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1075:
1074:
1071:
1070:
1057:
1056:External links
1054:
1052:
1051:
1030:
1024:Gans, Andrew.
1017:
985:
960:
917:
901:
899:, June 5, 2012
881:
874:
849:
836:
824:
804:
798:Moore, Sarah.
791:
774:
762:
739:
737:
734:
731:
730:
727:
722:
716:
715:
712:
707:
701:
700:
697:
692:
686:
685:
682:
676:Trey Anastasio
673:
668:
656:
655:
652:
647:
641:
640:
637:
631:Trey Anastasio
628:
622:
621:
618:
613:
607:
606:
603:
598:
592:
591:
588:
582:Trey Anastasio
579:
573:
572:
569:
564:
558:
557:
554:
549:
543:
542:
539:
534:
528:
527:
524:
519:
513:
512:
509:
504:
501:
495:
494:
491:
486:
482:
481:
478:
474:
473:
470:
467:
462:
458:
457:
454:
451:
448:
445:
438:
435:
403:
400:
379:New York Times
373:
370:
366:
365:
361:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
339:
336:
332:
331:
326:
325:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
309:
306:
303:
300:
297:
293:
292:
284:
282:
279:
261:
258:
240:
237:
231:
228:
196:Susan Hilferty
152:
149:
137:Trey Anastasio
116:
115:
89:
85:
84:
75:
71:
70:
65:
59:
58:
55:
51:
50:
44:Trey Anastasio
41:
37:
36:
28:
27:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1110:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1083:2012 musicals
1081:
1080:
1078:
1069:
1065:
1064:
1060:
1059:
1055:
1048:
1046:
1042:
1034:
1031:
1027:
1021:
1018:
1006:
1005:
1000:
998:
989:
986:
982:
980:
976:
972:
964:
961:
950:
949:
944:
942:
938:
934:
930:
921:
918:
914:
911:
905:
902:
898:
895:
893:
885:
882:
877:
871:
867:
863:
856:
854:
850:
846:
840:
837:
833:
828:
825:
821:
819:
811:
809:
805:
801:
795:
792:
788:
786:
778:
775:
771:
766:
763:
759:
757:
754:"New Musical
749:
747:
745:
741:
735:
728:
726:
723:
721:
717:
713:
711:
708:
706:
703:
702:
698:
696:
693:
691:
688:
687:
683:
681:
677:
674:
672:
669:
666:
661:
657:
653:
651:
648:
646:
643:
642:
638:
636:
632:
629:
627:
624:
623:
619:
617:
614:
612:
609:
608:
604:
602:
599:
597:
594:
593:
589:
587:
583:
580:
578:
575:
574:
570:
568:
565:
563:
560:
559:
555:
553:
550:
548:
545:
544:
540:
538:
535:
533:
530:
529:
525:
523:
518:
514:
510:
508:
505:
502:
500:
497:
496:
492:
490:
487:
484:
483:
479:
475:
471:
466:
459:
442:
436:
434:
432:
428:
423:
421:
417:
413:
409:
401:
398:
397:restrictions.
393:
391:
390:
384:
381:
380:
371:
364:
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
340:
337:
334:
333:
329:
328:
327:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
307:
304:
301:
298:
295:
294:
290:
289:
288:
287:
280:
278:
274:
270:
266:
259:
257:
253:
249:
245:
238:
236:
229:
227:
224:
220:
216:
215:St. Louis, MO
212:
207:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
180:Hunter Foster
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
150:
148:
146:
142:
138:
134:
130:
129:
124:
123:
114:
109:
104:
99:
94:
90:
86:
81:
80:
76:
72:
69:
66:
64:
60:
56:
52:
49:
45:
42:
38:
34:
29:
26:
20:
1062:
1044:
1040:
1033:
1020:
1008:. Retrieved
1002:
996:
988:
978:
974:
970:
963:
952:. Retrieved
946:
940:
936:
932:
928:
920:
912:
904:
896:
891:
884:
861:
839:
827:
817:
794:
784:
777:
765:
755:
725:Keala Settle
710:Keala Settle
680:Amanda Green
601:Amanda Green
586:Amanda Green
552:Keala Settle
489:Keala Settle
424:
405:
395:
387:
385:
377:
375:
362:
275:
271:
267:
263:
254:
250:
246:
242:
233:
208:
184:Keala Settle
168:Allison Case
155:
154:
141:Amanda Green
126:
121:
120:
119:
77:
57:Amanda Green
48:Amanda Green
22:
929:Kinky Boots
616:Doug Wright
200:Kevin Adams
135:, music by
133:Doug Wright
88:Productions
68:Doug Wright
1077:Categories
954:2022-05-27
736:References
714:Nominated
699:Nominated
684:Nominated
660:Tony Award
639:Nominated
620:Nominated
605:Nominated
590:Nominated
571:Nominated
556:Nominated
541:Nominated
526:Nominated
511:Nominated
493:Nominated
480:Nominated
472:Nominated
408:Tony Award
108:Albany, NY
450:Category
235:contest.
103:St. Louis
1004:Playbill
948:Playbill
635:Don Hart
453:Nominee
230:Synopsis
160:Broadway
98:Broadway
1066:at the
1010:May 27,
975:Matilda
456:Result
260:Act Two
239:Act One
223:Houston
176:Jon Rua
113:Chicago
1045:Motown
1041:Pippin
997:Pippin
971:Pippin
937:Pippin
872:
864:. US:
447:Award
363:
330:Act 2
54:Lyrics
461:2013
444:Year
291:Act 1
111:2014
106:2014
101:2014
96:2013
91:2012
74:Basis
40:Music
1043:and
1012:2022
939:and
913:Time
870:ISBN
729:Won
678:and
665:67th
654:Won
633:and
584:and
389:Time
386:The
376:The
186:and
139:and
63:Book
221:in
213:in
1079::
1001:.
977:,
973:,
945:.
935:,
931:,
852:^
807:^
743:^
667:)
182:,
178:,
174:,
170:,
1039:"
1014:.
995:"
957:.
927:"
878:.
816:"
783:"
663:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
