HANDS ON A HARDBODY Composer Trey Anastasio Talks Broadway Debut on CBS SUNDAY MORNING

Leader of the rock group Phish, Trey Anastasio is making his Broadway debut as composer of the new musical Hands on a Hardbody, which opens on the Great White Way this month. Anastasio appeared on today's CBS SUNDAY MORNING to talk about his work on the show.

"I've said to some friends of mine that it's like trying to parallel-park a cruise ship," he told CBS' Anthony Mason. "I did not know the amount of work it was going to take. I didn't know it was going to take four years and, you know, six days a week from 10:00 to 6:00. It's thrilling, though."

Read the full interview here.

In 1983, Anastasio formed Phish at the University of Vermont with drummer Jon Fishman and bassist Mike Gordon. Page McConnell joined as keyboardist two years later. Phish split up in 2004, and afterward, Anastasio went through rehab for drug and alcohol abuse. After his treatment, the band got back together and Anastasio also created his own group, which now tours around the country.

The new American musical Hands on a Hardbody began previews in February at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street), in preparation for an official opening night of Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Inspired by true events and based on the acclaimed 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 hilarious, hard-fought contest that is Hands on a Hardbody only one winner can drive away with the American Dream.

Photo Credit: Seth Walters

More Articles by This Author...