re: Hands on a Hard Body: The Musical

[BobbyBubby]

Finally a movie to musical adaptation I can get into!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/132460-Hands_on_a_Hard_Body_Will_Be_a_Stage_Musical_by_Wright_and_Green

[CSonBroadway]

I am getting SO SO SO SO sick of people titling things "blah blah: The Musical" it is getting so annoying in my opinion.

[BobbyBubby]

I agree. But I wonder if it's a rights issue.

[snarkywannabedreamer]

this is a brilliant documentary but I worry that a musical translation will be campy and silly... playing the superficial joke of rednecks standing around a truck. Whereas the doc (which I admit was teetering on the verge of silly) still had so much heart and pathos. Good luck with this one! It's a really cool film.

[Jenna Maroney]

The title sounds like a vehicle (no pun intended) for Nick Adams.

[snarkywannabedreamer]

trust me, it's not! :)

[Scarywarhol]

snarkywannabedreamer: I don't think you have to worry, here is what Doug Wright says about the show in Variety:
"
"What could have been a comical look at a local eccentric tradition and a sendup of Texas stereotypes became a powerful metaphor for the nature of success and failure in America," Wright said. "For each character, the truck represents something different. There is a devoutly religious contestant for whom this is a test of faith, there is a returning champion defending his manhood, a bike-riding young woman for whom this is a ticket out of a small community to chase larger dreams."
"

[snarkywannabedreamer]

nice! sounds like they are doing it right. very curious about this one

[Mister Matt]

I've been a huge fan of this film for years, but I'm not sold on the idea yet. With that team, it certainly has potential, but I'm also not a fan of "__________: The Musical!" camp shows, either and luckily, the article makes no mention of the musical's intended title. I'd see how the songs pan out and see if one of the titles could be fitting for the show, especially if they are exploring a piece that is something other than yet another Off-Broadway musical spoof. The documentary is not popular enough for the title to be a major draw. In fact, when I ask friends if they've seen the film, they always assume it's porn. Not a great marketing strategy for Broadway.

[#1CarrieFan]

Just read your message concerning the marketing campaign. As I'm out here in the Pacific Northwest and I am blind, can somebody describe to me the NY Times ads and the marquee that I'm assuming is up at the theater already.

[theatergeek3]

Saw it in La Jolla. It's fantastic! Definitely getting tix for the Bway production!

[chewy5000]

Most shows these days tend to append "The musical" or "A new musical" onto their titles.

[VernonGersch]

caught the show down in La Jolla last year - and it really is entertaining. Incredible performances all around. The heavy set woman - I am spacing on her name - gives an AMAZING tour de force performance, I see a Tony nod in her future for this.

The music is also really really good...Can certainly hear the Phish influence (Trey Anasastio did the music)

I am sure that they have tighted it up as well since its incarnation in La Jolla.

[winston89]

I don't know if this song is now in the show, but there was a song written by Trey and Green called "Burn That Bridge." I believe it was written for the show, but I am not sure if it is still in the show anymore. But, in any event, this is a song that Trey has done with Phish a few times and I have heard them do it and I really dig it. I am a big Phish fan so this is by far the number one new musical I am looking forward to this season.

[fashionguru_23]

Does anyone know why they aren't including the names of the Ensemble on the website?

EDITED AFTER: They finally added the names, although, it took them forever!

[TheatreDiva90016]

"The heavy set woman - I am spacing on her name "

Keala Settle. She was a Tracy on the first national tour of Hairspray and also Bloody Mary in the National tour of South Pacific.

She rocks my socks.

[VernonGersch]

Thank you TheaterDiva 90016 - Keala Settle, she certainly rocks my socks as well...

Winston89 - Big Phish fan here as well - which is why I enjoyed HOAHB music so much...wish Mike, Fishman and Paige were playing the score every night...that would be amazing. Maybe they will end up doing that at some point - sort of the way American Idiot did???

[Matt Rogers]

I would love to know who invested In this, and why. The film is well regarded but is not a household name. If there are stars, they are not being prominently marketed. Speaking of the marketing, what I've seen looks bland and uninspired. The discount flyer I received was neither compelling enough, nor deeply discounted enough to make me run to my computer and reserve tickets. I wish them all the best, but I don't see what the hook is here. Is it really tht good that general audiences (not us.....we will clearly see, and argue over anything) will pay a hundred and fifty bucks to see this, even of it gets great reviews? Wouldn't a limited run at a nonprofit make more sense?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Why are you so snatchy about a show you haven't seen and know nothing about?

[uncageg]

Attended the sneak peek at Hard Rock a while ago and liked what I heard. Seeing the show on the 28th. Wnston, don't hold me to this but I seem to remember them singing that song because the title sounds so familiar.

[grumpyoptimist]

I really liked it at La Jolla Playhouse, but I can't say I thought it was "a few months away from Broadway" ready. The performers were great and really fit their respective roles (Keith Carradine was beyond amazing), it's just it didn't quite come together as a tight, cohesive package. I'm sure they've tweaked since then and I'm hopeful, even with all the competition this spring. BTW, a friend was at a talkback in La Jolla where one of the audience members was in a t-shirt given to contest participants...he said they nailed the feel of the contest. Sidenote: have linked to an article that ran while the show was in La Jolla, with respect to staying faithful to the movie, it was reported that some of the people in the documentary are portrayed right down to their real names in the show...these people were also given financial stakes should the show make it to Broadway (which is a significant improvement on how they did from the movie...the filmmakers never even had them sign rights releases)
A touch extreme: Playhouse's 'Hardbody'

[#1CarrieFan]

Wonderful to hear so much info about this show. The person that commented on the marketing campaign attracted my interest. Can somebody tell me what the marquee looks like?

[KylePKJP]

I was very skeptical until I watched a short preview video La Jolla put out featuring the creatives and some of the cast. The moment Allison Case sang one line of a song I believe is called "Gone" I was sold.

Wishing this production all the luck in the world!