Sergio Trujillo to Take Over for Benjamin Millepied as Choreographer for Broadway-Bound HANDS ON A HARDBODY

The producers of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY announced today that Benjamin Millepied has withdrawn from the production due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts and that, going forward, Sergio Trujillo (Memphis, Jersey Boys) will assume musical staging responsibilities for the show. Theatre, dates, and ticket information for the Broadway production of HANDS ON A HARDBODY will be announced shortly.

“It’s been a privilege to work with this very talented team on an exciting and innovative piece of theatre,” said Millepied. “Regrettably, my schedule for this coming spring is shaping up to be busier than I’d anticipated and I won’t be able to continue with the show, but I’m thrilled to have been involved with a great new musical.”

Inspired by true events and based on the acclaimed 1997 documentary of the same name by S.R. Bindler (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, and direction by Neil Pepe (Broadway’s Speed-The-Plow). The world premiere production of HANDS ON A HARDBODY opened Saturday, May 12, 2012 at La Jolla Playhouse and played a limited engagement there through Sunday, June 17, 2012.

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.

Producers Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Barbara Whitman, Latitude Link, Dede Harris, Sharon Karmazin, and Howard and Janet Kagan will bring the La Jolla Playhouse production of the new American musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY to Broadway in the 2012-2013 season.

HANDS ON A HARDBODY was commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director & Michael S. Rosenberg, Managing Director).

Sergio Trujillo (Choreographer). Broadway: Tony Award winning Best Musical - Memphis (OCC Award, Astaire, Drama Desk Award noms), Tony and Olivier Award winning Best Musical – Jersey Boys (Olivier, Drama Desk, Dora, OCC Award noms), Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal (Lucille Lortel Award nom), The Addams Family, Leap of Faith (Drama Desk, Astaire noms, All Shook Up, Guys and Dolls (Astaire Award nom.). Off-Broadway: Saved (Playwrights Horizon, Lucille Lortel nom.), The Capeman, Romeo & Juliet (Public), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Kismet (Encores!), Salome (NYC Opera). Regional: White Noise (director/choreographer), The Wiz, Zhivago (La Jolla), Mambo Kings, The Marriage of Figaro (L.A. Opera), Chita and All That Jazz. International: Disney’s Tarzan (World Theatre Award nom.); West Side Story; The Sound of Music (Stratford); Peggy Sue Got Married (West End); Kiss Me, Kate (Japan). TV: Judging/choreographing on “So You Think You Can Dance: Canada,” “Broadway: The American Musical” (PBS), “The 14th American Comedy Awards” (ABC), “Triple Sensation” (CBC). Ovation Award for Empire: A New American Musical, four Dora Award nominations in Canada. Upcoming: Director/Choreographer: Flashdance, Arrabal.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.