Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of New Line's HANDS ON A HARDBODY

New Line Theatre, "the bad boy of musical theatre, " closes its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre with the American regional premiere, straight from Broadway, of the country-rock musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, running May 29-June 21. New Line is the first company in the country to produce this show since its Broadway run last season. Check out a first look at the cast below!

New Line's season closes with this exciting new rock musical, inspired by true events, with music and lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), music by Trey Anastasio (frontman for the rock band Phish), and a script by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife). This unique new musical is based on the acclaimed 1997 documentary of the same name, about an annual contest at a Texas truck dealership, where ten hard-luck Texans compete for a new hardbody truck. A new lease on life is so close each of them can touch it, and now for once, their fate is in their hands. Under a scorching sun, over 91 hours, they will laugh, cry and push their bodies and minds to the limits, as they fight to keep at least one hand on a brand new truck. The contestant with the most nerve and endurance will drive away with the American Dream.

HANDS ON A HARDBODY is a peek into the lives of everyday, ordinary Americans, struggling to survive against the backdrop of a broken and beaten American middle class and working class.

The New Line cast includes Todd Schaefer (as JD Drew), Jeffrey M. Wright (Benny Perkins), Rey Arceno (Jesus Peña), Mike Dowdy (Mike Ferris), Cindy Duggan (Janis Curtis), Zachary Allen Farmer (Frank Nugent), Ryan Foizey (Greg Wilhote), Alison Helmer (Virginia Drew), Marshall Jennings (Ronald McCowan), Taylor Pietz (Heather Stovall), Anna Skidis (Norma Valverde), Margeau Baue Steinau (Cindy Barnes), Luke Steingruby (Chris Alvaro), Keith Thompson (Don Curtis), and Marcy Wiegert (Kelli Mangrum). The show is directed by Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy, with scenic design by Rob Lippert, lighting design by Kenneth Zinkl, costume design by Sarah Porter and Marcy Wiegert, and sound design by Kerrie Mondy.

New Line Theatre Off Line will host a talk-back with the Hardbody production staff on Monday, June 2, hosted by New Line associate artistic director Mike Dowdy, as part of Off Line's Special Features series. Check the New Line website for details.

For more information, click here.

Photo credit: Jill Ritter Lindberg

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