Keith Baker (center) and the Cast Photo by Jeff Thomas

In 1992, a Nissan dealership in Longview, Texas came up with the idea of a twist on the dance marathon: contestants agree to put a hand on a pickup truck, and the last person to remove their hand gets to keep the vehicle. The contest became an annual event (ending after a contestant, in a weakened mental state after more than two days without sleep, broke the window of a Kmart across the street from the dealership, went inside, and shot himself) and was the subject of a 1997 documentary film, Hands on a Hardbody, which became the source material for a musical of the same name.

Hands on a Hardbody features music by Amanda Green (daughter of famed playwright and lyricist Adolph Green) and Trey Anastasio (guitarist and front man of the well-known jam band, Phish), with lyrics by Green and a book by Doug Wright, whose I Am My Own Wife won both the Tony for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

With that pedigree, one should expect a pretty tuneful and entertaining show. As produced by the Spreckels Theatre Company, Hands on a Hardbody delivers on that promise. Theirs is a full-throttle version of the show, driven by a talented cast and creative team, telling a compelling story of a group of people down on their luck, hoping they can endure the hours of standing and lack of sleep required to take home the $22,000 truck.

The contestants represent a range of lower-middle class Texans looking for a break. There's Benny Perkins (Keith Baker), the man who won the first "Hands of a Hardbody" contest (the real Benny Perkins was indeed the winner of that first go-round). Benny likes to play mind games with the other contestants, and enters into an alliance with J.D. Drew (Larry Williams), the oldest contestant and one who is coddled by his wife Virginia (Julianne Bretan), who worries that J.D.'s already poor health will be worsened by this endeavor. Janis (Michele Pagano) is likewise supported by her husband Don (Dave Crone), who sets up a folding chair to keep an eye on her, and wears an hysterically homespun "Go Janis Go" he has fashioned out of cardboard. Norma Valverde (Serena Elize Flores) is buoyed by her faith, Jesus (Maick Poroj) dreams of going to veterinary school, Kelli (Mallory Gold) and Greg (Orion Pudoff) bond during the contest and plan to drive to L.A. in the new truck to pursue their dreams, while Heather (Katie Kelley) has ulterior motives that involve dealership manager Mike Ferris (Mark Bradbury.

True to its Texas roots, the score by Anastasio and Green has a country and western feel (though the highlight of the score might be the gospel-infused "Joy of the Lord" featuring Flores's powerful and achingly soulful voice. The songs give virtually every contestant the chance to share their dreams–and challenges. Benny taunts the other contestants with "Hunt with the Big Dogs" ("If you can't hunt with the big dogs," he sings" "stay on the porch with the pups!"). "Born in Laredo," Jesus's solo number, is especially timely as it his anthem to being an American citizen who faces prejudice because he also happens to be brown and bilingual.

There are many strong voices in the cast–Keith Baker imbues his Benny with a raspy rocker's tone, and Larry Williams sings with a plaintive, country style that melds nicely with his performance of "Alone With Me," along with Julianne Bretan. In addition to the terrific vocal performances, the entire cast act their roles with tremendous honesty and real heart. I never once thought of any performer as an actor, so decisively did they inhabit their roles.

The world these characters live in is changing, leaving them falling farther and farther behind in an economy splintering between the haves and have-nots, and none of them–even the eventual winner–is likely to end up on the "have" side of that line.

Director Sheri Lee Miller has done an excellent job managing a large cast and keeping the action flowing smoothly, staging the action so that we in the audience are never at a loss as to where we are in time and space. Music director Lucas Sherman leads a five-piece band who are more than up to the task of Anastasio's and Green's score.

My suggestion? Get your hands on a ticket to Hands on a Hardbody and you're guaranteed to come out a winner.

Hands on a Hardbody runs through March 1, 2026, at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Nellie W. Codding Theater, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park CA. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $16-$44. For tickets and information, please visit www.spreckelsonline.com or call the box office at 707-588-3400 12-5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday or one hour before showtime.