Raue's 'Hardbody' a Chicago premiere - Northwest Herald
Actually gaining the rights to premiere the show in the Chicago area was a bigger accomplishment, said artistic director Richard Kuranda, who also is the Raue’s executive director. “It’s huge for us. We’ve never done anything like it,” Kuranda said of the production, which is presented by the Raue’s in-house company Williams Street Repertory. Based on a 1997 documentary of the same name and an actual contest in Texas, “Hands on a Hardbody” tells the story of 10 Texans as they try to outlast each other to win a Nissan Hardbody truck. “The thing that hooked me about this story is it’s an underdog story. On Broadway last year and nominated for three Tony Awards, the musical is based on a true story of 10 down-on-their luck people. Along with their efforts to win the truck, it tells their back stories. Winning the truck literally could change their lives, said Mark Mahallak, the director/choreographer for the show. Mahallak also directed Williams Street Repertory’s Chicago premiere of “Suds” this past summer and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” last year. “Sweeney” won four Broadway World Chicago awards, including a best director win for Mahallak. “Hardbody” is the latest in Williams Street’s efforts to offer. Source: www.nwherald.com
