Chipola Theatre Presents Hands on a Hardbody Oct. 14-17

Miller and Miller Nissan is getting into the act for Chipola College’s latest theatre production.

The dealership has loaned the college a new 2022 Nissan Frontier for the musical, Hands on a Hardbody, which runs Oct. 14-17. 

Evelyn Ward, Chipola Director of Fine Arts, says, “We are so thankful to Miller and Miller for loaning us this beautiful vehicle. I didn’t know what to expect when I approached Executive Manager Michael John Mitchell with our outrageous request of borrowing a brand new truck, but he was quick to offer support for our program.  We simply could not do this show without them.”

In other news about Hands on a Hardbody, Stephen Guarino, a three-time Emmy-Nominee, will play the role of Benny in the production.

Guarino, known for Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, has also starred in Netflix’s Eastsiders, ABC’s Happy Endings, Dr Ken, and The Goldbergs, NBC’s This Is Us and Kenan, and Hulu’s Good Trouble.

He was the previous Director of the CBS Diversity Showcase, creator of the Off-Broadway sensation “The Nuclear Family”, and a graduate of The Public Theatre Shakespeare Program and Florida State University.

Hands on a Hardbody is based on S.R. Bindler’s 1997 documentary film of a real-life “Hands on a Hard Body Contest.” The all-American musical chronicles a small-town endurance contest. For 10 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 Nissan truck in order to win it. In the hard-fought contest, we will see the trials these contestants will endure for a chance to drive away with the American Dream. 

The show runs Thursday, Oct. 14 through Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m.  Tickets may be purchased at the Center for the Arts Box Office or online at www.chipola.edu/boxoffice. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for ages 18 and under, and free for Chipola staff and students.

For questions about tickets or to become a season contributor with the ACT Fund, call the Box Office at 850-718-2420.