Directed by Neil Pepe, the cast featured Allison Case, Keith Carradine, Jon Rua, Hunter Foster, Keala Settle and Mary Gordon Murray.

Musical staging is by Sergio Trujillo, scenic design by Christine Jones, costumes by Susan Hilferty and lighting by Kevin Adams.

Sergio Trujillo replaced Benjamin Millepied, who had choreographed the reading and La Jolla production.

Shortly after opening, licensing agent Samuel French sent TUTS a cease-and-desist letter, and the production was closed prematurely.

The show opens with a pickup truck on stage and Benny Perkins explaining how a 'hands on a hardbody' contest works.

The news crew covering the competition start interviewing the contestants and Janis Curtis and her husband Don catch their attention.

He illustrates such with his song "My Problem Right There" while the girls, Kelli, Heather, and Norma are rooting for him because they don't like Benny.

Fueled by their anger, Benny claims that if they can't "Hunt with the Big Dogs" they should stay on the porch with the pups.

Act II begins almost like a commercial with Mike Ferris and Frank Nugent, another host, singing the title song, "Hands on a Hardbody".

Cindy Barnes, the female host, approaches Jesus Pena, a Mexican contestant and says to him that if he wins she's going to have to see his green card.

Greg is hesitant to follow her and give up the competition, but decides it's more important that she doesn't hurt herself and runs after her.

Heather is completely jacked up on the uppers she has been taking and begins complaining about how uncomfortable the gloves they have to wear for the contest are.

They begin driving her crazy and she confesses that she was set up to win the competition and forfeits ("It's a Fix (Reprise)").

encourages him to hold on, but Benny loses faith quickly and recounts what life has done to him when he hoped and prayed ("God Answered My Prayers") and reveals that his son killed himself while he was overseas.

The New York Times reviewer wrote that the musical "sings sincerely and with a rough-edged humor of the dusty margins of American life.... features a wry, economical book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright..., along with a soulful score by Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio".

The Time reviewer called the musical "engaging", writing: Trey Anastasio... and lyricist Amanda Green have contributed a flavorful country-Western score that is tuneful, well integrated and evocative of the setting.

[13] Keala Settle received a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance.