Trey Anastasio, Benjamin Millepied join ‘Hands on a Hardbody’

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Phish, Benjamin Millepied and the La Jolla Playhouse -- together at last.

The cause of this eclectic assembly of creative talent is ‘Hands on a Hardbody,’ the new musical based on the popular 1998 documentary film that will debut at the La Jolla Playhouse in April, organizers announced on Friday.

Tony-winning playwright Doug Wright is penning the book for the musical. Millepied -- a principal with the New York City Ballet who also choreographed the movie ‘Black Swan’ and is engaged to Natalie Portman, with whom he has a newborn son -- will serve as choreographer. The rock band Phish will be represented in the production by frontman Trey Anastasio, who is co-writing the score. The crew also includes director Neil Pepe and lyricist Amanda Green.

‘Hands on a Hardbody’ tells the story of a contest to win a new hardbody truck. The competition requires people to keep their hands on the vehicle for the longest period.

The La Jolla Playhouse said that it commissioned the musical and that it developed the project through a series of readings and workshops. The production is scheduled to run April 27 to June 10.

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-- David Ng