The Cast Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Not only is Shucked funny, but it is also tuneful, upbeat, tender-hearted, and original. It was mostly well received when it opened on Broadway in April 2023, but without a big-name performer or a known title (e.g., from a movie or TV series), or a familiar song list ala jukebox musicals, it played just 41 weeks. For only six of those weeks was the theater less than 85% full, which would seem to be a big enough crowd to keep a show running, but, sadly, not on today's Broadway, unless the tickets can be sold at premium high prices (see above, big-name performers).

To be honest, I showed up at Shucked with low expectations and found myself delightfully entertained for two hours and change. Is it a musical for the ages? Certainly not. Should it have won the Tony Award that went to Kimberly Akimbo? No (I would have given it to Some Like It Hot, but I'm not a Tony voter). But in the best of all worlds we can have more than one musical a year that is entertaining and worth seeing settle in for a decent run. Shucked certainly is one of those.

I will tell you that Shucked's storyline is ridiculous–but in a good way. It is set in fictitious Cob (not Cobb) County in an unidentified corn-belt state. After the big and inventively staged opening number that celebrates all things "Corn," the wedding of childhood sweethearts Beau and Maizy (the jokes even show up in' the character's names) is interrupted by the announcement that, for the first time in history, Cob County's corn crop is failing. It should be mentioned that, because the corn grows so tall around the perimeter of the county, no one ever leaves or enters–a touch of Brigadoon there.

Maizy believes that the time has come for someone to leave and find help to save their crop. When no one else will do it, she summons up the resolve to do it herself, against Beau's orders. Yes, it is a setting where, at the start of the show, the boyfriend gives orders to the girlfriend and expects them to be followed. When she leaves anyway, Beau, played by Nick Bailey, delivers a rousing performance of one of the show's two best songs, "Somebody Will."

In the big city (which turns out to be Tampa for no discernible reason but somehow even this notion is funny), Maizy's head is turned by all the things she sees, and sure enough she finds a specialist–a "corn doctor" (actually, a podiatrist–well, not even that–that's a cover for his real vocation which is conman). His name is Gordy, and he sees a get-rich angle in her appeal to come to Cob County and heal their sick corn. He agrees to head back with her, but not before they exchange a kiss.

What about Beau? Well, that's what we hang around to find out, along with whether Gordy will actually fix what's ailing the corn or be found out, or none of the above. And what about Lulu, Maizy's busty, brash cousin and best friend, as well as the owner of the town's whisky still? She brags about being "Independently Owned," the other of the show's two best songs, also given a rousing delivery, this one by Miki Abraham. Lulu sees right through Gordy for the charlatan he is. But don't worry, it will all come out in the hogwash.

The plot pivots around Maizy, even though the other characters are more interesting, but Danielle Wade's performance makes her a likeable, plucky heroine with an unlikely mix of naivete and gritty determination, and we root for her. Wade has three big numbers: "Walls," "Woman of the World," and "Maybe Love." Her singing gets stronger with each one, so that "Maybe Love," though the quietest of the three, makes the strongest impression.

Having already mentioned Nick Bailey and Miki Abraham, both giving super performances that go beyond their big solo turns, there is also Quinn Van Antwerp as Gordy, who follows the trail blazed by Harold Hill and Starbuck in musicals of yore, a swindler who schemes to take advantage of a small, eager to believe town. Van Antwerp never seems as truly "Bad" as he sets out to be, which is the point of his big spotlight number. Mike Nappi is hilarious every time he speaks as Beau's brother, Peanut–mainly because his dialogue consists of a string of jokes, like a stand-up routine inserted into the musical. It sounds goofy, but it works.

The show is introduced as a fable by a pair of storytellers, identified simply as Storyteller 1 (Maya Lagerstam) and Storyteller 2 (Joe Moeller). They proceed to narrate scene transitions and occasionally take on bit roles in the narrative. This device sets up the far-fetched nature of the story–it's a fable, okay, so it doesn't have to be believable–and also provides two more characters with their own string of jokes to deliver. Lagerstam and Moeller are a great match, coming across as a pair of siblings (or maybe cousins) who tease one another but with evident affection.

Shucked's book is by Robert Horn, who won a Tony Award for his book for the musicalization of Tootsie. For my money, Shucked is more original and funnier. A scene in which the two storytellers switch rapid-fire between being gangsters and jewelers, on the phone with Gordy, is brilliant. A sequence where the Cob County men get Gordy drunk (the better to get him to confess to his deception), intertwined with a series of reprises called "Corn Mix," is brutally hilarious.

The songs are by country-western songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and most of the songs do have a country twang. It's not a great score, but there are a few winners. In addition to the few songs mentioned above, they score with "Friends," a sweet duet that re-affirms the bond between Maizy and Lulu.

Director Jack O'Brien, with a string of impressive credits and awards, but probably best known for directing Hairspray, doesn't shy away from the goofy story and groaning board of jokes (and yes, some are groaners–also some are decidedly R-rated), letting Shucked shine for being authentically what it is and not twisting it into a more slick or sophisticated entertainment.

Sarah O'Gleby's choreography never breaks out into full throttle dance routines but provides lively embellishment to the musical numbers–and may be the only time you see dancing corn cobs on any stage. Scott Pask's set–a mammoth corn crib that fills the stage with a pristine blue sky and lush fields of corn visible behind–works perfectly for this fable. Costumes (Tilly Grimes), lighting (Japhy Weideman), and sound (John Shivers) all serve the production with elan. There was some over-miking during the vocals during Act I, but that seemed to have been corrected by Act II, one of the hazards of hitting town and opening in a new theater without a try-out performance.

Actually, this national tour opened in October 2024 and after fifteen months on the road looks and sounds in great shape. One gets the feeling that the cast has great affection for these characters, and enjoy taking on their personas for a couple of hours. That affection radiates and creates a spirit of goodwill that permeates the production. As I said, a great entertainment with a good heart is no small achievement, and something we hope can find its place in the wide world of live theater.

Shuckedruns through January 11, 2026, at the Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis MN. For tickets and information, please call 612-339-7007 or visit hennepinarts.org. For information on the tour, visit www.shuckedmusical.com.

Music and Lyrics: Brandy Clark & Shane McNally; Book: Robert Horn; Director: Jack O'Brien; Choreography: Sarah O'Gleby; Scenic Design: Scott Pask; Costume Design: Tilly Grimes; Lighting Design: Japhy Weideman Sound Design: John Shivers; Wig Design: Mia Neal; Music Supervision, Orchestrations, and Arrangements: Jason Howland; Music Director: Nick Williams; Music Coordinator: John Miller; Associate Director: Derek Kolluri; Associate Choreographer: Robin Masella; Production Supervisor: Michael Passaro; Production Stage Manager: Alan D. Knight; Stage Manager: R.L. Campbell; Casting: C12 Casting - Stephen Kopel, CSA.

Cast: Miki Abraham (Lulu), Nick Bailey (Beau), Elijah Caldwell (Grandpa/ensemble), Audrey Cardwell (swing), Carly Caviglia (swing), Zach Cossman (ensemble), Cecily Dionne Davis (ensemble), Jaden Dominique (ensemble), Ryan Fitzgerald (ensemble), Sean Casey Flanagan (swing), Dominique Kent (ensemble), Maya Lagerstam (Storyteller 1), Joe Moeller (Storyteller 2), Mike Nappi (Peanut), Nick Raynor (swing), Celeste Rose (ensemble), Kyle Sherman (Tank/ensemble), Mallorie Sievert (swing), Quinn Van Antwerp (Gordy), Danielle Wade (Maizy).