Danielle Wade and Miki Abraham Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Shucked takes place in the mythical town of Cob County; a town so small and isolated, "people think Roe vs. Wade is a debate about the best way to cross a river." The show features two narrators (played with amazing comedic timing by Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller) who guide the audience through the fable and act as a sort of Greek chorus adding context and history to the story. As the play begins, Maizy (get it? Maize-y?), played by Danielle Wade, and Beau (Nick Bailey) are getting married. Suddenly, the corn fields start dying. With the wedding interrupted, Maizy, against the better judgment of Beau and the rest of the town, decides to leave Cob County for the big city to find someone who can help.

Maizy finds herself in Tampa, where she comes across Gordy (Quinn VanAntwerp), a pseudo-podiatrist conman who calls himself a "corn doctor." Mistaking the stones in the bracelet her grandfather gave her for precious jewels, Gordy sees an opportunity to seize the stones for himself and clear his gambling debts. Maizy believes in Gordy, kisses him, and the two travel back to Cob County. Upon their return, Beau, his dimwitted but surprisingly reasonable brother Peanut (Mike Nappi), and Maizy's cousin and town moonshine distiller Lulu (Miki Abraham) instantly see through the newcomer's slick veneer and plot to expose Gordy's chicanery. Gordy shows off a perfect ear of corn that he says he just grew in the town's field, and he starts to win over the townsfolk.

Even before the show begins, it is clear by Scott Pask's set design that the world of Cob County is teetering on collapse. The set has a backdrop of a rickety wooden barn dangerously listing to the side, as if the smallest gust of wind (or outside influence) could be the cause of society's breakdown. The set is constant, with scenes being changed with the use of two-sided rolling panels of corn stalks and bold letters spelling out TAMPA. Japhy Weidman's lighting design augments the stark differences between the subtle, diffuse atmosphere of the small town and the stark, fluorescent brightness of the outside world.

The touring company is exceptionally cast and expertly directed by Jack O'Brien. The entire cast seems to be having fun, which adds to the overall exuberance on stage and in the audience. Danielle Wade's Maizy is sweet and brings a complex innocence and resolve to her role. Her voice is light but rich, and she can belt out the triumphant "Woman of the World" and still poignantly resonate with her wistful touching ballad, "Maybe Love." Likewise, Nick Bailey makes Beau a lovably earnest goofball who really is no match for Maizy's quick wit and more gentle pragmatism. He consistently shows off his comedic acting talents, but his vocal strength especially shines in his Act I song "Somebody Will" and his Act II solo "OK."

Quinn VanAntwerp is charming and sleazy in equal measures as the hapless shyster Gordy. He seems to glide across the stage with a swagger that only exposes his ineptitude as a conman. While his voice may not be as rich or forceful as others in the cast, he is disarming in his self-aware admission that he is bad at being "Bad."

Special mention must be made of Mike Nappi's portrayal of Peanut, Beau's brother. Being the comedy relief in a show that is already replete with humor could potentially drag the show down or at least make it lose momentum. Mr. Nappi owns the stage every chance he is given. When asked, "What do you think," Nappi's delivery of a parade of "I think..." non sequiturs ("I think people in China must wonder what to call their good plates" for example) bring the house down each time. His timing is flawless, and he always ends his scene adding something unexpectedly kind and thoughtful.

As witty as Peanut's kernels of wisdom may be, it is Miki Abraham's Lulu that has the stage presence, sass, one-liners, and voice to prove to be the soul of the show. M. Abraham is electric and stops the show in Act I, declaring that she is free and "Independently Owned." Despite her double entendres and hard-boiled, jaded persona, Lulu is the true voice of reason and reveals a vulnerability that is endearing. Her declaration, "family is telling someone to go to hell and then hoping they get there safely" proves to be the heart and true message of the show.

Go see Shucked! It is an a-maize-ingly fun show that allows the viewer to relax, laugh, and enjoy a simple story expertly told without taking itself, or the audience, too seriously.

Shucked is part of the 2025/2026 Premera Blue Cross Broadway at The Paramount series, presented by Seattle Theatre Group, with support from Premera Blue Cross as the series title sponsor.

Shucked runs through November 9, 2025, at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, Seattle WA. For tickets and information, please visit stgpresents.com or call 888-729-4718. For information on the tour, visit shuckedmusical.com.