Popcorn-Worthy Performances and Stalk-Shaking Laughs Make Shucked a Broadway Crop You Don’t Want to Miss.

June 10th, 2025

Broadway’s Shucked is an absolute earful of fun. It’s a corn-cracking, kernel-popping, butter-drenched delight that manages to be both smart and stupid in the most intentional, brilliantly entertaining way. What could have easily been a one-joke concept (a town obsessed with corn?) turns out to be a golden cob of theatrical goodness, bursting with unexpected heart, nonstop humor and more puns than you can shake a stalk at.

Written by Robert Horn with music and lyrics by country music powerhouses Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked feels like the love child of The Book of Mormon and Oklahoma!, a zany, genre-bending production that isn’t afraid to take itself lightly while still delivering moments of emotional sincerity. At the center of the story is Maizy played by Danielle Wade (Mean Girls), who leaves her hometown of Cob County in search of help after the town’s corn supply mysteriously begins to fail. Her journey sets off a chain reaction of misunderstandings, unlikely alliances, romantic misadventures and some jaw-dropping reveals, all told through an ensemble cast that leans heavily into the show’s outlandish tone.

The Cast of The North American Tour of SHUCKED (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

The jokes come fast and steady like a harvest gone wild. The script is rich with one-liners that stick like syrup and will have you grinning like you just bit into something sweet and slightly naughty. You’ll be itching to remember the best lines, most of which are so corny, they’re brilliant. But don’t be fooled by the silliness, because beneath the shucks is a tender little cob of a story about finding love, losing it and realizing what really matters when the stalks are down.

The songs are as ear-catching as they are heartfelt. “Independently Owned,” delivered with sass and strength by Miki Abraham (Once on This Island) playing Lulu, is a showstopper, while “Holy Shit” takes irreverence to hilarious new heights. However, tracks like “Maybe Love” and “Somebody Will” balance the haywire humor with an emotional heave, giving the show a sweet-and-salty flavor that works surprisingly well. The vocals are truly strong across the board, with cast members belting through the absurdity with serious country chops.

Danielle Wade as Maizy and Miki Abraham as Lulu in The North American Tour of SHUCKED (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

Physically, the show thrives on energy. The cast throws themselves into each scene with wild-eyed abandon, delivering a lot of zany physical comedy that keeps the pace brisk. The storytellers played by Tyler Joseph Ellis (Netflix’s That 90s Show) and Maya Lagerstam (Rent, Tghe Wiz), in particular, are a comedic goldmine—blending slapstick with perfectly timed deadpan deliveries that had the audience erupting in laughter. Their hilarity helps fertilize the show’s energy, never letting it grow stale. Every gag feels freshly picked and expertly timed.

Visually, Shucked is as vibrant as its humor. The costume design leans heavily into exaggerated rural charm—colorful overalls, bright flannels and plenty of country flair. The set design and lighting are whimsical but sharp, supporting the storytelling without overwhelming it. Even the sound effects get their moment in the spotlight, often played for laughs in exaggerated, unexpected ways.

That said, the show isn’t for everyone. Young children, while engaged in most of the show’s outlandish humor, likely won’t grasp several of the punchlines, and parents should know that there’s some language that borders on inappropriate for family audiences. The humor leans into stereotypes of “dumb country folk,” but it’s done with enough heart and self-awareness to feel affectionate rather than offensive. Behind all the silliness is a surprisingly thoughtful message about self-worth, independence and the power of community.

Directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby, with musical supervision by Jason Howland, the production runs like a well-oiled tractor that is fast, funny and full of surprising depth. 

Jake Odmark as Beau and Danielle Wade as Maizy in The North American Tour of SHUCKED (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

In a theater landscape sometimes starched with seriousness, Shucked is a breath of fresh farm air: silly but not brainless, heartfelt but never preachy, and as committed to its gimmick as any show could ever be. Whether you’re in it for the belly laughs, the twangy tunes or just to see how many ways a corn pun can be used (spoiler: infinite), this is one ear-resistible show worth harvesting.

Shucked doesn’t just go against the grain, it thrives there.