Review Roundup: SHUCKED Launches North American Tour

The North American tour of Shucked has officially launched, kicking off in Providence, RI in October 2024. Read the reviews so far for Shucked below!

Shucked is the Tony Award–winning musical comedy. Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn, a score by the Grammy Award–winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater. 

The cast includes Miki Abraham as Lulu, Tyler Joseph Ellis as Storyteller 2, Maya Lagerstam as Storyteller 1, Mike Nappi as Peanut, Jake Odmark (Kinky Boots) as Beau, Quinn VanAntwerp as Gordy and Danielle Wade as Maizy.  

The cast also includes Zakiya Baptiste, Mackenzie Bell, Carly Caviglia, Cecily Dionne Davis, Ryan Fitzgerald, Sean Casey Flanagan, Jackson Goad, Erick Pinnick, Nick Raynor, Celeste Rose, Kyle Sherman and Chani Wereley.  

Erica Cataldi-Roberts, BroadwayWorld: Believe everything you’ve read or heard about Shucked’s relentless one liners, puns, and Dad jokes, because this is absolutely true. Your enjoyment - or not - of such quips will greatly factor into your overall enjoyment of the show. The show’s plot is fairly thin - in fact, much of the dramatic tension is openly solved before intermission. This almost makes one wonder if keeping the audience laughing was done at the expense of crafting a more sophisticated story. While many of the jokes are warranted, others are shoehorned in, sometimes at length, to the point where I sometimes found myself hoping the show could simply move on.

Will Demers, Edge Media Network: All of the actors seem at home here. You'd never know this is their first stop on the tour. Grand vocals, fun choreography, and some slapstick round out a fun night of light entertainment with the promise of a neat and happy (and somewhat sappy) resolution by the end of act two. Kids will enjoy the neat production numbers and visuals, and adults will giggle at the many double entendres and maybe even want to sing along.

G.E. Tipton, Music City Review: he music isn’t amazing, but Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally’s lyrics are hilarious. Most of the songs are upbeat and fun Broadway ensemble numbers. Danielle Wade as Maizy has a strong voice and leads in many of them, “Travelin’ Song” being my favorite of hers. The two songs that left the greatest impression on my husband and I were “Somebody Will,” and “Independently Owned.” The first song feels like a familiar country breakup song (Beau is reacting to his break up with Maizy), showing off Jake Odmark’s superb Broadway voice. The second song is sung by Lulu, displaying her independent spirit. Abraham’s voice is fabulous and the catchy song has gotten stuck in my head. The choreography mainly focuses on the comedy elements of the show (such as a corncob kickline) and is good. Everyone is well cast.

Joni Lorraine, BroadwayWorld: Y’all, SHUCKED is in town and it’s just as corny as you might imagine. It’s full to the brim with dad jokes, groan worthy puns, a-maize-ing talent, and a sweet little universal plot. It’s a strange but pleasant marriage between Broadway and corn-try music. An unapologetically silly display of rural Americana, SHUCKED is a timely fresh breath of fun.

Armando Urdiales, BroadwayWorld: Shucked is a laugh-out-loud, toe-tapping triumph that plants itself firmly in your heart. This wildly original musical weaves together gut-busting humor, heartfelt storytelling, and unforgettable songs to create a truly one-of-a-kind theater experience. From the opening number to the final curtain, Shucked is a rollicking celebration of small-town charm and big-hearted dreams. The book, written with razor-sharp wit, delivers punchline after punchline while still packing an emotional punch. Each character feels vibrant and relatable, their quirks and struggles bringing the story of Cobb County to vivid life.

Stage Notes, Dallas Voice: The story is a fairly simple one, but its clever and witty banter gave it a fun freshness. Amid its country music soundtrack, its endless array of corn puns and dad jokes and its rom-com cuteness, Robert Horn’s book and Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally’s music and lyrics blend into a satisfying musical experience with a big heart.

Average Rating: 80.0%