‘Shucked’ is a hilarious good time. To be honest, I was not looking forward to attending a show about corn, but at the end of the evening, I was so incredibly glad that I did. This underrated gem of a musical did a great job of covering up the synopsis while it was on Broadway. It’s smart, full of heart, and a candidate for my new favorite show (“Come From Away” currently holds this position). 

Cobb County finds itself in trouble. The corn has stopped growing. Corn is everything in this town. It provides everything the citizens need to live a full life. At the front of our story are Maizy (Danielle Wade) and Beau (Jake Odmark), two engaged lovers who are getting ready for their big day. After an argument, Maizy decides to venture out of Cobb County to find help for the town she loves so much. She arrives at a magical town called Tampa, where she meets the Corn Doctor Gordy (Quinn Vanantwerp). This con man has a plan to come back to help Maizy and Cobb County, in hopes of paying off his debts to the mob. 

Robert Horn writes a hilarious book filled with dad jokes, puns, and ‘corny’ language. The laughs come fast and fierce in this show. While the story is simple, and not necessarily unique, it is entertaining from start to finish. This is theatre at its finest. Sit back, relax, laugh, repeat. 

Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally provide the music and lyrics to this show and they do a wonderful job crafting music that fits the Broadway standard of excellence, but also creates music that has an identity in the world the story takes place in. Everything fits in very nicely and does a great job engaging the audience and showcasing the talent of the performers on stage. 

Tyler Joseph Ellis and Maya Lagerstam lead the show as the storytellers of this Cobb County fable. They interweave themselves into the action effortlessly, possess great comedic abilities, and keep the story flowing. They are the comic duo we didn’t know we needed in this hilarious musical.

Danielle Wade plays a big hearted Maizy, with a voice that appeases the musical theatre Gods. We love when she enters the stage, and she keeps us guessing with every turn. 

Mike Nappi is hysterical as the dimwitted Peanut. His one-liners are some of the best written jokes I have ever heard. He is one-part Jeff Foxworthy, one-part Gomer Pyle. 

Jake Odmark is great as Beau. He has a wonderful voice, and his performance of the song “Somebody Will” is a show stopper.

Miki Abraham is a powerhouse as Lulu. She has great authenticity in her character, and brings true heart to her performance in “Independently Owned” and “Friends.”

Jack O’Brien does a wonderful job directing a show that could have easily been laughed its way out of the Broadway realm. The structure is strong and the story is pretty relatable. You will laugh yourself silly. Go see this show.

Running Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes with a 20-minute intermission.

“Shucked” runs until March 30, 2025 and is presented at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre. For more information, click here.