Theater Review: SHUCKED at The Fabulous Fox Theatre

So many musicals in recent years have been remakes of movies or other media, so it’s incredibly refreshing to see a new musical with its own identity and concepts. The newest production in the Fabulous Fox’s season is Shucked, a hilarious and sweet musical about….corn. Yes, corn.

Shucked takes place in a small, isolated county in the middle of the U.S., where the residents live for their corn. When all the corn dies during a young couple’s wedding, the town is thrown into disarray until the young bride travels outside the county to find help saving the corn, but runs into a conman. But Shucked is so much more than its talk of corn. It’s hilarious and at times, a bit irreverent. It’s filled with clever puns and sharp wit. Honestly, it’s hard for audiences not to laugh until they’re in tears.

Danielle Wade shines as the young bride, Maizy, with sweet vocals and a charming naivety. Lulu, the bride’s cousin, is portrayed by Miki Abraham who has a powerful, commanding spirit on stage and is vocally strong and brilliant, especially in the song “Independently Owned.” Jake Odmark as Beau (the groom) and Quinn VanAntwerp as the conman Gordy bring charisma and energy to their roles, adding plenty of fun to the production. The two storytellers (Maya Lagerstam and Tyler Joseph Ellis) are endearing and add great comical farce to the story. Mike Nappi as Peanut, Beau’s brother, expertly delivers some of the funniest and groan-worthy lines throughout the musical.

The musical’s book is the heart of the show, full of funny, witty quips and moves at a good pace. Wrapped up in a quick moral at the end, the show also weaves in some thoughtful commentary about relationships, family, identity, and community.  Unfortunately, the music is forgettable and is overshadowed by the great dialogue of the show. It helps that a majority of the lyrics are amusing, but the thoughts would be just as funny without the melody. The little choreography that is displayed is fine, but only stands out during “Best Man Wins.” The lighting and sets are effectively used to let the actors shine.

Shucked is full of heart and earnestly sweet in its conclusion. Audiences will enjoy its simple yet hilarious story, packed with puns and clever humor. It’s one of the funniest new shows in recent years.

Shucked plays at the Fabulous Fox through February 23, 2025. 

Photo credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman