Kernel of Truth: ‘Shucked’ Delivers the Laughs
There’s a particular kind of Broadway touring musical that arrives with expectations already baked in. Shucked is one of those shows. By the time it landed at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, it had a Tony Award win, a reputation for relentless dad jokes, and a marketing machine promising an evening of laugh-out-loud comedy wrapped in corn-fed charm. Walking into the Fisher, I wasn’t asking whether Shucked would be funny — I was asking whether it would be enough.
The answer, frustratingly and delightfully, is: sometimes.
Shucked is loud, unapologetically silly, and aggressively committed to its bit. It knows exactly what it is — and it never once pretends to be more than that. Whether that’s a strength or a weakness depends entirely on what you’re hoping to get out of your night at the theater.
[Warning: light spoilers from Shucked are below!]
A familiar Setup in this Tony Award-winning musical
Set in the insular farming community of Cob County, Shucked centers on Maizy and Beau, a young couple whose wedding plans are derailed when the town’s beloved corn crop begins to fail. What follows is a fish-out-of-water story involving a trip to the big city, a questionable “corn doctor,” and a series of misunderstandings that stretch the plot thin in service of joke after joke.
The book, by Robert Horn, is structured less like a traditional musical narrative and more like a stand-up routine with musical interludes. Emotional beats are introduced and then quickly undercut by punchlines, sometimes before they’ve had a chance to land. There’s very little room for genuine stakes to take root — every time the show flirts with sincerity, it swerves hard back into parody.
And yet… that’s clearly the point.
The problem is that Shucked doesn’t always trust its audience to enjoy the joke without explaining it, repeating it, or layering three more jokes on top. The result is a first act that feels padded and a second act that rushes to wrap things up after exhausting its own comedic fuel.
The cast of Shucked knows the assignment
What makes this touring production work as well as it does is a cast that clearly understands the tone they’re operating in — and commits fully.
Danielle Wade anchors the show as Maizy with an easy warmth and bright vocal clarity. She plays the role sincerely, which is no small feat in a musical that often undercuts its own stakes. Wade gives Maizy emotional credibility even when the script doesn’t fully support her arc.
Opposite her, Nick Bailey brings earnest charm to Beau, leaning into the character’s gentle simplicity without tipping into cartoonishness. His performance works best in quieter moments, where sincerity briefly gets the upper hand.
As Gordy, the smooth-talking “corn doctor,” Quinn VanAntwerp walks a fine line between likable and morally slippery. He sells the character’s charisma convincingly, even when the motivations feel underwritten, and his stage presence keeps the audience engaged during some of the show’s messier plot turns.
Mike Nappi delivers consistent laughs as Peanut, grounding the humor with strong physical comedy and sharp timing. Peanut could easily become a one-note sidekick, but Nappi’s choices give the role texture and momentum, especially in ensemble scenes.
The storytelling framework is handled by Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller, who serve as narrators, commentators, and, occasionally, the show’s conscience. Their chemistry keeps transitions moving and helps the audience track a plot that sometimes threatens to unravel under its own jokes.
The ensemble as a whole brings impressive energy, executing choreography and scene shifts with polish and clarity. Even when the material drags, the cast never does.
All of that said, the standout of this production is Miki Abraham as Lulu.
From her first entrance, Abraham commands attention with confidence, control, and a sense of humor that actually cuts. Lulu is written as the brash, unapologetically bold counterpoint to Cob County’s earnest innocence, but Abraham elevates the role beyond punchline delivery. Their comedic timing is impeccable, but it’s their vocal authority and emotional specificity that truly set them apart. In a musical filled with pleasant but forgettable songs, Abraham delivers the few moments that feel fully realized.
Music, jokes, and the law of diminishing returns
The score by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally fits the show’s aesthetic: country-pop Broadway with a knowing wink. It’s pleasant, occasionally catchy, and largely forgettable once you leave the theater. There are no songs here that feel destined to live beyond the production. Instead, the music exists to serve the jokes — and when the jokes work, the songs work. When they don’t, the numbers blur together.
The humor itself is a mixed bag. Some jokes land hard and earn genuine laughs. Others feel like placeholders — filler tossed in simply because silence might feel dangerous. The show doesn’t trust stillness, and it suffers for that lack of confidence. By intermission, the audience is warmed up and on board. By midway through Act Two, you can feel the fatigue set in.
Visually, Shucked looks like a Broadway show. The set design effectively establishes Cob County’s rustic charm, the costumes are clean and character-specific, and the lighting keeps everything bright and legible without ever becoming interesting enough to comment on.
The choreography adds movement but rarely meaning. It keeps the energy up — which this show desperately needs — but doesn’t deepen the storytelling.
Shucked is still a fun night out at the theater
This musical is exactly what it advertises: a high-energy, joke-forward musical that prioritizes laughs over substance. That will absolutely work for many audiences, especially those looking for a fun, low-stakes night at the theater. But for viewers who crave emotional resonance, narrative cohesion, or musical depth, Shucked can feel like a long walk through familiar terrain.
Shucked runs December 23, 2025–January 4, 2026 at The Fisher Theatre, with a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission. Grab your tickets for this Tony Award–winning musical comedy from Broadway in Detroit before it pops off to its next stop! Have you seen Shucked yet? What was your favorite (corny) moment or song? Let us know @BoxSeatBabes on all major social media platforms.
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