Minneapolis May Be Extra Corny This Week
Tony award‑winning Broadway musical Shucked made its Minneapolis debut Tuesday night at the Orpheum Theater, and it will be playing through Sunday, January 11. Tickets are still available, and the show is recommended for audiences aged ten and up. The performance runs about two hours and fifteen minutes, including an intermission.
I arrived with virtually no background on the show—I hadn’t heard any of the songs and only learned about it a few months ago—so this was my first Broadway experience without a clear sense of what to expect. The moment the doors opened, the stage greeted us with a crooked, broken‑barn backdrop that felt like stepping into Dorothy’s house after the tornado, instantly establishing the whimsical tone of the production.
The story is set in the fictional Cob County, a vague Midwestern(ish) locale that could be anywhere from Kansas to Arkansas, leaving the setting to the audience’s imagination. The town’s livelihood depends on corn, and when the crop mysteriously dies, panic spreads. Maizy, the town’s beloved sweetheart, decides the only way to save the community is to leave Cob County and find help.
Maizy is met with doubt and discouragement from the people who mean the most to her, including her fiancé, Beau. Determined to prove the whole town wrong, Maizy decides to follow her heart and leave town to find someone who can help save their corn crop and, therefore, the town. Although the townspeople are terrified of venturing beyond their borders, she sets off for—of all places—Tampa. Because where else would you go to find someone to save your corn? There she spots a sign advertising a “Corn Doctor” with a suggestive silhouette, which she takes literally. The self‑styled doctor, Gordy, follows her back, promising to rescue the corn but quickly revealing himself as a con artist trying to pay off debts.
As the plot unfolds, Maizy wrestles with her feelings for her fiancé, Beau, and the charismatic outsider Gordy, while her cousin Lulu develops an unexpected crush that complicates family dynamics. The townspeople remain skeptical of Gordy’s motives, creating tension that drives the second act. Throughout, the musical delivers a steady stream of upbeat numbers, heartfelt ballads, and a generous dose of innuendo, keeping the tone light‑hearted and comedic.
Performance‑wise, Miki Abraham shines as Lulu, and Nick Bailey impresses as Beau, both bringing strong comedic timing and vocal presence. The ensemble consistently delivers high‑energy numbers, though a longer showcase would have been welcome. A unique feature of the show is its dual narration—one male and one female—guiding the audience in and out of scenes, a device rarely seen on Broadway that adds a fresh storytelling layer.
If you tend to reserve your theater budget for only the most critically acclaimed, must‑see productions, Shucked may not rank at the very top of your list. However, for anyone who enjoys a witty, feel‑good musical with plenty of laughs, it is a solid choice. Creators Robert Horn, Brandy Clark, and Shane McAnally have crafted a charming original comedy that deserves applause.
In short, Shucked is a sweet, funny, and entertaining Broadway outing that left me smiling and laughing throughout. With tickets still on sale for this weekend’s performances, it’s worth considering for a light‑hearted theater night.
