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Shucked
Broadway Promotional Poster
Music
Lyrics
  • Brandy Clark
  • Shane McAnally
BookRobert Horn
PremiereOctober 28, 2022: Pioneer Memorial Theatre, Salt Lake City
Productions

Shucked is a 2022 musical with music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and a book by Robert Horn. The Broadway production began previews at the Nederlander Theatre on March 8, 2023, before opening on April 4.[1] The show played its final performance on January 14, 2024. It received positive reviews and went on to receive nine nominations at the 76th Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Cast member Alex Newell became one of the first two openly non-binary performers to be nominated for and win a Tony Award, with their win for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.[2][3]

A U.S. tour, West End production, and feature film adaptation are currently planned.

Synopsis

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Act One

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The storytellers discuss the history of the town, Cob County, emphasizing the town's love for corn. They introduce the audience to Maizy and Beau, a couple who are planning their wedding ("Corn").

While Beau's brother, Peanut, is officiating the wedding, the town's corn suddenly begins to die. The town decides that they can't have a wedding until they fix the corn. Maizy talks to her cousin, Lulu, and her grandfather, before discussing the situation with Beau. Maizy tells Beau that she wants to leave the town in order to find solutions, but Beau is against the idea. Maizy explains her reasoning, before booking a plane to Tampa ("Walls"). Maizy is amazed by Tampa, and she finds a podiatrist who calls himself a "corn doctor". Unaware of what that actually means, she decides to meet the doctor, a man named Gordy ("Travelin' Song").

Gordy comes from a family of conmen, but is not great at the job ("Bad"); currently, he is in debt to some members of the mob (played by the storytellers). Gordy notices a bracelet that Maizy is wearing, which he takes to have appraised by the jewelers (also played by the storytellers), who say that the stones are incredibly valuable. Gordy realizes he can use the bracelet to get out of his debt. He tries to charm Maizy, and Maizy kisses him. Although shocked by her eagerness to cheat on Beau, she delights in her ability to save the corn ("Woman of the World").

Maizy takes Gordy back to Cob County, where Beau is angered at her decision to go to Tampa. Maizy retorts that Beau is jealous that she managed to do something about their situation, whereas Beau couldn't even leave the county. As the fight gets increasingly heated, Maizy admits that she kissed Gordy. Beau is shocked and angered, and breaks off his engagement with Maizy, deciding that he's going to find someone who wants him ("Somebody Will").

At Lulu's whiskey distillery, Maizy vents about the situation. Lulu tells her that her mistake was telling Beau that she kissed Gordy. Gordy arrives and tries to sweet-talk Lulu, but Lulu ignores him, relishing her independence as a single person ("Independently Owned").

Gordy receives two calls from the jewelers and the mob. The jewelers tell him the stones weren't as valuable as they thought, while the members of the mob tell Gordy his debt has been cleared. However, Gordy misunderstands both calls, due to the poor cell service in Cob County. Peanut, Beau, and Lulu overhear the conversations, and go to warn Maizy ("Holy Shit"). However, Maizy remains optimistic and doesn't believe the other three. She and Lulu get into an argument, leading to Maizy saying that Lulu's whiskey is bitter. After they leave, Maizy wonders what love means ("Maybe Love").

Gordy reveals a corn cob he's found, which is growing, to the town. He tells them that the stones from the bracelet are stopping the corn from growing, and to fix the situation he will remove the stones from the county; he actually intends to keep the stones for himself. The rest of the town takes this as an answer, except for Beau, Lulu, and Peanut. Maizy, still frustrated with Beau and Lulu, and excited by her ability to save the corn, misinterprets Gordy being down on one knee, and agrees to marry him, to the surprise of everyone in Cob County ("Corn (Reprise)").

Act Two

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The storytellers briefly recap the events of Act I. The town goes into a song about how they're Christian, but they drink alcohol ("We Love Jesus"). Peanut and Beau watch the celebration, and Peanut asks Beau if he's doing all right. Beau says he's fine, but admits his heartache after Peanut leaves ("OK").

As Gordy tries to leave Cob County with the stones, he runs into Lulu. Gordy attempts to charm Lulu, again, and Lulu is interested in Gordy's advances. However, she removes the catalytic converter from his car, forcing him to stay in town.

Maizy and Gordy both have trouble with the vows for their upcoming wedding. Maizy realizes that the chemistry between her and Beau is still there, and she begins to have second thoughts about the wedding. Lulu and Beau advise Gordy and Maizy, respectively, to pretend that they are the ones they are giving vows to, while the storytellers watch with chagrin ("I Do").

Maizy asks her grandfather for advice about the wedding. Afterwards she speaks with Lulu, and the two make up ("Friends"). Lulu admits that she is interested in Gordy, and the two of them try to come up with a plan to set things right. Meanwhile, Peanut, while attempting to overlook his own romantic interest in Gordy, suggests that Beau, along with the rest of the men, get Gordy drunk, which would force him to admit everything. Storyteller 2 joins in on this song ("Best Man Wins").

The evening before the wedding, the boys easily manage to get Gordy drunk ("Corn Mix"), and he admits his plan. He also admits that the corn cob he showed the town was planted, as he bought it from Whole Foods. However, Gordy says that he wants to do right. Beau and Maizy get back together, and Gordy and Lulu also get together. It is revealed that Storyteller One is Lulu and Gordy's grandchild, while Storyteller Two is Maizy and Beau's grandchild. Beau and Maizy have the wedding that they were hoping for, as Peanut, once again, officiates ("Maybe Love (Reprise)").

Musical numbers

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Cast

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Character Salt Lake City[4] Broadway[1] First National Tour[5]
2022 2023 2024
Maizy Caroline Innerbichler Danielle Wade
Lulu Alex Newell Miki Abraham
Gordy John Behlmann Quinn VanAntwerp
Peanut Kevin Cahoon Mike Nappi
Beau Andrew Durand Jake Odmark
Storyteller 1 Ashley D. Kelley Maya Lagerstam
Storyteller 2 Taylor Trensch Grey Henson Tyler Joseph Ellis

Notable cast replacements

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Broadway (2023–2024)

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Productions

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Washington, D.C. (2020) (cancelled)

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Shucked was partially derived from one of Horn's earlier projects, 2015's Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical.[4] Sources seem to differ on whether Shucked should be considered an evolution of or completely separate from Moonshine, as the only elements remaining from the 2015 show are two songs and that one character is named Lulu.[7] Originally the show was booked for a run in late 2020 at the National Theatre. This run was subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic the show continued to undergo rewrites.[8]

Salt Lake City (2022)

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The show was first performed in 2022 at the Pioneer Memorial Theatre in Salt Lake City, Utah from October 28 to November 12, where it received positive reviews.[9] Most of the Utah cast transferred with the show to Broadway.[10]

Broadway (2023–2024)

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The Broadway production began previews on March 8, 2023, at the Nederlander Theatre. Two weeks prior, the song "Maybe Love" was released as part of rehearsal footage.[11] Advertising for the production was vague and used corn-related puns in order to generate interest, a strategy which seems to have been successful.[12][13] In its first week of previews, the show grossed US$291,972, having sold 99% of its available tickets at reduced "preview pricing" rates.[14][15] Its second and third weeks of previews grossed $456,719 and $517,296, respectively.[15]

The production was directed by Jack O'Brien. It featured choreography by Sarah O'Gleby, orchestrations by Jason Howland, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Tilly Grimes, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by John Shivers, and wig design by Mia Neal.

The production opened on April 4, 2023, to mostly positive reviews.[16] Later that year, the show launched a marketing campaign with country singer Reba McEntire as its spokesperson.[17]

The show played its final performance on January 14, 2024.[18]

North American Tour (2024)

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In October 2023, it was announced that the show will embark on a 30-city National Tour across North America. Casting was announced on September 16, 2024.[19] The tour began performances at the Providence Performing Arts Center on October 20, 2024.

West End (2025)

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The production is scheduled to transfer to a Delfont Mackintosh theatre in London's West End in the Winter of 2025. Specific dates, venue, and casting are still to be announced.[20]

Australia (2026)

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In January 2024, it was announced that an Australian production of the show is planned for Spring 2026.[21]

Cast album

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On March 20, 2023, it was announced that the show would release an Original Broadway Cast Recording, to be released by Sony Masterworks Broadway on May 5.[8][22] The album was produced by Jason Howland, Billy Jay Stein, McAnally, and Clark.[23]

Reception

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The show received positive reviews from The Daily Beast,[24] Deadline,[25] Entertainment Weekly,[26] the New York Post,[27] New York Stage Review,[28] Theatrely,[29] Time Out,[30] Times Square Chronicles,[31] and Variety.[32] It received mixed to negative reviews from The Guardian,[13] The New York Times,[33] Observer,[34] and The Wrap.[35] Reviews tended to praise the show's comedy and acting. Its music was generally noted as good but not stand-out, with the exception of the number "Independently Owned", which many reviewers called attention to for Alex Newell's exceptional performance.[36] Weak spots in the show seemed to be its plot and its implementation of a moral.[36][34]

Awards and nominations

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2022 Salt Lake City production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2022 BroadwayWorld Salt Lake City Awards Best New Play or Musical Won[37]

2023 Broadway production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result
2023 Tony Awards[38][39] Best Musical Nominated
Best Book of a Musical Robert Horn Nominated
Best Original Score Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Jack O’Brien Nominated
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Kevin Cahoon Nominated
Alex Newell Won
Best Scenic Design of a Musical Scott Pask Nominated
Best Sound Design of a Musical John Shivers Nominated
Best Orchestrations Jason Howland Nominated
Drama Desk Awards[40] Outstanding Musical Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical Robert Horn Nominated
Outstanding Music Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally Won
Outstanding Lyrics Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Jack O'Brien Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Andrew Durand Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Kevin Cahoon Nominated
Alex Newell Won
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical Scott Pask Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Tilly Grimes Nominated
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical John Shivers Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations Jason Howland Nominated
Drama League Awards[41] Distinguished Performance Award Alex Newell Nominated
Outstanding Production of a Musical Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Jack O'Brien Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards[42] Outstanding New Broadway Musical Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical Robert Horn Won
Outstanding New Score Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical Jack O'Brien Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical Caroline Innerbichler Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical Alex Newell Won
Outstanding Orchestrations Jason Howland Nominated
Theatre World Award[43] Caroline Innerbichler Honoree
Ashley D. Kelley Honoree
2024 Grammy Award[44] Best Musical Theater Album John Behlmann, Andrew Durand, Caroline Innerbichler, Alex Newell (principal vocalists); Brandy Clark, Jason Howland, Shane McAnally & Billy Jay Stein (producers); Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally (composers/lyricists) Nominated

Film adaptation

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On January 14, 2024, during the curtain call at the end of the show's final performance on Broadway, Mike Bosner, the show's lead producer, announced that Mandalay Pictures will adapt the musical into a feature film. Robert Horn will return to pen the screenplay, with Jason Michael Berman, Alan Fox and Jordan Moldo producing. Horn, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Jack O’Brien will executive produce along with Sandra Berman and David Zelon.[45][46]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hall, Margaret (March 8, 2023). "Broadway Gets Corny; Shucked Begins Performances March 8". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee Make History as First Nonbinary Actors Nominated for Tony Awards". Peoplemag. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Floyd, Thomas (June 11, 2023). "J.Harrison Ghee, Alex Newell are first non binary actors to win Tonys". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  4. ^ a b McEntee, Billy (September 30, 2022). "Cast Set For Pre-Broadway Tryout of 'Shucked,' New Musical Solving the Corn-Undrum Of A Divided America". The BroadwayBlog. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Rosky, Nicole. "Complete Cast Announced for SHUCKED National Tour". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Isabella McCalla Joins SHUCKED Earlier Than Planned". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Willman, Chris (April 5, 2023). "How Broadway Got 'Shucked': The 12-Year Journey to a Riotous Production That Could Be the Musical-Comedy Sleeper of the Season". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Newman, Melinda (April 3, 2023). "Will Corny Musical 'Shucked' Pop on Broadway? Hit Country Songwriters Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark Are Counting on It". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Jayswal, Palak (June 10, 2022). "A country-filled musical is coming to Utah's Pioneer Theatre Company". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Russo, Gillian (December 14, 2022). "Everything you need to know about 'Shucked' on Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "Exclusive: Watch Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally Perform First Song from SHUCKED, 'Maybe Love'". BroadwayWorld.com. February 23, 2023. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Alter, Rebecca (April 5, 2023). "What the Shuck Is Happening to Broadway?". Vulture. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Horton, Adrian (April 5, 2023). "Shucked review – corny musical brings country to Broadway". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Evans, Greg (March 14, 2023). "Broadway Newcomers Fill Seats: 'A Doll's House', 'Sweeney Todd', 'Parade', 'Life Of Pi' & 'Shucked' Report Strong Attendance". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Fierberg, Ruthie (March 29, 2023). "To launch the new musical 'Shucked,' a producer revives an old strategy: preview pricing". Broadway News. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  16. ^ "Shucked".
  17. ^ Paulson, Michael (October 13, 2023). "For 'Shucked,' a Broadway Chapter Ends, and Its Future Is Uncertain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Wright, Joshua. "SHUCKED Announces Broadway Closing Date". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "Shucked Announces Full Casting for North American Tour - TheaterMania.com". September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "Shucked to close on Broadway, scheduled for 2025 West End opening | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. October 14, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  21. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/shucked-to-be-turned-into-feature-film
  22. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "SHUCKED to Release Original Broadway Cast Recording". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  23. ^ Hornik, Caitlin (April 3, 2023). "'Shucked' to release original Broadway cast album". Broadway News. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  24. ^ Teeman, Tim (April 5, 2023). "Review: 'Shucked' on Broadway Serves Up So Much Delicious Corn". The Daily Beast. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  25. ^ Evans, Greg (April 5, 2023). "'Shucked' Broadway Review: Corn Comedy Stalks New York". Deadline. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Holub, Christian (April 4, 2023). "New musical 'Shucked' on Broadway has a corny sense of humor". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Oleksinski, Johnny (April 5, 2023). "'Shucked' review: Broadway's best new musical". Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  28. ^ Scheck, Frank (April 5, 2023). "Shucked: Cornpone Hilarity". New York Stage Review. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  29. ^ Ramirez, Juan A. (April 4, 2023). "SHUCKED Stalks a Great Musical Claim — Review". www.theatrely.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  30. ^ Feldman, Adam. "Review: The musical Shucked (★★★★) is deliciously corny". Time Out New York. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  31. ^ "Great Shucked Bests Bad Bad Cinderella on Broadway – Times Square Chronicles". Times Square Chronicles. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  32. ^ Rizzo, Frank (April 5, 2023). "'Shucked' Review: Cornpone Musical is the Surprise Delight of the Broadway Season". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  33. ^ Green, Jesse (April 5, 2023). "Review: In 'Shucked,' a Glut of Gleeful Puns and 'Cornography'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  34. ^ a b Cote, David (April 5, 2023). "Review: "Shucked" Pops Loudly on Broadway, Despite Some Empty Calories". Observer. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  35. ^ Hofler, Robert (April 4, 2023). "'Shucked' Broadway Review: A Musical That Doesn't Suck". The Wrap. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  36. ^ a b Samuel, Brittani (April 5, 2023). "Review: 'Shucked' is an original Broadway musical ripe with laughter". Broadway News. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  37. ^ "Winners Announced For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Salt Lake City Awards; Winners Include Kristin Chenoweth & More!". BroadwayWorld.com. March 3, 2023. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  38. ^ Rubin, Rebecca; Lang, Brent; Lang, Brent (May 2, 2023). "Tony Award Nominations 2023: 'Some Like It Hot' Dominates, Followed by '& Juliet,' 'Shucked,' 'New York, New York'". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  39. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (June 11, 2023). "Tony Awards: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  40. ^ Rosky, Nicole. "SHUCKED, SOME LIKE IT HOT Lead Nominations for 2023 Drama Desk Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  41. ^ "2023 Drama League Award Nominees Announced". April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  42. ^ ""New York, New York," "Some Like It Hot," "Shucked" lead 2023 Outer Critics Circle nominations". Broadway News. April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  43. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Julie Benko, Jodie Comer & More Will Receive 2023 Theatre World Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  44. ^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  45. ^ https://www.playbill.com/article/shucked-to-be-turned-into-feature-film
  46. ^ "Video: SHUCKED Says Goodbye to Broadway; Movie Announced!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
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