Brimming with cheeky one-liners, clever wordplay, and enough dad jokes to fill a silo, the show is a two-hour-and-fifteen-minute laugh-fest that manages to be both wildly irreverent and surprisingly heartfelt. Set in the fictional Cob County, the story follows Maizy as she leaves home to save her town’s dying corn crop, encountering a con man, rekindling relationships, and learning a few kernels of truth along the way. The humor is unashamedly corny - often risqué - but the timing and delivery make it land in all the right ways.
With a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn and a score by Grammy winners Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, SHUCKED has already earned nine Tony nominations and a win for Alex Newell in 2023, making Broadway history in the process. Director Jack O’Brien keeps the pacing lively, ensuring the show’s running gags and musical callbacks hit their mark. While the choreography is light on elaborate dance breaks, Sarah O’Gleby’s staging keeps the cast in constant motion, making the dialogue and music feel even more dynamic.
This touring cast proves there's no such thing as a bad ear of corn here - every performer delivers, but standouts include Miki Abraham as Lulu, whose powerhouse vocals and sass-filled performance bring down the house in "Independently Owned," and Maya Lagerstam as Storyteller 1, who carries the show’s humor with razor-sharp timing and a knowing wink. Even the more earnest ballads from Maizy and Beau work thanks to the sincerity the actors bring, grounding the absurdity in genuine emotion.
It’s not just the jokes that keep the audience engaged; the show is packed with musical theater and pop culture references, from nods to classic Broadway lyrics to winks at viral internet moments. The result is a production that somehow feels timeless and fresh-picked at the same time.
It’s not just the jokes that keep the audience engaged; the show is packed with musical theater and pop culture references, from nods to classic Broadway lyrics to winks at viral internet moments. The result is a production that somehow feels timeless and fresh-picked at the same time.
Tickets start around $50, making it a great value for an award-winning Broadway hit playing for a limited run in Americas Finest City. SHUCKED runs through August 17 at the San Diego Civic Theatre, and if you’re looking for a night of clever puns, strong performances, and an unexpectedly heartfelt story, you’ll want to get your husk in a seat before it leaves town.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit broadwaysd.com/upcoming-events/shucked.
Originally published on August 12, 2025.
