Shucked Plants Seeds of Laughter That Really Grow On You At Broward Center

By Joanie Cox Henry

(Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Courtesy)

Well, butter my biscuit and call me impressed! The national tour of Shucked husked its way into Fort Lauderdale's Broward Center on opening night (June 10, 2025), and folks, this farm-to-fable musical is nothing short of ear-resistible.

Don't let anyone tell you this show is just another corny Broadway offering—though it absolutely is, and that's precisely what makes it so a-maize-ing. From the moment the curtain rises on mythical Cob County, you know you're in for a Cracker Barrel of laughs and a husk of a good time!

The plot? Well, it's about as straightforward as a country road: when Cob County's corn crops mysteriously start dying, plucky heroine Maizy (the delightful Danielle Wade) decides to venture beyond her isolated community to find help. Her journey leads her to—and I kid you not—Tampa, Florida, because apparently geography works differently in musical theater land. But honestly, who cares about logic when you're having this much fun?

Speaking of Tampa, can we talk about how magical this city apparently is? According to our characters, it's a place where "there were dogs in strollers and kids on leashes" —an observation that had the audience howling with recognition. As a Florida production, this Tampa shout-out felt like a love letter to local audiences.

The show's secret weapon lies in its relentless commitment to corn-based wordplay and rapid-fire country comedy. The jokes come at you faster than kernels in a popper, and even when one doesn't land perfectly, there's another one right behind it. Storytellers Maya Lagerstam and Tyler Joseph Ellis serve as our guides through this madness, delivering lines with the precision of seasoned stand-up comedians.

Some of the evening's best moments came from the show's wonderfully absurd one-liners. When someone quips that relationships are like houseplants because "they die," or observes that "life is a constantly balancing act between wondering why you weren't invited and trying to get out of it," you realize this isn't just agricultural humor – it's genuinely clever writing dressed up in overalls.

The music, crafted by country songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, strikes that perfect balance between laugh-out-loud comedy numbers and surprisingly moving ballads.

Jake Odmark brings earnest charm to Beau, while Miki Abraham steals scenes as the whiskey-distilling Lulu, delivering some of the evening's most outrageous lines with perfect comic timing. Quinn VanAntwerp makes the most of his role as the questionable "corn doctor" Gordy, balancing con-man charm with just enough vulnerability to keep us invested.

The corny jokes were tasty and plentiful such as, "If you can name four Metallica songs, you're in Metallica" and observations about marriage being like a tornado: "it starts with a lot of tumbling, and then somebody's losing a house." The show delivers these moments with the confidence of a production that knows exactly what it is and revels in it.

The production values are solid without being flashy – this is storytelling that relies more on wit than spectacle. The staging keeps things moving at a clip that never lets the energy sag, and the ensemble work feels lived-in and authentic, even when the situations are completely ridiculous.

This show is a thoroughly entertaining evening that will leave you grinning like you just heard the world's best dad joke? You betcha. While some musicals have a serious side, there's something refreshing about a show that simply wants to make you laugh until your sides hurt.

The wisdom of Shucked might be summed up in one of its sweetest observations: "Love is a lot like corn—it takes time to grow." Sometimes the simplest truths, delivered with a healthy dose of humor and heart, are exactly what we need.

Shucked runs through Sunday, June 22 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets range from $41.74-$207.98. For information: 954-468-0222 or browardcenter.org