Posted: 3/8/23 at 2:15pm
I’ll be there tonight, but have heard uniformly positive things from everybody who has seen a presentation of the material or attended last night’s final dress.
Posted: 3/8/23 at 3:11pm
Leaf Coneybear said: "RippedMan said: "I just heard there are a lot of puns… which is … eh… but loved his book for Tootsie…
Imagine this needs a lot of great word of mouth since the advertising seems very corn heavy."
The corn heavy advertising seems to be working – my mom, who knows nothing about theater, just bought tickets for Saturday because she's so intrigued about "the corn musical.""
Hey there ya go! If it works it works.
Posted: 3/8/23 at 3:17pm
dramamama611 said: "I'm so wary of this one - can anyone (perhaps after a few more previews) tell me more....the plot seems so "basic" - from what little I've read. I do get pretty picky on what I like as far as type of humor - I HATED The Show that Goes Wrong, for example. I know I'm not ever guaranteed to like every show, but I try to be careful spending my money!
I have one spot open for my April trip, which I'm fairly certain will go to Fat Ham, but if I end up making another trip before summer (I'm considering Oliver) I want to choose well!"
Shucked isn't slapstick chaos. It's just full of one-liners and there is no proverbial fourth wall.
As far as plot - it's kind of a standard love story/truth/lies/trust thing, told as as a story. Or, fable. Or...farm to fable. (which is why it has two narrators).
Posted: 3/8/23 at 3:20pm
First preview is available at TKTS for 50% off.
Posted: 3/8/23 at 11:16pm
Shucked is about to really shake up this season.
If I could describe the show, it could be “proudly corny.” It’s wall to wall puns, one-liners, and dad jokes, the quantity and quality of which we haven’t seen in a musical comedy in a very long time. If it was just that, it probably would’ve been enough! But no- it has a tuneful score, fantastic cast, and a really sweet heart.
The plot is pretty straightforward and charmingly silly and old-fashioned. Cobb County is a town of good hearted hicks, isolated from the world by fields of corn. One day, the corn suddenly begins to die, threatening the town’s livelihood and way of life. Maizy dares to venture out to the big city and find help. There she finds a smarmy conman posing as a podiatrist (yknow, a corn doctor). He’s in deep debt and comes to learn that Cobb County seems to be sitting on a great deal of a valuable mineral- and so he poses as a corn specialist. Hijinks ensue.
The vibe is somewhere between Urinetown and The Music Man, as the pretty corny story is told to us by two storytellers and everything is pretty firmly tongue in cheek and with modern sensibility.
The cast is top notch, with the standout being Alex Newell as Lulu the whiskey brewing best friend of Maizy, who brings down the house with a big first act solo. Kevin Cahoon also makes a meal out his dumb redneck character, who has a running gag of delivering a series of non-sequitur one liners.
For a first preview of a new comedy, everything was remarkably tight and polished. Jokes were expertly delivered and timing was pretty perfect. This is a confident production with every aspect working together very well immediately. It’ll only get better.
This one has the juice.
Updated On: 3/9/23 at 11:16 PM
Posted: 3/8/23 at 11:23pm
The Tony's just got a whole lot more competitive.
Posted: 3/8/23 at 11:44pm
To offer a slight dissent from the consensus: I thought the show was sweet, and there's lots to like about the score. I liked what the show does with Maybe Love, the signature song. It provides a musical thread that flows throughout the show, and effectively serves that role.
The jokes were funny, but need to be curated/pared back a bit; some of them didn't land with me personally, and I thought some of that time might've been better spent doing a bit more character development. (And yes, I know this is a first preview -- the show is already in great shape, and there's plenty of time for polishing. I'm focusing on "good to great" points here.)
I also thought the Narrators, who were excellent, were a bit inconsistently used. (To me, they became an afterthought in Act II, and it strikes me that there's an imbalance between Act I and Act II re: how present the Narrators are.)
Caroline Innerbichler was excellent, and had a terrific Broadway debut. A gentleman sitting in front of me grumbled that her voice wasn't powerful enough, but IMO, she delivered exactly what she needed to deliver: sweet strength with a touch of fragility. Alex Newell delivered a powerhouse performance. The cast is strong overall, and the show is in such great shape that you wouldn't be able to tell this is a first preview.
I agree that this could contend with KA for Best Musical. But I do think some work is in order (particularly with respect to sharpening/focusing the book). I am probably in the minority, however.
Updated On: 3/9/23 at 11:44 PM
Posted: 3/9/23 at 1:07am
Also, apropos of nothing, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer were in the audience tonight.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 1:09am
What do they have in terms of merch so far? Just curious
Posted: 3/9/23 at 1:33am
BroadwayNoob said: "What do they have in terms of merch so far? Just curious"
They had a standRd amount: keychain, magnet, shot glass, mug, one tshirt, sweatshirt, tote, trucker hat. It all looks good, well designed and stylish. Don’t recall a window card, though.
Updated On: 3/9/23 at 01:33 AM
Posted: 3/9/23 at 2:53am
While I will probably stick with Kimberly Akimbo for my final slot, because I'm already seeing one show in previews on my trip next week, I kind of wish I was arriving earlier next Monday to catch this musical too. It seems like a good first-night in New York City type of show. I hope it's a success.
Updated On: 3/9/23 at 02:53 AM
Posted: 3/9/23 at 7:15am
Curious to hear other thoughts for sure! Glad it went well. But Narrators (hate that device for the most part) and corn jokes… yea… but glad it’s getting a good response.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 7:45am
I have a slot open on 4/4 and was hoping to see this but noticed it's opening night. Does anyone know if/how tickets can be bought for that show?
Posted: 3/9/23 at 8:26am
A brand new original Broadway musical with a damn good book and a wonderful score. Clever direction, dynamite cast. DYNAMITE. There are wrinkles and they have plenty of time to smooth them out, but this is a 110% win. I haven't felt that kind of joy nor been surrounded by an audience filled with that kind of joy in a Broadway theatre in so long, I forgot it was possible. No notes, no criticisms; this is a top notch team, they know exactly what they're doing. Excited to return after opening to see how it's evolved, but it was already in splendid condition last night.
And...ahem...the sound design was impeccable. Just sayin'.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 8:53am
clever2 said: "A brand new original Broadway musical with a damn good book and a wonderful score. Clever direction, dynamite cast. DYNAMITE. There are wrinkles and they have plenty of time to smooth them out, but this is a 110% win. I haven't felt that kind of joy nor been surrounded by an audience filled with that kind of joy in a Broadway theatre in so long, I forgot it was possible. No notes, no criticisms; this is a top notch team, they know exactly what they're doing. Excited to return after opening to see how it's evolved, but it was already in splendid condition last night.
And...ahem...the sound design was impeccable. Just sayin'."
Nice try Jan
Posted: 3/9/23 at 8:56am
WldKingdomHM said: "Nice try Jan"
...and cue the assholes.
Updated On: 3/9/23 at 08:56 AM
Posted: 3/9/23 at 9:02am
The reviews on Reddit and Twitter are mostly raves, too. The common negative is that there's too many one liners that fall flat. I'm sure by opening a few of the lines that aren't getting laughs will be cut or altered.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 9:09am
There are of course one liners that don’t land, but the show operates on the same philosophy that Airplane! does: if a joke doesn’t land for you, don’t worry- there will be another in a few seconds.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 9:40am
WldKingdomHM said: "clever2 said: "A brand new original Broadway musical with a damn good book and a wonderful score. Clever direction, dynamite cast. DYNAMITE. There are wrinkles and they have plenty of time to smooth them out, but this is a 110% win. I haven't felt that kind of joy nor been surrounded by an audience filled with that kind of joy in a Broadway theatre in so long, I forgot it was possible. No notes, no criticisms; this is a top notch team, they know exactly what they're doing. Excited to return after opening to see how it's evolved, but it was already in splendid condition last night.
And...ahem...the sound design was impeccable. Just sayin'."
Nice try Jan"
clever2 is an established member of the board and basically echoed my thoughts with more enthusiasm. There’s no need to be a jerk or imply they’re a shill.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 10:18am
For anyone who got seats to this through TDF or through Audience Rewards, where were your seats? I want to buy tickets for this in April, but trying to figure out which one will give me a better seat!
Posted: 3/9/23 at 10:35am
Kad's review couldn't be more spot on. This show is going to become an instant classic, that might not last on Broadway, but will become a staple of regional and high school theaters.
Robert Horne has literally crafted a near perfect classic musical comedy book that only builds on what he was able to accomplish in Tootsie. I would describe the comedy as Airplane meets 30 Rock were there's a joke or a one liner ever 5 seconds or so, so like Kad said if one doesn't land the next one will.
Clarke and McNally's score makes me wonder how this is their first musical. They way they are able to balance these luscious country ballads with over the top comedic numbers that perfectly move the plot along.
Caroline Innerbichler gives a debut that pulls the show together with such heart. Alex Newell if they submit for Featured Actor should pray to Jan Maxwell's Bag that they don't have the same fate because WOW and if it isn't Alex having the audience in the palm of their hand its Kevin Cahoon milking every line for all its worth.
There is only one slight complaint that I will assume will be worked out through previews as the end of Act 1 has some slight pacing issues, but other than that its got the juice.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 10:53am
I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing!!!!
Posted: 3/9/23 at 11:44am
Does it have a romance? I'm assuming from the synopsis that it does...
Posted: 3/9/23 at 11:57am
SporkGoddess said: "Does it have a romance? I'm assuming from the synopsis that it does..."
For sure. Without giving anything away, one could argue romance is what propels the narrative.
Posted: 3/9/23 at 11:59am
Who would you say are the Leads of the musical? Is it Caroline Innerbichler and John Behlmann?
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