‘Shucked’ heading to Broadway after Utah premiere

SALT LAKE CITY — After a successful world premiere at Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, the production “Shucked” is headed to Broadway.

Utah audiences saw the musical first. Now, it’s scheduled for a run in the Big Apple, starting in 2023.

The original creative team — Jack O’Brien, legendary multiple Tony-winning Broadway director, and Tony winner Robert Horn, who wrote the book — will be there, along with Grammy winner Shane McAnally and recording artist and Grammy nominee, Brandy Clark, the songwriters.

Caroline Innerbichler will lead the cast in New York City, singing, “Still see me in overalls and curls.”

And the rest of the cast added, “Go, go, go!”

They believe their story about learning to open our hearts is important today.

“We wanted to write a show that sort of celebrated the idea of a community that had locked itself away from the rest of the world and what happens when an outsider comes that they’re afraid of,” Horn said.

Clark sang, “If we just stay here in limbo, we could lose it all.”

“How the outsider learns not to judge people who are different, and the community learns that you have to accept people who are different in order to grow,” Horn added.

Clark completes the thought — “If we could find a window, not a wall.”

“And that was the seed, as it were — corn — from which we started this incredible journey,” Horn said.

Andrew Durand is also part of the Broadway cast.

“The reason why this musical works is because you laugh until you cry and then you cry until you laugh,” Clark said.

“A lot of times, that is the only way out of sadness, and I think our country is in need of some joy, and the timing couldn’t be better,” Clark’s long-time writing partner, McAnally, said.

Their road to Broadway, the cast and creative team said, has been about staying together, even through the pandemic years. O’Brien said that is unheard of.

“It’s confirming to me, because it’s like, not only do we love it, the people doing it are fixed to it as well,” he said.

The cast belts out, “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, somebody will!”

Thank you @nytimes for the love surrounding @Shucked_Musical’s Broadway announcement today! Can’t wait for March. #GetShucked 🌽 https://t.co/sudDqpCiMS

— Brandy Clark (@TheBrandyClark) November 14, 2022

Utah theatre critics loved the music, the jokes, and believe the show will connect with audiences in New York. Clark and McAnally believe it has universal appeal.

“This is real people,” Clark said.

“And the people that we’re talking to and about,” McAnally added.

“Somebody helps!” Andrew Durand sang.

“Shucked” is called a farm-to-fable musical. It’s about corn and coming together, because they say acceptance begins with a kernel of truth.

The show has preview performances on Broadway on March 8, and opening night is April 4, 2023, at the Nederlander Theatre.