Today, we’re diving into the corn-fed charm and heartfelt humor of Broadway’s smash-hit musical Shucked. At the center of the show’s quirky, toe-tapping fun is the character of Beau — a sweet, sincere farm boy whose journey is as funny as it is touching.
Performer Jake Odmark, who portrays Beau in the inaugural national touring production of Shucked, brings the character to life on stage with equal parts heart and hilarity. The performer checked in with CleveRock via phone ahead of the Cleveland engagement to provide the scoop on the show.
This interviewer, many years ago, would memorize the soundtracks and become familiar with a show’s plot before attending a show for the first time. Fast forward to 2025, I’ve learned that it’s better to go in “blind,” with zero expectations and minimal familiarity. Surprises are part of the experience! This proves more difficult for enduring classics. Shucked is a relatively new show and is touring for the first time, making it easier to avoid spoilers.
“I think it’s such a privilege to do a show and to see a show that is not familiar, that’s brand new, it’s an original story; original score,” Odmark agreed. “It’s not a derivative from anything. It’s not a sequel. It’s not based on a book or a movie. It’s completely original. I think that’s a rarity these days. 99 percent of the audience that sees it are first-timers.”
There is a certain mystery surrounding Shucked. Sure, folks coming to the show know it’s a musical and centered around…corn (HUH?) Pleading for no major spoilers, Odmark was asked to provide a brief overview of what audiences can expect when the play arrives in Cleveland.
“There’s nothing quite like it. It’s a show that doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s a very, very funny show,” he said. “It’s very akin to Book of Mormon and shows like that. The plot is less imperative than the theme and the vibe of the night. But of course, we need to let people know exactly what they’re getting into. What I’ll say is it’s about a small town, Cobb County, which is a fictional town in Rural America. We label it as north of South and south of North. You’re not quite sure where it is. It’s about a small town where they live and die by their crop, which is corn. And no one has ever left the town. No one’s ever needed to. It’s kind of like a little symbol bubble that we all live in these days in America, especially rural, inside your bubble, everything is right, and outside your bubble, everything is wrong. That’s kind of the concept that, whether or not we realize it, we all live by, and Shucked is a show where, for the first time, when the corn dies, the corn starts to go bad, the people in Cobb County are faced with a dilemma. They have to venture out of their little bubble for the first time, obviously in a very comedic way. It’s the juxtaposition of small Rural America and venturing into the big metropolis, and nearby. But like I said, it’s less about the actual plot and storyline than it is about the characters. The themes, the relationships, and of course, the absolute hilarity that ensues, I think it’s very, very relatable both for anyone who grew up in or still lives in Rural America and for anyone who lives in Urban America.”
Robert Horn, an accomplished screenwriter, wrote the story for Shucked. He first made a splash on Broadway, writing the musical adaptation for Tootsie. Not only did he leave his distinct imprint on the show, but he also deviated from the traditional Broadway show to provide theatergoers with an alternative experience.
“Robert Horn is a Tony-winning playwright, and I think this is his best script yet. He does such an amazing job at not taking anything too seriously,” Odmark said. “This is a show that isn’t going to try and shove a message down your throat. It’s not going to try and fix any outlying problem. What it’s going to do is going to make you laugh, and it’s going to make you feel super connected to both your people, your community, and strangers alike.”
The root of the word musical = music. Ultimately, that’s what makes a Broadway production. Odmark promises that the score to Shucked will not disappoint!
“Shane McAally and Brandy Clarke wrote our music. They’re both Grammy-winning country artists, and it’s definitely a country musical. It’s got some country flair to it. I think it’s a perfect blend of country and musical theater. If you’re a country buff, you’re going to get your country kicks. And if you’re a musical theater buff, you’re still going to get that style as well,” he described. “What’s amazing is that country music lends itself to storytelling so well already. It’s just kind of a mystery to me why country hasn’t taken over the Broadway stage until this show. But you’ll see the score is one of my favorites I’ve ever sang. The songs stand alone, you can listen to them on the radio, and yet at the same time, they also push the plot forward and tell the story exactly as needed. I think Brandy and Shane have a real knack for theater, and it shows because after Shucked, they’ve already started working on multiple other projects for the stage. I think they’re seeing the opportunity there on Broadway and realizing their gift. For first-time musical theater composers, they absolutely knocked it out of the park.”
“You’ll see right away what you’re in for, right, with that opening number,” Odmark continued. “Our first song is called ‘Corn,’ and it introduces the people, the town, the setting, and the style that you’re going to be in for all night. It’s quite a hilarious showstopper of a number. And I think you’ll be like, ‘Okay, now I see what I’m getting into!'”
This interviewer is guilty of overlooking essential details of theater productions. It’s easy to get lost in the story and music, and flat-out miss the attention to detail in wardrobe, lighting design, special effects, and intricate sound tricks, among other elements. Odmark was asked what patrons need to be on the lookout for at Shucked. He sang high praises about the show’s set.
“We have real corn stalks on stage that both die and come to life. You’ll see our amazing scenic designer, Scott Pask, a multiple Tony-winner and a dear friend of mine, who put a beautiful set together,” he said. “There’s a barn that’s slightly falling apart. As you’ll see, it’s probably akin to the characters and the story in the show. Nothing’s quite exactly holding up as it seems, but it’s stunning, as you’ll see, it’s a huge, huge barn with beautiful wood. And yeah, it’s a pretty simple set. I think it’s kind of another aspect that’s very rare these days. We’re not trying to blow you away with the glitz and the glam and the flying pieces of machinery and the trap doors. We don’t need it. This is a well-written play, and it’s a play about simplicity and home, which is precisely what Scott has delivered with this set. It’s pretty brilliant production-wise too.”
Of course, a silly show about corn is going to have its moments of hilarity. Nearly 200, according to Odmark.
“I’ll tell you this, Shucked has 182 laugh lines. And yes, Robert Horn counted them because Robert is a brilliant writer,” he said. “It is so quick and fun, and everything’s kind of tongue-in-cheek, double-entendre innuendo. And they come one after another, after another after another, to the point where you almost have to keep your laughter quiet so you can hear the next one. They’re very, very fast, and very, very fun. You have to keep up with them. And like I said, they’re a little bit of thinkers. There’s some wordplay, there’s some puns, there’s some dad jokes, and they go very, very fast. So for that reason alone, I think you’re going to be kind of overwhelmed with the comedy of the piece. I think the reason you need to see Shucked is I think it’s the funniest show I’ve ever seen or done!”
And, to wrap things up, Odmark was asked to put on a salesman hat and encourage Clevelanders to see Shucked when it’s in town.
“You’re realizing by the end of the show, when you’re holding back tears, that’s what it’s all about. It’s about connection, and it’s about the value in trusting your circle and your bubble, just as there’s value in listening and being open to others. And I think that’s why Shucked is doing what it’s doing right now on the road. That’s why it’s selling so well. That’s why people are coming up to me and saying, ‘This is exactly what I needed and I had no idea that I was going to get it tonight.’ I can’t overstate how much Shucked is doing right now,” he said. “This is a time where this is a show that not only are you going to laugh and you’re going to feel connected to the people around you, which is sorely needed, but you’re also going to see the message of trusting strangers, getting outside your bubble, maybe listening, opening your hand to strangers and taking that leap, which is something that I think America and the world needs right now. It does that in a way that you don’t even see coming. Shucked is going to be a staple in the musical theater canon in America and the world. It’s going to be a show that you’re going to remember when you first saw it, when it’s in every high school, every regional theater, every cruise ship, every community theater, and every college. It’s going to be everywhere because it’s very, very well written, and it appeals to all audiences and demographics. If you can say you saw the first national tour, or you saw it before 99 percent of any other person saw it on the planet… There’s only one production of Shucked right now, and it’s this one that’s coming to Cleveland. And so if you can be one of those people, I think that’s a privilege and a kind of badge of honor, especially 20 years down the road when it’s one of those shows that’s just picture seeing a fan of the opera when it first came to town. You could be that. And that’s what I really think Shucked is.”
© 2025 CleveRock Music Portal. A PROUD SHAPE CLEVELAND PRODUCTION