Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

  Sexy. Sparkling. Superficial. Chicago’s high profile 1920s cabaret is offering murder, style, and all that jazz to Minneapolis audiences through February 1. Showcasing Bob Fosse’s inspired choreography while following the trials of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, this show has enjoyed a Broadway run length second only to Phantom of the Opera, becoming synonymous with its most prevalent theme: fame. But amid its miles of mistimed humor, soulless performances, and hit-or-miss ensemble cohesion, I spent my entire night debating whether this tour was a work of pure genius, or simply limping along on the prestige of its marquee.  In truth, Chicago did accomplish everything it advertised. Cynicism practically dripped off every inch of this stage with each one-liner or raunchy look, especially during its darkest moments. Each piece performed by a principal cast member remained consistently captivating (shoutout Ellie Roddy’s 10-minute masterpiece “Roxie”). while, not to be outdone, ...

The touring production of Chicago arrived at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis with a long and rich history behind it. First premiering on Broadway in 1975, Chicago was later revived in 1996, becoming one of the longest-running American musicals of all time. Known for its iconic Fosse choreography and jazzy score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the show has cemented itself as a classic of musical theatre. With simple black costumes designed by William Ivey Long, a stripped-down set designed by John Lee Beatty, and the orchestra visible on stage, this production leaned heavily into the minimalistic style the revival is famous for. While this approach honors the original concept, it also places pressure on the performers to carry the show through personality, precision, and presence alone. Overall, while the production had moments of strengths, it ultimately felt underwhelming.  The standout performer of the show was undeniably Claire Marshall as Velma Kelly. From the moment she stepp...

The Cast of The North American Tour of SHUCKED (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) I saw Shucked on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (opening night) at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. I was expecting corny jokes, a corny setting, and corny everything. After all, it’s in the name! While it’s true that Shucked is incredibly cheesy (or corn-y?), it doesn’t pretend to be something it's not and fully commits. What surprised me most is how this touring production hits the balance between including genuinely funny moments while also feeling comforting and predictable. In this cold and icy Minnesota winter, a warm bowl of corn pudding could be exactly what we need. I won’t sugar coat that the plot is predictable. Set in Cob County, a small uptight town where corn is the primary focus, the show kicks into action when crops at the same time Maizy (nice name) and Beau are about to be married. Maizy leaves to find help in Tampa. She returns with “corn doctor” Gordy, has a brief affair, ...

  Danielle Wade as Maizy and Miki Abraham as Lulu in the North American Tour of Shucked   Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Here in Minneapolis is the first National Tour of the 2023 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Shucked ! Set in Cobb County, a small town that built its livelihood from the corn fields. But what happens when their prized crop starts dying with no solution in sight? Following this is a journey to a bigger world, heartbreak, and double entendres to the word “corn.” Filled with corny punch lines and crude humor in every other sentence, this is a show that’s sure to pack a punch. Be ready for a wild ride with fast flying references and jokes—you won’t want to miss them! It surprised me that a musical that is famous for its “shucking” amount of jokes could be profound. There were moments throughout the show that actually brought me to tears; it’s sure to capture your heart and deserves to capture your attention. Helping to bring this rural-storybook s...

When I got ready on January 6th to see the “corn musical” at the Orpheum Theatre, I was not expecting to experience one of the most moving moments of my life. Going into this musical, I knew Shucked was a comedy, but it wasn’t until I had been laughing non-stop for the first 20 or so minutes that I realized: the comedy is the entire point of the show. As a current citizen of both the USA as well as the state of Minnesota, I believe that this show is exactly what the world needs right now.  Shucked follows a town that is in desperate need of help after their corn crops begin drying up. Since corn is the sole provider of food, economic activity, and fashionable disguises, soon-to-be wed Maizy leaves the small town to find help from an outsider. The town of Cobb County was an incredibly fun setting due to the unifying denim of the costumes made by designer Tilly Grimes, as well as the punchy choreography by SNL and The Tonight Show choreographer Sarah O’Gleby. Some of the most sta...

     There’s this great new musical at the Orpheum right now! No really, it has everything: humor and heart, love and lies, and songs guaranteed to get stuck in your head. The first song? It’s called “Corn”. It’s… yeah.. about corn. But before you pass your judgment on Shucked , the musical written by Robert Horn and scored by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, I implore you to look a little deeper. As the residents of Cobb County know, it’s what’s inside that counts.  Humor is a tricky thing, and humor for such a wide audience is even harder. However, Shucked has jokes for everyone. There is a healthy dose of innuendo in their jokes, something I didn’t expect from their friendly corn-cob posters, but it stops short of being divisive. Other shows (think: Book Of Mormon ) rely on shock value from jabs at things like religion and politics, and Shucked does grant a few eyebrow raises and a couple ‘ oooh ’s, but never enough to stop the smiling.  Humor is definit...