Broadway’s Corn Comedy Hits the Straz — and One of Its Stars Is Coming Home

Quinn VanAntwerp returns to the role of Gordy in Shucked, the hilariously heartfelt musical that’s equal parts satire, soul, and small-town chaos.

By Avery Anderson

It’s not every day a Broadway musical comes along that makes you laugh ‘til you cry — and then actually cry. But Shucked, the genre-defying sensation heading to the Straz Center next week, isn’t like most musicals. It’s part musical comedy, part Southern-fried fairytale, and part “wait, did they really just say that?” With a score by Nashville legends and a book full of one-liners that hit like haymakers, the show is a love letter to small towns, big feelings, and perfectly timed punchlines.

At the center of its national tour is Quinn VanAntwerp — who originated the role of Gordy on Broadway and is now donning his pinstripe suits once again for the road show. “Getting to play Tampa’s own Gordy Jackson in Tampa is something I have had circled on my calendar for a long long time,” he says. “I always love my time in Tampa.”

VanAntwerp, best known for his record-breaking 3,000+ performances as Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, is no stranger to tour life or crowd-pleasing musicals. But Shucked offered him a rare opportunity: to play the bad guy. Kind of.

“This is the first time I have gotten to play a ‘bad guy’ in a show and I have really enjoyed it,” he says. “Gordy is a guy searching for his place in the world… That journey of self-acceptance is a fun journey to take every night and probably a cathartic one for me to remind myself of every day.”

A Corn Musical? Yes, Really.

VanAntwerp admits he had his doubts. “Probably like many of your readers, my first thought was ‘they really are making a corn musical?’” But once he read the script, he was hooked. “The jokes per page ratio was the highest I had ever seen and my wife could hear me cackling from upstairs. Robert Horn is truly a singular talent.”

That sense of surprise is what makes Shucked such a joy for audiences — and what made its development process such a blast. The team first workshopped the show in a barn at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center during the height of the pandemic.

“That month living in dorms together by the sea was some of my favorite times of my career,” VanAntwerp recalls. “We would stay up late coming up with ways to make each other laugh the next day.”

Opening night on Broadway was unforgettable. “When I tell you I have never heard laughter like that… I just remember being like wow. They got it!”

Songs with a Southern Soul — and Broadway Bite

It’s hard to talk about Shucked without talking about its music — a whip-smart blend of country, soul, gospel, and golden-age musical theatre. It’s no surprise, considering the show’s score was written by none other than Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.

“Because Shane and Brandy are such prolific songwriters obviously so many of these songs could be singles on country radio,” VanAntwerp says. “But to call it a country musical somehow doesn’t seem quite right.”

For those of us who already nursed a soft spot (okay, a crush) on Brandy Clark, the show is pure joy — thoughtful, wry, and emotionally rich. “They didn’t need to make a Broadway musical,” he says, “but there is something addictive about creating something new… They reinvigorated that for me.”

Life on the Road — and on Dad Duty

Touring with Shucked comes with its challenges — including a two-year-old in the back seat. “My wife and I had our first daughter during previews of the Broadway show and are actually expecting our second Shucked baby to be born in LA this August,” he shares.

His wife, also a former Shucked cast member, recently went on maternity leave — leaving VanAntwerp to juggle performances, parenting, and press with characteristic charm.

“Although it sometimes is a struggle driving all around the country with a two-year-old, it is an adventure we will never forget.”

Still, the community of this touring company has made the journey worth it. “This group is fantastic and we are having a blast so far,” he says. “We are very lucky and it makes going out there every night 8 times a week so exciting because you know there are people out there that have no idea what they are in for.”

Tampa, Tamponians, and One Very Important Dessert Room

This isn’t Quinn VanAntwerp’s first time at the Straz — and judging by his enthusiasm, it won’t be his last. “Well this is my THIRD time coming to the STRAZ. I came twice with Jersey Boys and I always love my time in Tampa,” he says. “Obviously, Gordy is a ‘Tamponian’ himself so I am very excited to see how audiences react to our homage to their great city.”

But there’s one Tampa tradition he’s not leaving without: “I ALSO love Bern’s Steak House,” he adds. “I will be doing everything I can to get us a late night post-show reservation there at the dessert room. It is a tour must!”

So if you’re wondering whether to see Shucked while it’s in town, take it from the guy who helped grow it from barn to Broadway: it’s heartfelt, hilarious, and just the right amount of unhinged. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You might leave with a craving for corn. And if you’re lucky, you’ll spot Quinn VanAntwerp somewhere near a slice of banana cheese pie — grinning ear to ear, just like the audience.

🎟️ Shucked at the Straz Center

📍 Morsani Hall, Straz Center for the Performing Arts
📅 June 3–98, 2025
🎟️ Get Tickets Here

More info: The national tour of Shucked brings Broadway’s funniest, punniest, and most unexpectedly touching new musical to Tampa Bay for one week only. Don’t miss your chance to experience the laugh-out-loud phenomenon in person.