The Tony Award-nominated musical Shucked is set to make a stop at MSU’s Wharton Center next week as part of its national tour. The Broadway hit will run for eight performances in East Lansing, bringing with it a touch of cornball humor and a heartfelt message.
Shucked has garnered attention for its light-hearted comedy, which recalls the old TV variety show Hee Haw. Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, the show has been touring the country since its Broadway debut, and the Wharton Center is among the 30 cities on the tour’s schedule.
Behind the scenes, Alan D. Knight, a production stage manager, is overseeing the logistics of the tour. His role includes managing everything from assigning dressing rooms to coordinating with understudies. Knight, a St. Johns High School graduate and a 2012 graduate of Western Michigan University’s stage management program, has been part of several national tours since 2012. Shucked is his tenth touring production.
Knight, who has worked on many tours that have stopped at the Wharton Center, reflects on the venue’s special significance to him. “It holds a special place in my heart because that’s where I saw my first Broadway tour as a kid,” he said. “I saw The Lion King there, and it sparked my love for theatre and touring shows.”
As he travels from city to city, Knight makes it a point to keep an eye on potential future tours. When Shucked debuted on Broadway, he took a break from his own tour in Philadelphia to see the show. He was captivated not only by its humor but also by the emotional depth of the production. “It’s so funny, and it’s two and a half hours where you just forget about everything else, laugh, and have fun. It’s got a lot of heart, which surprises people,” he said.
Although Knight spends most of the year on the road—up to 50 weeks a year with various Broadway tours—East Lansing offers a rare opportunity to reconnect with his roots. “I don’t get back to Michigan a whole lot, so it’s nice to catch up with friends and maybe grab coffee,” he shared.
Shucked will run from Tuesday, January 21 through Sunday, January 26 at MSU’s Wharton Center. For Knight, the chance to work on a show that’s both funny and meaningful is something he wouldn’t trade for anything.
