In the student-produced musical revue, "Shades of Gray," tap dancing surgeons, prison love, and Grand Theft Auto III reenactments provide a farcical background to social commentary.

"It's the bastard child of 'Avenue Q' and 'Songs of a New World'," said acting junior Brent Black, the writer and composer. The music is heavily influenced by the musical "Avenue Q" and is similar to the revue style of "Songs of a New World," in that all of the songs are original compositions of Black's and each song tells a separate story.

"The musical acknowledges pop culture, universal human nature, the Internet, our country, and how it affects universal human truths," said Black. "It's the marriage of beautiful music with perverted humor."

The juxtapositions driving the show's comedy come about from the mixture of standard musical themes with the unexpected.

"It's a very young adult-oriented show with commentary on this generation," said Milan Anich, the technical director of the Sooner Theatre. "It's a very cutting edge piece."

The show is completely student-run and the entire cast of 10 is composed of drama and musical theatre students from OU. Black's experiences with the drama department are part of what helped him create "Shades of Gray."

"Before drama school, I was concerned mostly with getting attention, not making great art," said Black. "Drama school has offered a huge new toolbox to craft what I make."

"It's been really weird for me," said Lee Jamison, a recent drama graduate and a performer in "Shades of Gray." "I knew Brent since he was a tot. I heard his songs being written on the piano. He had always said, 'I'm going to write a musical' but it's still surprising to see it happen."

Although the majority of the show contains humor, there are also songs which focus on more serious subjects.

In "When You Come Home," a woman is singing to her husband, who is in the ICU, and instead of telling him the truth-that he is close to death-she tells him about all of the things they will do when he gets better. These are the things they never had the time to do before, and they never will have the chance to do them because the husband is never coming home.

Part of what makes the show a different experience from other musicals performed recently is that there are no patrons to worry about pleasing and all the work is done with your peers, said Zak Edwards, a musical theatre senior and member of the cast. Black funded and organized the entire show with a hand-picked cast.

"It's rated R because it's not for the uptight," said Black. But even those apprehensive theatre goers will probably end up enjoying the unique lyrics and quirky humor. "It breaks through the hard-hearted, and if they stick around, they'll end up liking it."

"Shades of Gray" will be playing at 8 p.m. tonight and Friday night at the Sooner Theatre, located at 101 East Main St. in Norman.

Tickets are $3 and CDs and DVDs will be available to order. Colin Ryan, Amy Vorpahl, Adrienne Ponder, Zak Edwards, Lee Jamison, Claire Whiteside, Nando Betancur, Melanie Sizemore, Brian Carey and Travis Dixon form the ensemble cast.
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