Let's travel back in time to a simpler, black-and-white world, when women were dames and men wore fedoras.
It's as easy as buying a ticket to the homecoming musicals from Abilene Christian University and McMurry University.
And, both shows feature black-and-white elements in their shows. McMurry opens ''City of Angels'' at Radford Auditorium on campus tonight, while ACU opens ''Singin' in the Rain'' on Friday at the Abilene Civic Center.
'CITY OF ANGELS'
McMurry
''City of Angels,'' based in 1940s Hollywood, brings comedy and music to the film noir genre that is better known for its dark storylines and brooding heroes. Think ''The Maltese Falcon'' with song and dance.
Director Philip Craik calls ''City of Angels'' (by Larry Gelbart of ''M*A*S*H'' fame) ''brilliantly written. It's just drop-dead funny in some places.''
Nearly every actor plays two roles. The arrival of 12 new theater students on campus this fall after losing only three to graduation last spring gave Craik a large enough group to cast the 27-member show.
The action moves rapidly between the real world and the ''reel'' world of movies. When the actors play their ''reel'' world parts, they wear black and white. When the action moves back to the real world, color comes into play. The actors must zoom through some 40 scene changes in two acts.
The play follows successful novelist Stine and his alter ego, the Philip Marlow-esque private investigator Stone, as Stine's book is made into a movie in Hollywood. Because the characters in the book are based on the people in his life, it's only natural that the same actors play both roles - except for Stine and Stone, who interact with each other.
Zac Tiederman plays Stone, the tough-talking P.I. who doesn't take guff from anyone.
''I get to be (Stine's) version of himself jacked up on steroids,'' Tiederman said, speaking figuratively. ''I get to be everything he always wanted to be.''
The show is pretty risque, Tiiederman said, even though it's been toned down from the original work.
''It's very clever - very tongue in cheek,'' he said.
Cassie Masters takes on Gabby (Stine's wife) and Bobbi (Stone's woman), which is almost like playing on three characters.
''They are extremely different,'' Masters said. ''In the first act, Bobbi is full of dreams and expectations of being a movie star. Those dreams get literally shot at the end of the first act. In the second act, she's sad and broken.''
Not only do the actors take on difficult roles, they sing and dance to an unusual jazz track.
''The music for this has a very jazz nature,'' Craik said. ''It's very unlike most musicals.''
''City of Angels''
When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday
Where: Radford Auditorium, McMurry University, South 14th Street
and Sayles Boulevard
How much: $12 general admission; $7 student/faculty/staff. Call 793-3889 from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays for reservations.
'SINGIN' IN THE RAIN'
ACU
''Singin' in the Rain'' is one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time, taking stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor on a ride that lit up Hollywood history.
The play is set in the era of Hollywood when movie stars from the silent film era struggled to make the change to ''talkies,'' or films with sound. The cast even made a black-and-white silent movie to go along with the plot line of the play.
Instead of trying to live up to audience expectations that the play match the movie, director Mike Fernandez wants the audience to view the ACU production on its own merits and not make comparisons.
''It's tremendous fun,'' he said about the show.
The show features big song and dance numbers (including ''Singin' in the Rain'' and ''Make 'Em Laugh''), and Fernandez said he's trying to get his students to understand ''it's OK to go over the top. It's needed.''
Jason Kennedy plays Don Lockwood, the dashing star. He said learning to let go and get a little crazy took some time.
''It's more like gradually overflowing the top. It's about making the campiness campy, but real,'' he said.
For Ryan Massie, playing Cosmo Brown, the funny man to Lockwood's lead, the part is no walk across the stage. He dances the most physical numbers, including ''Make 'Em Laugh,'' which is putting his body through a workout.
''I'm wearing knee pads and my back is a little bruisy,'' he said. ''I'm functional.''
Jessica Patterson plays Kathy, the young, ingenue actress who finds fame and love with Lockwood. Patterson said she was told Debbie Reynolds, who played Kathy in the film, had to learn to dance to keep up with her costars and hold her own as a 19-year-old girl alongside accomplished actors.
''She was an inspiration for me,'' Patterson said. ''I'd never tapped before.''
Patterson wasn't very familiar with the famous movie, having only seen it once when she was in third grade. One thing she found during rehearsals is that it was impossible to be angry before her happy, tap-dancing numbers and stay that way.
''One thing I hadn't thought about is that 'Singin' in the Rain' is finding that joy in sorrow,'' she said. ''When you choose to sing in the rain, you're choosing joy and happiness.''
While ''City of Angels'' has not been performed in Abilene before, theater-goers will probably recognize ACU's musical at the Abilene Civic Center.
It's the first comedy he's directed since he began teaching at ACU about two years ago.
''Singin' in the Rain''
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. 6th St.
How much: Tickets range from $5 to $18, available by calling (325) 674-2787 from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays.