Blending elements of mystery, comedy and tragedy, Shades of Valor tells the compelling personal story of two young soldiers, Rick Marshall and Danny Preston, in Vietnam 1971 and their mothers, Barb and Kitty, 10 years later, as the women attempt to come with terms with the incident that blew their lives apart.

The story begins in 1981 when Barb arrives a day late to crash Danny's "Welcome Home" from prison celebration only to learn that Danny has yet to show up. As the women await the arrival of the man whose actions forever changed their lives, barb's demand for answers launches them on a difficult journey of examination, discovery and, ultimately, acceptance.

Inspired by real events, Shades of Valor provides an intimate, personal exploration of military, race and class warfare as the scenes slip back and forth between the mothers in 1981 and the songs in 1971, providing the audience with knowledge of the events the mothers never imagined. What is valor? Who is honorable? Can we move past the stereotypical, prejudiced assumptions that mire us in the past and reach a level of understanding that enables us to forgive, heal and move forward? Shades of Valor makes us believe we can.

This show is available through the American Association of Community Theatre AACT NewPlayFest Winning Plays: Volume 2 (2016).