Sometimes indecisiveness is a good thing. It certainly is for the University Liggett School’s drama program, which is currently producing two plays at the theater at the Cook Road campus – Moon Over Buffalo and A Raisin in the Sun.

Moon is a comical farce about the fickle personality of actors, involving love triangles and a comical supply of mistaken identities. By contrast, Raisin is an exploration of a family torn between each member's dreams, racial issues and the ultimate decision of whether a family united is stronger than one that pulls apart.

Moon opened Thursday night, while Raisin opens Friday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cook Road campus theater. Saturday, November 12 features a 2 p.m. Raisin performance, followed by a 7:30 one of Moon. Sunday, November 13, the times are flipped, with Moon showing at 2 p.m. and Raisin at 7:30 p.m.

“Each April the University Liggett School Players work through a selection process,” said Phillip Moss, Chairman of the Liggett Department of Creative and Performing Arts and Theater Director for the past 22 years. “With assistance from their director, the students carefully analyze the talent pool, interest level and skills, then make possible play selections.”

What the Players discovered this past April was that they had a large number of interested and talented students who wanted to perform on the stage and off it.

“In addition, there was a consensus that we should look at both comedy and drama for possible fall shows,” Moss added. “It became clear that we had the interest, talent and motivation to do both a comedy and a drama, so we went in that direction.”

Other than the Director position, both shows are manned by a completely student crew. Even the set designs and construction are handled by the students. One student who took on a primary role was junior Beth Ottosen. These were the sixth and seventh sets she designed and created with other crew members.

“I’m not someone who wants to be on stage,” said Ottosen, who is also hoping to work with the Grosse Pointe Theatre to assist with its set design and construction process.

“Beth is the scenic designer and has done a remarkable job in configuring our small stage area for both shows,” Moss said. “Two sets, different periods, different design concepts, and both implemented at a very high level. (Junior) Robert Babcock has created excellent lighting looks with a limited amount of resources as well, not to mention the excellent period costume designs for Moon created by the cast under the direction of (senior) Madeline Mair.

Tickets for each performance are $8 for reserved; $5 for general admission. You may either purchase tickets at the door or go to Liggett's web site and click on the Fall Play Tickets red bar to use Seat Yourself (must be at least 24 hours in advance). If you have any questions, please call 313.884.4444 during school hours.