Owasso Community Theater Company Presents “Night of January 16th”

A murder mystery with a twist.

By: Kay Neldon | Category: Recreation/Leisure | Issue: January 2010

Don’t miss “Night of January 16th” at Owasso High School’s Mary Glass Performing Arts Center. (L to R): Amy Mitchell, Angie Giesler and Jerry Sparkman.

Owasso Community Theater Company is proud to present a murder mystery with a twist. “Night of January 16th” by Ayn Rand will keep you guessing. Who killed Bjorn Faulkner? You be the judge – no – you are the jury! Based on courtroom testimonies, drama and comedy presented by the cast members, the guilt or innocence of the accused will actually be decided each performance by a jury selected from audience volunteers. This play is recommended for ages 12 and up.

“Night of January 16th,” written by Ayn Rand, was inspired by the death of the “Match King,” Ivar Kreuger. First produced in 1934, it takes place entirely in a courtroom and is centered on a murder trial. It was a hit of the 1935-36 Broadway season. The play deals with issues of man’s ability to regard oneself as important and exist in a society where moral decay is ever-prevalent. It also deals with issues of love, loyalty and betrayal.

One particularly interesting feature of the play is that members of the audience are picked to take on the role of jury members each night. Depending on whether the “jury” finds the defendant of the case, as in the play, “guilty” or “not guilty” – the play would have different endings. Another unique feature of the play is that it does not state what the true events were on the night of January 16th, forcing the actors performing the show to decide how much of their character’s testimony is actually true. Since several witnesses contradict each other, it is almost certain that some of them are lying.

Evening performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 21-23, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 23. Tickets at the door are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors; discounted tickets are available in advance. No reservations are required. Performances will be held at Owasso High School’s Mary Glass Performing Arts Center, 12901 E. 86th St. N.

Rehearsals are underway for “Night of January 16th,” presented by Owasso Community Theater Company. (L to R): Kathern Shaine, Amy Mitchell and Michael Remington.

Owasso Community Theatre Company, created in the summer of 2002 by a group of theatre enthusiasts, provides a local community theatre venue. Board of Governor elections occurred in August, 2003 among the founding members. In September 2004, OCT produced William Inge’s “Picnic” as its premiere production. Since that first show, OCT has incorporated as a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization and has produced a variety of theatrical fare including plays, musicals and talent shows.

For more information, email eat1@eau1eav1eaw1, call (918) 237-1656, or check out the website at www.octok.org. Owasso Community Theater Company is a member of Tulsa Area Community Theatre Alliance, Oklahoma Community Theatre Association, and the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa. Night of January 16th is performed by permission of Curtis Brown, Ltd.

For more information, contact