Powell Playhouse Presents Courtroom Dramedy "The Night of January 16th"

by Chuck Denney
     865-382-8058
     cmdenney@utk.edu
   

Play will include actors testifying in a murder trial with audience members as the jury

Powell, Tenn. – It’s not often you can see a thrilling play and serve on a jury in the same evening, but it’s a possibility for the audience of “The Night of January 16^th” — the latest production from the Powell Playhouse.

The courtroom dramedy will include actors playing an accused murderess, the combative lawyers, a jilted boyfriend, an exotic dancer, a host of talkative, colorful witnesses and courtroom officials. It’s the largest cast ever for the PPH — 18 characters!

However, you can’t run a proper murder trial without a jury, and that’s where the audience comes in. Twelve volunteers from the crowd will be seated, and will determine the guilt or innocence of the accused based on the testimony given on stage. The play has two endings, depending on what the jury decides.

“The Night of January 16th” will be performed Thursday, April 16, Friday, April 17, and twice on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Jubilee Banquet Facility on Callahan Road. The play starts at 7 p.m. for the three evening performances, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $10 for all performances with a $5 senior discount for the matinee, and can be purchased at the door.

Dinner will also be offered with each performance, with a lunch before the Saturday matinee. Dinners prior to evening performances are $15 and the lunch is $10. For meal reservations and times, please call the Jubilee Center at 865-938-2112.

“The Night of January 16^th” by Ayn Rand looks at the murder trial of Karen Andre’ in 1930’s New York. Miss Andre’ is charged with killing her lover, international financier Bjorn Faulkner by shoving the poor chap out his penthouse window, some 50 floors up. The young mistress claims Faulkner’s death was a suicide, but the deceased’s supporters point the finger at Andre.’ Meantime some interesting characters give their testimony, and unforeseen events unfold. Both Faulkner and Andre’ kept their share of secrets.

“If anyone wants to see what it’s like to be on stage, this is your chance,” says Gina Jones, president of the PPH and director of this play. “Will the actors be able to make the verdict go one way or the other? What fun it’s going to be for the actors and the audience.”

Melody McMahan, a frequent volunteer with the PPH, plays the role of Karen Andre.’ McMahan has served as a makeup artist, and was talked into auditioning for this play. The high school senior has also done theatre and music with her church. “I like playing this character. She’s very different from me,” Melody says. “Karen is totally innocent … of murder. Other things, not so much. She’s done some bad things in her life.”

Mark Johnson is charged with keeping Miss Andre’ out of the electric chair. He plays the role of her attorney Stevens. Mark is a graduate of the UT Family Practice Residence Program, and has been working behind the scenes at the PPH for years. “This is my very first play and I’m having fun learning to identify with the characters and the basics of acting,” Mark says. “I’m looking forward to playing off the reactions of the jurors. Even more interesting is each performance will have an entirely different jury.”

Chuck Severance is also a newcomer to the PPH, playing the role of bulldog prosecutor Flint. Chuck has been in sales 28 years, and is business development manager for ProForms. He’s been doing plays and performing musically with Powell Church. “I feel that my experience in sales gives me the type of personality that fits for the role of Flint. The neat thing is I don’t know what to expect as the verdict,” Chuck says.

Other cast members include Mark’s daughter Carly Johnson as the widow Faulkner, Hoyt Lansdell as the Honorable Judge Heath, and Scott Rutherford as the boyfriend Larry “Guts” Regan. Also making her PPH debut is the hilarious and vivacious Wendy Myers as Roberta van Rensselaer, an “entertainer” of the highest regard.

In addition to Melody, the entire McMahan family is also in the play — her brother Grant as Elmer Sweeney, mom Sheila as Jane Chandler, and dad Dan as the Court Bailiff.

The rest of the cast includes actors who’ve made appearances on the PPH stage before. There’s Jean Weeden as the Court Clerk, Tabitha Neilson as the Court Stenographer, Chuck Denney as medical examiner Thomas Kirkland, Christina Perkins as Mrs. John Hutchins, Flash Black as Private Investigator Homer van Fleet, Allen Robertson as John Graham Whitfield — and perfecting their Swedish accents, Colby Russell as Siegurd Jungquist and Carolyn Wells as Magda Svenson.

No play comes off without a great crew. Christy Rutherford will serve as head makeup artist, and Paula Johnson will be in charge of props. Mona Napier handles ticket and ad sales, oversees the ushers, greets guests and generally makes sure the cast behaves.