Night of January 16th opens at Odyssey Theatre

Charles Picerni presents AYN RAND'S suspensful drama Night of January 16, a visiting guest production at the Odyssey Theatre opening Friday, October 15, 2010, for a limited engagement through November 14, 2010.

Ayn Rand's gripping courtroom drama loosely based on the career (and death) of Ivan Kreuger, the Swedish "Match King" who made and lost a fortune in business. It leaves the answers of the mystery up to the jury chosen each night from the audience who selects the ending of the play. Produced and directed by CHARLES PICERNI, the cast includes DON MOSS, VERN URICH, NANCY YOUNG, YANCEY DUNHAM, CAL BARTLETT, ANN HENSON, LARY OHLSON, TERRI MARSTEINER, ANDRE TENERELLI, ARTHUR RICHARDSON, LARRS JACKSON, IVAN BORODIN, JOHN GLOSKE, JOHN CANDELARIA, AARON BENORE, STEVE PETERSON, DIANNA WILSON, ROBERT BENEDICT, RICHARD HAWKES, MICHAEL BRUCE, M. STEVE FELTY, ANNIE FREEMAN, JACLYN CARMICHAEL, KNOA KNAPPER and DAVID PRESTON.

AYN RAND [1905-1982], was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is probably best known for her best-selling novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosphical system she called Objectivism. Born and educated in Russia, she emigrated to the United States in 1926. She worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood. Her first literary success was her screenplay "Red Pawn" for Universal studio. This was followed by her courtroom drama Night of January 16th, first produced in Hollywood in 1934 and successfully opened on Broadway in 1935. In 1941, Paramount Pictures produced a movie version of the play. The first part of a planned film trilogy of her novel Atlas Shrugged is in production for release in 2011.

CHARLES PICERNI (Producer, Director) most well known as one of the most sought after action choreographers and director's makes his directorial debut for the stage. He has directed 60 episodes of television for producers Aaron Spelling, Leonard Goldberg, Steve Cannell, among others. As an action second unit director and action choreographer, he has worked on the films "Die Hard," "Die Hard II," "Lethal Weapon 2 & 3,'' "Hudson Hawk," "Christmas Vacation," "The Last Boy Scout,' "Demolition Man," "Ghost," "Ricochet," "Basic Instinct," "Low Down Dirty Shame," "True Romance," "2 Days in the Valley," "15 Minutes," etc...most recently "Arthur" (remake) and "Transit!" Charlie also worked as an actor in many TV and film projects throughout his career. He studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse in the master class for two years. He recently directed, produced and and co-wrote a feature film entitled "Three Days to Vegas", starring Peter Falk, Rip Torn, Billy Burke and George Segal. Following he directed the feature film entitled "The Bleeding." He is currently developing and writing his own project called "Spaghetti Park," based on a true story set in 1950's New York, which he will produce and direct. EVAN BARTOLETTI is the set designer for Night of January 16 with BOSCO FLANAGAN as light designer, PATRICK KIRST as sound designer, CHRISTINE COVER FERRO as costume designer and JULIE SIMPSON as stage manager.

Night of January 16 opens Friday, October 15 at 8:00 P.M. (Preview performances are Wednesday, October 13 and Thursday, October 14 with tickets at $15.00.) Regular performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 P.M. and Sundays at 2:00 P.M. through Sunday, Novewmber 14. Tickets are $25.00 on Thursday and Friday and $30.00 on Saturday and Sunday with senior, student and group rates available. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles (one block north of Olympic). For reservations, please call (310) 477-2055. VISA, Master-card and American Express cards are welcome.