Firestone CLC Shatters the Fourth Wall with Immersive Production of Ayn Rand's The Night of January 16th

Firestone CLC Theatre is proud to announce its upcoming production of Ayn Rand’s provocative courtroom drama, The Night of January 16th, running for four shows from January 22-25, 2026. This unique high school staging will transform the black box theatre into an active, high-stakes judicial setting where the audience holds the power.

Under the direction of Kristeena Feldman, this production aims to make the audience more than just spectators. According to Feldman, the concept is to create an “active court of conscience.”

“We will challenge the audience’s beliefs about ambition, self-interest, and judgment—just as Ayn Rand intended,” Feldman states. “The fourth wall will be broken from the beginning, adding significantly to the audience's experience. In fact, twelve audience members will be invited to jury duty, on the stage, with the cast.”

The Night of January 16th centers on the trial of Karen Andre, accused of murdering her boss, Bjorn Faulkner, a powerful and corrupt financier. The play’s climax depends entirely on the verdict delivered by the actual jury—the members of the audience—making every performance a unique and unpredictable theatrical event.

This immersive approach aligns perfectly with Rand's exploration of moral responsibility and the complex nature of truth, offering high school actors and audience members a rare opportunity to engage with intense ethical dilemmas in real-time.

“Hope you enjoy the show,” adds Director Kristeena Feldman.

Performance Details:

• What: The Night of January 16th by Ayn Rand
• When: January 22, 23, 24, at 7pm and January 25 at 2pm, 2026
• Where: Firestone CLC Black Box Theatre
• Tickets: Available at hometownticketing.com

Contact: Becky Duhon at bduhon@apslearns.org for more information.

About Firestone CLCs Akron School of the Arts: The Akron School of the Arts is a premier arts education program dedicated to nurturing young talent in a variety of artistic disciplines, including theatre, music, dance, and visual arts.

About the director Kristeena Feldman: Kristeena Feldman has a BFA in Acting from Kent State University. She played Miranda in the Tempest, and her favorite role was Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. In 1992 she was an extra in the movie Double Dragon. She has been a Substitute Teacher for Akron Public Schools for 16 years and is thrilled to be part of Firestone Theatre.

The Night of January 16th

Cast List

JUDGE HEATH ...........................................Erika Hunt

DISTRICT ATTORNEY FLINT .....................Wittman Sullivan

DEFENSE ATTORNEY STEVENS .............Evelyn Shaw

KAREN ANDRE ..........................................Frankie Carter

DR. KIRKLAND .......................................... Emily Sullivan

JUDY HUTCHINS ...................................... Brooklyn Rebovich

HOMER VAN FLEET ................................. Demar Clemens

ELMA SWEENEY .......................................BellaMarie Olaya

MAGDA SVENSON ....................................Hanna Gippen

NANCY LEE FAULKNER ...........................Gennie Brooks

JOHN GRAHAM WHITFIELD .................... James Harvey

JANE CHANDLER ......................................Alyssa Francis

SIEGURD JUNGQUIST ..............................Elijah Landry

LAWRENCE "GUTS" REGAN ....................Cory Dangerfield

COURT ATTENDANTS

Baliff ............................................................Logan Burley

Clerk ...........................................................Jaynna Harvey