DHS Drama Dawgs to perform ‘Night of January 16th’
The Dalton High School Drama Dawgs will perform “Night of January 16th” Nov. 18-19, a play in which the audience decides the verdict and the ending.
Dalton High School’s upcoming play on the weekend of Nov. 18 will not be a typical play. People will file in and find seats, and they’ll wait for the hush as the curtain opens, but instead of the lights going dark, the room will stay dimly lit because in the play, “Night of January 16th,” the audience will be actively involved in deciding the verdict of a murder trial.
People will be chosen at random to be on stage in the jury, and some high school students involved in the play will sit as onlookers.
“Night of January 16th” will be performed in the Dalton auditorium Nov. 18-19 at 7 p.m. at Dalton High School, 177 N. Mill St.
However, if the DHS football team is still in the playoffs, Saturday’s performance will move to Sunday at 2 p.m.
The comedy drama takes place entirely in a courtroom, deciding if secretary Karen Andre murdered her boss, Bjorn Faulkner, a business executive. After listening to character testimony, the jury has to decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty, and each time the play is performed, the ending can be different. People who go to more than one performance might get to see all the possible endings.
“Because the students have to sit on the witness stand as they act, they have to get into character just by using their face, hands and voice,” said Robin Evans-DelCiappo, the play’s director.
Nineteen students auditioned to be in the fall play, and Evans-DelCiappo wanted to do a play with a large enough cast so they could all have a part. So she cast two plays and let the seniors decide which one they preferred, and “Night of January 16th” won.
“A bunch of kids signed up to be on crew too, so we’ve worked strategically to get everyone involved,” Evans-DelCiappo said.
Tickets are $10 and may be reserved by visiting www.daltonlocal.org and selecting the link for Fall Production Tickets near the top of the home page and filling out the form. Tickets also can be reserved by calling the high school office at 330-828-2261 or by purchase at the door.
Senior citizens also have a special invitation to watch the dress rehearsal on Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. for $8 a ticket. The DHS National Honor Society will provide a breakfast beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria. Those interested in attending should call the high school office by Nov. 15.