Karen Andre is standing trial for the murder of her wealthy employer and lover Bjorn Faulkner.

Her only savior is a jury of 12 people who might have wanted an evening of entertainment.

The Lansing Civic Players Guild is presenting "Night of January 16th," by Ayn Rand, Friday through Sunday at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road.

The play allows for public participation with jury members picked from the audience to give the verdict of guilty or innocent. The courtroom drama was written in the 1930s and while some of the story's plot is dated because of modern forensic technology, it's still a favorite of many, director Harlow Claggett said.

With today's crime-solving techniques, law enforcement officials can determine the identity of a body despite any mutilation that has taken place to hide who it is.

The play also doesn't adhere to the clothing of the era, but that doesn't take away from the gripping courtroom drama that unfolds, Claggett said.

"As you listen you hear the testimony and decide what you believe and what you don't believe," the Lansing resident said.

Audience members will be asked as they enter the theater if they would like to participate on the jury.

This won't be the first time Claggett will see an audience decide the fate of a character.

He directed the play about 40 years ago and said the dramatics of deciding a fictional character's fate is part of its charm.

"We have two endings depending on what the jury decides," he said. "The two most important characters are the attorneys - the rest of the people are minor character roles so there are a lot of chances for actors to get into bit parts and create a character."

The original title of the play was "Penthouse Legend." In 1968, Rand re-edited the text, changing the title and the material to more closely match what had appeared on Broadway. It was made into a 1941 movie with Robert Preston.

While Rand's other works weren't as successful, she had a cult following with her philosophical writings.

Much of the play's reputation has come from its audience participation factor, which has had some interesting jury members.

East Lansing resident Sarah Hauck, who plays Karen Andre, said Helen Keller and gangster Al Capone both served as jury members in productions.

"They get to decide my fate basically. That is real interesting for people." she said. "It gives them a new experience."

Lansing resident Mitchel Stutes, who plays the defense attorney, said the audience participation builds up excitement.

"There is a tendency for people who come to those shows to want to be actors," he said. "Husbands might not be sitting with wives."