The Adventures of Captain Marbles and his Acting Squad: Post Your Review

Posted by DCA Theater on November 3, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, The Adventures of Captain Marbles

November 01, 2008 — December 14, 2008
Storefront Theater
Presented by Provision Theater Company; Music by Alaric Jans; Lyrics by Alaric Jans and John Stasey; Book by William H. Macy and David Kovacs; Based on Characters Created by John Stasey; Directed by Tim Gregory

The classic musical for children and adults returns to Chicago!  The Marble Squad (an Astronaut, a Ballerina, a Witch and other friends) love to act and dance and sing. They are led by a Captain who is always losing his fuzzy red marbles.  Watch them take on the challenge of staging “Romeo and Juliet”—with hilarious results!  Episode 1 features surprise celebrity cameos, and award-winning composer Alaric “Rokko” Jans at the piano.

Captain’s Blog—October 27, 2008

Posted by DCA Theater on October 27, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, The Adventures of Captain Marbles

Written by Captain Marbles

Hi everyone!  It’s great to be back!

All of us with the Acting Squad are busy rehearsing and getting ready for our opening at the DCA Storefront Theater on November 1.  We’ve had some singing and dancing rehearsals already, and the Squad is sounding great.  I have to work on a few things – it’s a little hard to dance when I keep losing my marbles – but that’s to be expected.

What’s been really fun has been telling people that we’re putting on a show again!  Some of the kids who saw us in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s are parents – and grandparents – now.  We’re hoping that this is just the beginning – and they’ll be able to see many more Marble Squad shows in the future.  Special thanks to our great new friends at the DCA – they’re helping us in so many ways to get the marbles rolling.

We’re excited to have some special guests during the run of this first episode, too. Because we’re putting on our biggest show ever – “The Comedy of the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”—Morey the Eel has decided to become a casting agent – and he’s lining up all the top name talent we’ll need. Depending on when you come to the show, you might see tap dancers, singers, trombone players – even pogo stick jumpers (I think Morey’s getting a little carried away).  We’ll also have celebrities like Wayne Messmer, Tim Kazurinsky, Garry Meier and more.  Morey says he’s looking for a cast of thousands – er, hundreds.  I’m telling him to be thinking tens.  Morey says he’s working it all out – his people are calling their people.

So, we really hope we’ll see you at the Storefront!  When you come, be sure to stick around afterwards – we’d love to say hello to you after the show. And check back on this blog – we’ll be updating it through our run with the DCA.

Captain over and out – Doo-wah!

The Marble Squad? That sounds familiar…

Posted by DCA Theater on August 29, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, The Adventures of Captain Marbles

Many Chicagoans remember growing up watching the adventures of a Ballerina, an Astronaut, a Witch, and others who love to act and dance and sing, led by
a Captain who perpetually loses his fuzzy red marbles.  It’s been—well—a few years since the Squad last sang “The Actor’s Polka” …“The Banana Song”
…and other favorites. Now, it’s great to be back—at the DCA Storefront Theater.

The Squad’s storied history dates back to Chicago’s Hull House Theater in 1964.  A very creative young man named John Stasey dreamed up the characters and their adventures, and asked a teenager named Alaric “Rokko” Jans to write the songs.  Every few weeks Rokko added new songs and reprised old favorites for each new episode. Fans of the Squad were shocked when John Stasey died tragically in 1966, and shortly afterward, the Marble Squad sadly dissolved.

The Squad took the stage again during the 1970’s, at Chicago’s St. Nicholas Theater. Rokko collaborated with writers William H. Macy and David Kovacs to create new episodes based on the Squad’s production of *The Comedy of the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet*. The shows ran in repertory at St. Nicholas, on tour, and in the 1980’s in Mayor Byrne’s *Summertime Chicago* series, playing to critical acclaim and sold-out audiences of kids and adults.

Now we’ve reunited and updated *Captain Marbles* at the Storefront, in a co-production with DCA Theater and Chicago’s Provision Theater. The show, premiering November 1, and running Saturdays at 11 and Sundays at noon, is directed by Tim Gregory. Rokko plays the role of—well—Rocko, the Marble Squad’s on-stage pianist. And an off-Broadway production is in the works for early 2009.

It’s great to be back—for a new generation of fans of the Marble Squad, young and old. We’re looking forward to seeing you in November!

—Rokko, David and Tim