Alaric Jans


Alaric "Rokko" Jans is an American film and theater composer.

Career

Jans co-wrote with James Quinn the music and lyrics of the 1979 musical adaptation of John R. Powers' Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?. Jans, along with William H. Macy and David Kovacs, also participated in the revival of John Stasey's 1964 children's musical, The Adventures of Captain Marbles and His Acting Squad at David Mamet's St. Nicholas Theatre; he served as the composer and the co-lyricist of that musical. He has also composed music for films directed by Mamet, such as House of Games, Things Change, Homicide and The Winslow Boy. In 2009, Jans composed the music for the Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Twelfth Night. Jans also co-wrote with Robert Sickinger the 2014 musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby.
Jans shared a 2008 Tony Award as a member of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Personal life

Jans was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Paul Jans. He grew up in Philadelphia and Lincoln Park. Jans attended Harvard University.
Jans was married to singer-composer June Shellene. The couple resides in Chicago. They have a son by the name of Joe.