A recently launched play podcast is shining a spotlight on how alumni positively impact the lives of current students who are pursuing their dreams.
“The Capsule Demon Murders is a near-future sci-fi-esque murder mystery. It follows the story of Colorado Experimental Technology Association (C.E.T.A.) Investigators Leon Adler and Monty Warbler,” said Doug Bungard ’25, who wrote the play podcast. “Their mission is to stop a serial killer who's been mysteriously leaving their victims' bodies on display alongside Capsule Demon trading cards.”
The five-part series launched on Spotify and Apple Podcasts on January 24, with each new episode released on subsequent Fridays. Directed by Andy Felt with Audio Direction by Nathan Bradley, the podcast was recorded in the Dreamweaver Studio in McKinney Hall. The world-class recording complex was part of a transformational gift in December 2016 by Don ’81 and Leslie Straub Ritter ’85 that impacted the Music Department and included re-envisioning McKinney Hall, The Gathering Place, and the Band Rehearsal Hall.
“The Dreamweaver Studio in McKinney was one of the most important factors of this project,” Bungard said. “Having reliable access to high quality recording equipment in a professionally soundproofed environment was paramount to ensuring that we could put our primary focus into realizing our team's artistic visions as accurately as possible, without stressing too much over the logistics. It was a massive part of helping this project run as smoothy and efficiently as it did, and we are all extremely grateful that we were able to utilize this space for The Capsule Demon Murders.”
The newest episode of the five-part series will be available Friday on Spotify and Apple Music.
“When Don ’81 and Leslie Straub Ritter ’85 first conceptualized the Dreamweaver Recording Studio and made their transformative gift to Marietta College, they couldn’t possibly have envisioned the extent to which this space would evolve to enrich our campus and community,” said Bethany McFarland Leslie ’12, Vice President for Advancement. “The studio has become a vibrant hub where technology and the arts converge, inspiring students from all backgrounds to innovate and create. From theatre students exploring voice work to one of our talented seniors bringing his podcast to life, and even our local Girl Scouts earning their Entertainment Technology badges, the Dreamweaver Studio continues to provide extraordinary opportunities. We are deeply grateful to the Ritters for their generosity and vision, which continues to make a lasting impact.”
Inspired by the captivating murder mystery elements of the game AI: The Somnium Files, Bungard began developing the story as part of a Scriptwriting class project. He decided to adapt the project into a podcast format, thanks to the support and collaboration of faculty members. Two years later, the fully realized script and podcast production have come to fruition, delivering a compelling narrative for fans of the genre.
The podcast is directed by Andy Felt with Audio Direction by Nathan Bradley. The crew includes: Project Manager Sophie Wheeler; Asstistant Project Manager Lais Flores; Lead Dialogue Sophie Wheeler; Lead Ambient River Perry; Assistant Ambient Ian Hufford; Lead Sound Effects Brendon Thompson; Lead Underscore Dallas Lacey; and Concept Art Team Rose Wardlow, Sophia Abrusci and Rika Nakasuji. The cast includes: Jackson Bandy as Leon Adler; Wade Stout as Monty Warbler; Lily Sorensen as Amelia Harper; Kline Howell as Gene Fitzgerald Jr.; Zeir Carpenter as Gabriel Harth; Jazmyn Taylor as NULL and Valerie; Riley Anslow as Eleanor Fitzgerald; Doug Bungard as Ben Bradley, Elliot Finch and Crime Scene Investigators; Sophie Wheeler as C.E.T.A. Pistol and Nurse; Nathan Bradley as Gene’s Hat; Joshua Radloff, Andy Felt and Nathan Bradley as C.E.T.A. Defense Units; and Joshua Radloff, Riley Anslow, Doug Bungard & Rose Wardlow as Background Voices.
Bradley, who is the Instructor of Design and Technology and the Production Manager/Technical Director for The Theatre at Marietta College, recently shared his thoughts on the Capsule Demon Murders podcast, praising the project for offering students an immersive experience in the world of audio dramas.
“The Capsule Demon Murders podcast provided an exhilarating opportunity for our students to immerse themselves in the captivating world of audio dramas, a dynamic and popular media format today,” Bradley said. “Access to a dedicated recording studio not only offered us a professional workspace but also allowed us to demonstrate to our students how to operate effectively in a real-world audio production environment.”
Bradley also emphasized the importance of voice acting in the project’s success, noting how the students, including the playwright, were eager to expand their skills.
“Our students, including the playwright, have demonstrated a strong desire to deepen their understanding of voice acting and the skills it requires,” Bradley said. “This project builds upon the foundation laid during a voice acting workshop with professional voice actor and director John Demita a couple of years ago. In our initial meetings with Doug, we had a long conversation about how to incorporate this skill set into his project in order to provide a deeper understanding of the subject.”
Bradley further highlighted the significance of Marietta College’s Dreamweaver Studio, calling it an invaluable asset for both students and faculty.
“The Dreamweaver Studio is an invaluable resource for Marietta College,” Bradley said. “It not only offers exceptional learning opportunities for students but also provides faculty members, like myself, who specialize in sound engineering, audio design, and music production, a dedicated space to enhance and refine our skills. Projects such as The Capsule Demon Murders podcast, which would typically require off-site facilities, can now be completed in-house, making this studio essential for both professional development and student experiential learning.”
Bungard is grateful for the support he has received at Marietta, as well as at home.
“First of all, I would like to thank Jeremy Juseck (from the Poets & Playwrights Fellowship) and Jason Half (Scriptwriting I & II professor) for the incredible scriptwriting advice and support they offered me at various points throughout the completion of my script,” Bungard said. “I would also like to thank my parents for always believing in and supporting me, both in this project and in life in general. And finally, I would like to give a massive thank you to the cast and crew of The Capsule Demon Murders, as well as anyone else who helped me with this along the way. I couldn't have done this on my own, and I am extremely grateful to the amazing people in my life who helped make this project a reality.”
Now in his final semester at Marietta, Bungard, who will earn a BFA in Theatre Performance, has enjoyed branching into different areas of the theatre.
“One thing's for certain though: my confidence as a writer has grown immensely throughout the course of this project,” Bungard said. “Watching this script grow from a Scriptwriting I assignment to a completed product being interpreted by actors, tech teams, and directors has taught me a lot. Needless to say, I don’t think my writing endeavors will be stopping once The Capsule Demon Murders has officially wrapped up. Who knows, I may even complete a sequel one day.”