A group of Chicago writers, sound designers and actors — led by the creative producer Jeremy McCarter — have produced a new audio drama series that imagines life in Chicago in 2090 when, McCarter says, “the world needs Chicago’s water and that is presenting both an opportunity and a threat.”
Titled “Lake Song” and produced by McCarter’s Chicago-based audio storytelling company Make-Believe Association, the series is to be an official selection of the Tribeca Festival’s Audio Premieres showcase. The first episode drops Oct. 12 on the Tribeca site and will quickly become available on Make-Believe’s channel, available on most major podcast services.
Those involved in the project with McCarter include Marcus D. Moore, Laura Alcalá Baker, Sydney Charles, Mikhail Fiksel, Nate Marshall, Natalie Moore and Kristina Valada-Viars.
Natalie Moore is a longtime journalist and playwright; Fiksel is a recent recipient of the Tony Award for sound design. McCarter is the co-author of official books on both “Hamilton” and “In the Heights,” written in collaboration with Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In an interview, McCarter described the big project as having taken some two years and often recorded remotely, given the strictures of the pandemic. “There are seven co-creators,” he said.
He also said that the drama will be set in what will then be the “independent republic of Chicago,” and that listeners will have a chance to “meet public officials and the future mayor” as well as hear from Chicagoans of 2090 who reside “far from the centers of power.”
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.