Make-Believe

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**Make-Believe**

Every story is a crossroads. A diverse company of Chicago artists produces new audio dramas—recorded live—and stages freewheeling audience conversations about them. Led by Founder and Executive Producer Jeremy McCarter, Make-Believe shares suspenseful, moving, hilarious stories, and tries to discover how they shape our world.

Latest Episodes:

Listening to Lake Song Oct 12, 2022

LAKE SONG makes its debut today on the Tribeca Audio Premieres podcast! Listen here.

Starting on October 13, listen to LAKE SONG on its own podcast feed.

Available everywhere, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and on the web at lakesong.fm.

Follow or subscribe to LAKE SONG to hear new episodes as they appear each week.

Trailer 2: Chicago Poets--Past, Present, Future Oct 06, 2022

Lake Song co-creator Nate Marshall talks about what Chicago poets have always done. . . and what they're *going* to do.

Lake Song, the epic new audio-drama series from Make-Believe Association, will debut October 12 as an official selection of Tribeca Audio.

For more, visit lakesong.fm.

Trailer: Lake Song Sep 30, 2022

OFFICIAL SELECTION - Tribeca Festival Audio Premieres. It's 2098 and the Republic of Chicago has what the world needs: fresh water. But with new opportunities come new threats, especially for a pair of siblings on the South Side. Can the people come together to save their city--and each other?

LAKE SONG is the joint creation of seven multidisciplinary Chicagoans. Combining sci-fi and music, politics and poetry, it's a collective response to our times, and a shared dream of our future.

Go to the new LAKE SONG feed to subscribe. Coming in mid-October.

Our Decameron: Shakespeare in Utopia Apr 24, 2020

Following the cancellation of Shakespeare in the Park, Oskar Eustis talks about a utopian story in one of Shakespeare's plays. A practical guide to what a vision of the future can do--and what it can't.

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Hosted by Jeremy McCarter

Music, mixing, and mastering by Mikhail Fiksel

Graphics and social media by Carly Pearlman

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Share Make-Believe on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakeBelieveFM

IG: https://www.instagram.com/makebelievefm/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/makebelieveassociation/

Our Decameron: Lorraine Hansberry at the End of the World Apr 16, 2020

Can a new society arise from a cataclysm? Does humanity deserve a second chance? Chicago author and journalist Natalie Moore joins a virtual audience to explore utopia, dystopia, and the radical imagination while discussing the great Chicago dramatist's "What Use Are Flowers?".

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Listen to Lorraine Hansberry’s What Use Are Flowers?: https://makebelieve.fm/flowers

Listen to Natalie Moore and Jeremy McCarter’s City on Fire: Chicago Race Riot 1919: https://makebelieve.fm/city-on-fire

Credits for this episode:

Hosted by Jeremy McCarter

Music, mixing, and mastering by Mikhail Fiksel

Graphics and social media by Carly Pearlman

Credits for What Use Are Flowers?:

Directed by Daniel Kyri

Music by Mikhail Fiksel

Sound by Erisa Apantaku and Mikhail Fiksel

Production manager - Madeleine Borg

Stage manager - JC Widman

Cast:

Hermit – Billy Branch

Charlie – Daniel Kyri

Lily – Khloe Janel

William – Tevion Lanier

Narration read by Kiayla Ryann

Thank you to the Lorraine Hansberry Literary Trust for allowing us to produce the audio drama; and to the Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Foundation and the Poetry Foundation for making season one possible

Our Decameron: The Tortoise, the Hare, and Will Leitch Apr 01, 2020

To tide us over until baseball returns, sportswriter Will Leitch breaks down the most famous athletic contest of all time, and a lively virtual audience debates its moral today.

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Subscribe to Will Leitch's newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/williamfleitch

Consider an actual tortoise vs. an actual hare: https://metro.co.uk/2016/10/15/someone-staged-an-actual-race-between-a-rabbit-and-a-tortoise-6194091/

Hosted by Jeremy McCarter

Music, mixing, and mastering by Mikhail Fiksel

Graphics and social media by Carly Pearlman

Our Decameron: Chicken Little Mar 24, 2020

The sky might or might not be falling, but the story that gave rise to that phrase is everywhere. In episode two of our series inspired by Boccaccio, Stephanie Ybarra and a group of fascinating people from all over the country reconsider the tale of the moment.

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Hosted by Jeremy McCarter

Music, mixing, and mastering by Mikhail Fiksel

Graphics and social media by Carly Pearlman

Join the conversation - @MakeBelieveFM

Our Decameron: Zen in Seattle Mar 17, 2020

Inspired by Boccaccio, a new series of conversations in which we share a story and invite a fascinating person to talk about what it means. In episode one, Martin Edlund of Malaria No More interprets the Zen fable about the tiger and the strawberry.

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Hosted by Jeremy McCarter

Music, mixing, and mastering by Mikhail Fiksel

Graphics and social media by Carly Pearlman

Special thanks to Maria Tatar

Join the conversation - @MakeBelieveFM

City on Fire: Chicago Race Riot 1919 Oct 04, 2019

A docudrama about the summer that ravaged a city--and remade it. Co-produced with WBEZ.

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CITY ON FIRE: CHICAGO RACE RIOT 1919

A co-production of WBEZ Chicago and Make-Believe Association

Written by Natalie Moore and Jeremy McCarter Original music and sound design by Mikhail Fiksel

Executive produced by Cate Cahan for WBEZ and Jeremy McCarter for Make-Believe

Recorded at WBEZ Studios and The Revival, Chicago

CAST Ayanna Bria Bakari - Mrs. Ellis, Witness Brenda Barrie - Wife Terry Bell - Ensemble Eduardo Curley-Carrillo - Ensemble Charles Andrew Gardner - Oscar Dozier, Eugene's Friend Lawrence Grimm - Officer, Alderman, Minister Francis Guinan - Motorman, The Chief Sam Hubbard - George Stauber, Alderman C. Anthony Jackson - The Reverend Timothy Edward Kane - Eugene Temple, Dispatcher Ryan Kitley - Homeowner, Husband, Minister Tevion Lanier - Eugene Williams, Civic Leader Al’Jaleel McGhee - Migrant, Son Marcus D. Moore - Ensemble A.C. Smith - Migrant, Father Andre Teamer - Witness, Husband Anji White - Migrant, Mother Jacqueline Williams - Ida B. Wells

PRODUCTION STAFF Casting director - Laura Alcalá Baker Production manager - Madeleine Borg Production coordinator - Erisa Apantaku Stage manager - Heather Sparling

SOUND TEAM Recording engineers - Adam Yoffe, DeShun Smith, Shelly Steffens, and J. Kyle White-Sullivan Editing by Mikhail Fiksel Mastering by Adam Yoffe and Shelly Steffens

Credits voiced by Melba Lara

Equipment provided by TechMagic Designs

Graphic design by Carly Pearlman

“St. Louis Blues” composed by W. C. Handy

SPECIAL THANKS Adam Green; Liesl Olson; Cindy Abbott, Betsy Berger, Steve Edwards, Janet Gould, Alden Loury, Tracy Brown, Jennifer Bell and the staff of WBEZ; the Make-Believe Writers’ Room (Sydney Charles, Nancy García Loza, Nate Marshall, and Kristina Valada-Viars); Carolyn Casselman and Rima Pancholi of Paul Weiss; Catherine Allen of The Den Theatre; John Stoops of The Revival; Giselle Castro; and Robert Hornbostel

To support Make-Believe with a tax-deductible contribution, please visit:

https://makebelieve.fm/support-us/

Lost Books of the Odyssey Mar 01, 2019

Odysseus, the “man of twists and turns”, goes on five new adventures, portrayed by five amazing actors. Sing for our time, too. To contact Make-Believe, email us at talk@makebelieve.fm --------------- Lost Books of the OdysseyBy Jeremy McCarterAdapted from the novel by Zachary MasonMusic composed and sound team led by Mikhail FikselDirected by Jess McLeodExecutive produced by Jeremy McCarter Performed and recorded live at the Harold Washington Library, Chicago CAST (in order of playing Odysseus)Kareem BandealyKristina Valada-ViarsLily MojekwuIan Paul CusterHenry Godinez SOUND TEAMSound designer - Mikhail FikselAssociate sound designer and audio technician - Robert HornbostelRecording engineer - Joe Palermo PRODUCTION STAFFProduction manager - Madeleine BorgStage manager - Brennan T. JonesCommunity manager - Kaitlin Fine POST-PRODUCTIONEditing, mixing, and additional recording by Mikhail FikselAdditional sound design, final mixing and mastering by Joe Palermo Graphic design by Carly Pearlman Equipment provided by TechMagic Designs Make-Believe theme music by Mikhail Fiksel SPECIAL THANKSCatherine Allen and The Den Theater; Brian Bannon and the staff of Chicago Public Library; Carolyn Casselman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison; Bill Clegg; Nancy García Loza; Nate Marshall; Kevin Reader, Max Temkin, and Cards Against Humanity; Chris Rooney; SAG-AFTRA. PRODUCTION SPONSORSThe Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Family Foundation, for an essential launch grantThe Poetry Foundation, our lead season sponsorJoyce Chelberg, whose generosity supports the work of Make-Believe’s actorsAll our donors and supporters To support Make-Believe with a tax-deductible contribution, please visit:https://makebelieve.fm/support-us/

Bruh Rabbit Feb 07, 2019

Brer Rabbit, the iconic trickster of African-American folklore, returns in new tales by the poet Nate Marshall: It’s a whole new briar patch now.

To contact Make-Believe, email us at talk@makebelieve.fm

This program is dedicated to the life of George Terrell, a storyteller and enslaved man on the Turnwold Plantation in Eatonton, Georgia. He is one of countless storytellers with names that we will never know or get right.

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Bruh Rabbit And the Fantastic Telling of Remington Ellis, Esq. By Nate Marshall Music composed and sound team led by Mikhail Fiksel Directed by Wardell Julius Clark Executive produced by Jeremy McCarter

Performed and recorded live at the Harold Washington Library, Chicago

CAST (in order of appearance) Interviewer/Mayor/Tar Baby - Sydney Charles Remington/Fam Bear - Osiris Khepera Fam Wolf - Charles Andrew Gardner Fam Fox - Kiayla Ryann Bruh Rabbit - Al’Jaleel McGhee

SOUND TEAM Sound designer - Mikhail Fiksel Associate sound designer - Robert Hornbostel Recording engineer - Steve Labedz Audio technician - Maddie Doyle

PRODUCTION STAFF Production manager - Madeleine Borg Stage manager - J.C. Widman Community manager - Arrion Jones

POST-PRODUCTION Editing, mixing, and additional recording by Mikhail Fiksel and Robert Hornbostel Mastering by Joe Palermo

Graphic design by Carly Pearlman

Equipment provided by TechMagic Designs

Make-Believe theme music by Mikhail Fiksel

SPECIAL THANKS Catherine Allen and The Den Theater; Brian Bannon and the staff of Chicago Public Library; Carolyn Casselman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison; Nancy García Loza; Chris Rooney; SAG-AFTRA; Maria Tatar

PRODUCTION SPONSORS The Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Family Foundation, for an essential launch grant The Poetry Foundation, our lead season sponsor Joyce Chelberg, whose generosity supports the work of Make-Believe’s actors All our donors and supporters

To support Make-Believe with a tax-deductible contribution, please visit: https://makebelieve.fm/support-us/

Brava Jan 15, 2019

A brave girl's journey through a land of many monsters, adapted from a Mexican folktale by Nancy García Loza. Performed and recorded live in Chicago, followed by audience conversation.

To contact Make-Believe, email us at talk@makebelieve.fm

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Brava A folktale con música Script and corrido by Nancy García Loza Music direction and additional music by Eréndira Izguerra Sound team led by Mikhail Fiksel Directed by Laura Alcalá Baker Executive produced by Jeremy McCarter

Performed and recorded live at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen, Chicago

CAST (in order of appearance) Young Girl - Ilse Zacharias Father/Patrón - Christian Castro Viejita/Cook - Ana María Alvarez Walking Stick/Servant - Brandon Rivera Guard/Soldado - Carlos Rogelio Diaz Prince/Bolumbí - Eduardo Curley-Carrillo

BAND Violin - Eréndira Izguerra Guitarron - Jeanette Nevarez Vihuela - Laura Velazquez

SOUND TEAM Sound designer - Mikhail Fiksel Associate sound designer - Robert Hornbostel Recording engineer - Steve Labedz Audio technician - Maddie Doyle

PRODUCTION STAFF Production manager - Madeleine Borg Stage manager - Jaclynn Joslin Community manager - Jennifer Aparicio Folk music adviser - Juan Dies, Sones de México Ensemble

POST-PRODUCTION Editing, mixing, and additional recording by Mikhail Fiksel Additional recording by Robert Hornbostel Mastering by Joe Palermo

Based on a folktale in Tales from Jalisco, Mexico by Howard T. Wheeler, published by The American Folklore Society.

Casting by Paskal Rudnicke Casting

Graphic design by Carly Pearlman

Equipment provided by TechMagic Designs

Make-Believe theme music by Mikhail Fiksel

SPECIAL THANKS Catherine Allen and The Den Theater; The American Folklore Society; Carolyn Casselman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison; Erica Daniels and Victory Gardens; Maria Hinojosa; Nate Marshall; Chris Rooney; SAG-AFTRA; and Carlos Tortolero and the National Museum of Mexican Art

To support Make-Believe with a tax-deductible contribution, please visit: https://makebelieve.fm/support-us/

Overture: Where Do Stories Come From? Jan 10, 2019

How can creative artists make each other more creative? As we count down to the release of Make-Believe's first audio drama, we talk with Monica Beletsky, acclaimed writer for TV and film, about artistic collaboration, the highs and lows of the TV writers' room, and the fable of the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse.

See Monica's thread on storytelling:

https://twitter.com/MonicaBeletsky/status/946479909903282177

See @edithdrod's visualization:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16AMvLZhqHvX9KpwLRYmFPhuJ_Ez4SpaP/view

Talk to Make-Believe: talk@makebelieve.fm

Coming Soon: Brava Jan 03, 2019

A preview of the first audio drama in our season of Grown Folks Fables, a Mexican folktale con música by Nancy García Loza. A brave girl faces many monsters. #muchowowwow #muchoguaoguao

Overture: Why Talk About Stories? Dec 13, 2018

Michael Sandel, philosopher and showman, helps us prep for Season 1 by showing how it's done. Plus: the art of listening, upstaging Matt Damon, and the case of Grasshopper v. Ant.

Want to talk with us? We're at info@mbelieve.org.

Want to support our work? Please consider a tax-deductible contribution here.

Coming Soon: Make-Believe Dec 06, 2018

Welcome to Make-Believe Association, a Chicago-based company producing new audio dramas--recorded live--and conversations about how stories shape our world. It's independent. It draws from the breadth of our vibrant city. And it's coming very soon.

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