THE EL

A full cast and exceptional sound effects depict gang life in this semiautobiographical love letter to Chicago. In 1979 Indigenous Teddy, flawlessly introduced by D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, leads a gang across enemy territory to meet other groups, hoping to form a less violent "nation." Diverse narrators with various accents portray the gang members as they ride the El. Evocative descriptions of street life and entrancing accounts of Chicago's hidden splendors--from Teddy's perspective--provide relief from the stark setting. Mikey, an African American with a musical voice, portrayed by Nile Bullock, contrasts perfectly with the introspective Teddy. Woon-A-Tai also presents Coyote, Teddy's spirit guide, who provides comfort and much-needed protection. Audio is the perfect medium for a Chicago gang leader who observes, "Our stories keep us alive." [Published: JANUARY 2026]