The Almost Emperor of the Unofficial Deestrick of Lake Michigan

by Leah Roth Barsanti

***FULL LENGTH*** It is the 1920s in Chicago, and The District of Lake Michigan is thriving. Led by Cap and Ma Streeter, the lakefront plot of land that houses the District is occupied by a ragtag group of Chicagoans living outside the law. They have been allowed to live there, pretty much undisturbed, for decades, but now they are in the way of millionaire Potter Palmer's master plan to expand his holdings onto...

***FULL LENGTH*** It is the 1920s in Chicago, and The District of Lake Michigan is thriving. Led by Cap and Ma Streeter, the lakefront plot of land that houses the District is occupied by a ragtag group of Chicagoans living outside the law. They have been allowed to live there, pretty much undisturbed, for decades, but now they are in the way of millionaire Potter Palmer's master plan to expand his holdings onto Lake Shore Drive. Not one to do his own dirty work, Palmer sends his puppets (The Judge, Sargeant O'Malley, and N.A. Warpbank) to remove Streeter and his followers from the land once and for all in this DaDa legend about land ownership, puppets, and guns.

This play is in development and open to development opportunities

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The Almost Emperor of the Unofficial Deestrick of Lake Michigan

Recommended by

  • Tony Mantia: The Almost Emperor of the Unofficial Deestrick of Lake Michigan

    This play has no right to be as hilarious as it is. I promise you you're going to laugh and you're going to learn. I've lived in Chicago for over a decade and learned so much about the city's complicated history from this piece. Barsanti absolutely makes this "old" story incredibly relevant with parallels to today's biggest issues. Seriously I can't recommend enough. It's zany, it's dirty, and it's arguably the most fun play you'll read this year, or any year! Plus, you'll be thinking about the characters and the questions this story raises for years to come.

    This play has no right to be as hilarious as it is. I promise you you're going to laugh and you're going to learn. I've lived in Chicago for over a decade and learned so much about the city's complicated history from this piece. Barsanti absolutely makes this "old" story incredibly relevant with parallels to today's biggest issues. Seriously I can't recommend enough. It's zany, it's dirty, and it's arguably the most fun play you'll read this year, or any year! Plus, you'll be thinking about the characters and the questions this story raises for years to come.

  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: The Almost Emperor of the Unofficial Deestrick of Lake Michigan

    A history play with puppets - what's not to love? As a Chicago resident, I knew the very basics of how Streeterville came to be, but this play delves deep into the legend with puppets and razzle dazzle. It's raunchy and fun, unique and thoroughly enjoyable. Just like Chicago. You should give it a read, no matter where you live.

    A history play with puppets - what's not to love? As a Chicago resident, I knew the very basics of how Streeterville came to be, but this play delves deep into the legend with puppets and razzle dazzle. It's raunchy and fun, unique and thoroughly enjoyable. Just like Chicago. You should give it a read, no matter where you live.

  • Conor McShane: The Almost Emperor of the Unofficial Deestrick of Lake Michigan

    A delightful, freewheeling, irreverent take on a local Chicago legend, and a loving tribute to the hucksters, swindlers, and tale-spinners that made our fair city what it is today.

    A delightful, freewheeling, irreverent take on a local Chicago legend, and a loving tribute to the hucksters, swindlers, and tale-spinners that made our fair city what it is today.

Character Information

  • Ma Streeter
    “Fightin’ Irish, skeered o’ nothin’... strong as an ox, a dead shot, and the damndest best female companion a man ever had.”
    Character Age
    50s
    Character Gender Identity
    She/her
  • Poppy
    A vazey hedgecreeper, a gibface wagtail... never one to spoil a good story for the sake of a few facts.
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    She/her
  • Niles West
    A district diehard, brilliant but constantly down on his luck, ready to fight
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Indigenous
    Character Gender Identity
    he/him
  • Cap Streeter
    A charletan, a gambler, a dreamer...
    Character Age
    50s/60s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    he/him
  • Potter Motherfucking Palmer
    The puppet master.
    Character Age
    50s-70s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    he/him

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Cat's Cradle Theatre,

Awards

  • Best New Play or Musical
    BroadwayWorld Chicago
    Selection
    2023
  • The Judith Barlowe Prize
    History Matters/Back to the Future
    Winner
    2020