Silk Road Rising’s new play, Through the Elevated Line, explores gay and immigrant identities coming to a head right here in Chicago. The playwright, Novid Parsi, is the son of Iranian immigrants. He’s spent his life all around the U.S. He says that he was inspired to write the play after witnessing a xenophobic fervor spread across the country two years ago. The story follows two siblings who fall on opposite ends of the “respectability politics” spectrum that many marginalized and immigrant communities struggle with. Through the Elevated Line runs through April 15 at Silk Road Rising, 77 W. Washington St., Lower Level. We’re joined by Parsi, and Jamil Khoury, founding artistic director of Silk Road Rising, to discuss how the struggles within the play reflect real-life tensions in our city.

GUESTS:

Novid Parsi, Through the Elevated Line playwright

Jamil Khoury, founding artistic director of Silk Road Rising