This special Veteran’s Day program and finale to the Chicago Humanities Festival presents songwriter Irving Berlin’s classic 1942 musical revue “This is the Army” which was his personal favorite—he appeared in it, singing a deadpan “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning”—and was a huge morale booster during World War II with its memorable service-saluting score that includes “This is the Army, Mr. Jones” and “God Bless America,” among others and which also featured a young pre-president Ronald Reagan. Berlin’s daughter Linda Emmet will share recollections of her reclusive father, who remains the most successful American songwriter in history. Legendary Broadway performer Betty Garrett, best remembered for being the sidekick of Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in “On the Town” and other classic musicals of the era but who went on to become Archie Bunker foil Irene Lorenzo on the 1970s sitcom “All in the Family” will appear along with Broadway performers Jenny Powers and Lewis Cleale, cabaret artists Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael and students from Northwestern University. The score from Harold Rome’s post-war “Call Me Mister,” which addressed the transition from military to civilian life will also be on the program, a show that Garrett and Irving Berlin’s later wife Maria Karnilova originally appeared in. (Dennis Polkow)
$10. Sun/7pm, Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, (312)334-7777.
Musical Mojo: A Preview of Stephen Lynch at Park West Lynch has carved out quite an impressive career, having scored a Tony nomination, a string of albums and Comedy Central specials that have marked him as one of the top musical comics of today.
