The lyrics and music of one of the greatest song writers of the 20th century will be filling the Mississippi School of the Arts Campus.

The Department of Music is presenting a celebration of the musical genius of Irving Berlin. From big band and jazz to love ballads and show tunes, Berlin’s array of American classics offers it all.

Director Patton Rice said Berlin is such a huge figure in American music that when George Gershwin was asked in an interview about the impact Berlin has had on musical theater, Gershwin replied ‘Irving Berlin is musical theater.’

Students will be performing well-known show tunes such as “There’s No Business Like Show Business” from the musical “Annie Get Your Gun” and some off-the-beaten track songs such as “Suppertime.” Students are performing as a group, in duets and as soloists.

Other songs that will be showcased are: “Always,” “I Love a Piano,” “What’ll I Do,” “How Deep is the Ocean,” “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better,” “How About Me,” “You’d Be Surprised,” “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun,” “Blue Skies,” “Your Just in Love” and “White Christmas.”

Rice said students were able to choose which pieces they would perform. All of the students in the review are music majors from Rice’s musical theater class. Rice said he has worked with each of them individually to prepare for the event during his musical theater class.

Rice said students have walked through the scene to achieve the proper dramatization and putting the songs into context of the entire show from which they are taken. He said it is important for students to balance their performances with the intent of Berlin’s composition.

The show will be Friday at 7 p.m. in Mary Jane Lampton Auditorium on the MSA Campus. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.

The stars of the review are Nellie Massey, Amarie White-Mayo, Heather Lee, Olivia Vaughn, Destiny Stone, Leona Smith, Micaela Kostmayer, Olivia Kelly and Madison Buhrer. Steve Russell is the accompanist.