Radio stars don't get to tread the red carpet as often as their TV and film counterparts, which makes the National Radio Hall of Fame ceremony extra special for anyone who works behind the mic. Tom Barnard, KQRS' longtime morning-drive kingpin, will join the elite club Nov. 2 in Chicago. "It's so damn cool to be in the same club as Groucho Marx," Barnard said this week. "But it's one of those situations where I know it's about the listeners, not me." Previous Minnesota inductees include Garrison Keillor and Stanley E. Hubbard, founder of KSTP Radio and Hubbard Broadcasting. Barnard is particularly thrilled that the ceremony will take place at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, the town where he started doing commercial voice-over work for products ranging from Hamburger Helper to Gatorade. The north Minneapolis native started his ratings-topping run 37 years ago and is signed to be at KQ through at least 2019. He expects about 50 friends, colleagues and family members to join him in Chicago. Other inductees this year include conservative commentator Sean Hannity, Nashville-based syndicated host Bobby Bones and Howard Stern sidekick Robin Quivers.

NEAL JUSTIN

Christmas future

For the first time in Guthrie Theater history, a woman will play Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." But veteran Twin Cities actor Charity Jones is scheduled for only four performances, with Nathaniel Fuller playing the skinflint in the other 52 shows of the Nov. 14-Dec. 30 run. "I'm pretty jazzed about it," Jones said Tuesday as she walked into the first day of rehearsal. She was quick to point out that her primary role is Old Joe — another "pants role" — while serving as understudy to Fuller, who first appeared in "Carol" nearly 30 years ago and has played Marley and Bob Cratchit, as well. If you want to see Jones in the part, get tickets for the evening shows Nov. 26 and Dec. 6, or the 10:30 a.m. shows Nov. 30 and Dec. 13.

ROHAN PRESTON

The war comes home

Ken Burns' documentary "The Vietnam War" concludes with an excerpt from Minnesota author Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" — a decision O'Brien says he fought. "I hate watching myself on television," he said Wednesday night at his alma mater, Macalester College, during a public forum with "War" co-director Lynn Novick. She says, however, that O'Brien — a Vietnam vet raised in Worthington — was a key reason the 18-hour film resonated with the millions of viewers who made it one of the most-viewed PBS programs ever. "Tim was the first person we talked to when starting with the project," Novick said backstage. "Ending it with him seems very fitting." N.J.

'Ghost' at the Sallys

The 25th annual Sally Awards celebrated the global genius of the Twin Cities in a spirited ceremony Monday. Hmong song-poet Bee Yang cut a Homer-like figure, while New Native Theatre founder Rhiana Yazzie choked up as she thanked the Dakota and Ojibwe communities for "welcoming and supporting this Navajo girl." The emotional pitch was also high for Guthrie Theater accessibility manager Hunter Gullickson and Z Puppets Rosenschnoz founders Shari Aronson and Chris Griffith. But the most reverential moments came in a tribute to poet J. Otis Powell, who died just days after his award was announced in August. With his young daughter in tow, novelist Alexs Pate delivered a lyrical tribute, and writer/director E.G. Bailey performed one of his mentor's poems, "Holy Ghost Dance," in a performance that left the audience hushed.R.P.

Novick

Super stand-up

Cold weather won't keep the superstars away from Minneapolis during Super Bowl week. Kevin Hart, one of the biggest names in film and stand-up comedy, will perform Feb. 2 at Target Center in Minneapolis as part of his Irresponsible Tour. Hart is no stranger to the Twin Cities. He appeared at Target Center in 2015 and was here in August to tape an episode of his Comedy Central series "Hart of the City." Tickets go on sale Friday at axs.com.

N.J.

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