As a ’90s kid, I’m never sure how many songs I’ll recognize going into one of Black Ensemble Theater’s signature musical revues. In the latest, “Hitt Records” by Daryl D. Brooks, I’ll admit that only a fraction of the artists named on the song list rang a bell for me, but their tunes were a different story. As the cast sang and danced their way through numbers such as “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “We Are Family,” “I Will Survive” and “Best of My Love,” I realized that I knew more soul, R&B and disco music from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s than I thought. And that’s the point. The show takes place in a vintage record shop in Chicago owned by brothers James and Charles Hitt (Vincent Jordan and Dennis Dent), and their nephew and part-time employee, Vincent (Destin Warner), stands in for the younger generations in the audience. As the uncles give Vincent a crash course on the music of their youth, they often point out the influence of earlier artists on the likes of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé and John Legend. In music, there’s nothing new under the sun, they say. Jordan, Dent and Warner give off a warm family vibe, teasing each other over generational differences with an underlying tone of mutual love and respect. Over the course of one business day, quirky customers stream in and out of the shop, played by a cast that includes many Black Ensemble regulars. Whenever the Hitt brothers dive into the history of a particular artist or band, prompted by a question from a customer or their nephew, Denise Karczewski’s faux-brick set rotates to reveal a stage where ensemble members perform one or more of their best-known songs. Wearing glamorous, period-appropriate costumes designed by Evelyn Danner, the cast delivers lively choreography by Christopher Chase Carter, backed by a band under the direction of Robert Reddrick. A few balance issues and line flubs at the performance I attended didn’t detract much from the fun atmosphere. Michael Lunder makes his Black Ensemble debut as a soloist in “blue-eyed soul” songs by Phil Collins and the Bee Gees and lends his agility to backup choreography in other numbers. The always-engaging Britt Edwards makes a memorable Donna Summer, and Jaitee Thomas stands out as both a singer and dancer, especially in his portrayal of Jeffrey Daniel from the group Shalamar. Daniel inspired a young Michael Jackson and later co-choreographed his “Bad” and “Smooth Criminal” music videos. Dennis Dent, Destin Warner, Vincent Jordan, Lyle Miller and cast in "Hitt Records" at Black Ensemble Theater. (Alan Davis)Michael Lunder and cast in "Hitt Records" at Black Ensemble Theater. (Alan Davis)Dwight D. Neal (front) with Trequon Tate, Jaitee Thomas and cast in "Hitt Records" at Black Ensemble Theater. (Alan Davis)Lyle Miller and cast in "Hitt Records" at Black Ensemble Theater. (Alan Davis)Show Caption1 of 4Dennis Dent, Destin Warner, Vincent Jordan, Lyle Miller and cast in "Hitt Records" at Black Ensemble Theater. (Alan Davis)Expand In their narration, the Hitt brothers touch on some of the social issues that formed the backdrop to the music of this era. Leading up to a disco medley, they note the opposition that Black-led genres often faced before they became mainstream, and they later discuss the difficulties of being an LGBTQ artist in a time when the gay liberation movement was just taking off. Here, Dwight Neal plays Sylvester, an African American singer and activist who died of HIV/AIDS complications in 1988. As is typical at Black Ensemble, the show ends with a message of unity; uncles and nephew conclude that music connects us all. I have an older family member whose love language is sharing the music they grew up with, and the intergenerational warmth of “Hitt Records” made me think of them. The show is a sweet bit of nostalgia for those of a certain age and a lighthearted musical history lesson for the rest of us. Emily McClanathan is a freelance critic. Review: “Hitt Records” (3 stars) When: Through Jan. 26 Where: Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes Tickets: $56.50-$66.50 at 773-769-4451 or blackensembletheater.org