chicago, Illinois 

On the job when the first carload of players arrived were the north-side pastors, Morton and Rasmussen, joined later by Pastors Andersen and Justesen, since the appearance here was under the joint sponsorship of four Danish Lutheran congregations. The stage of the Danish Glee Club Hall “housed” the performance here. Sandwiches, coffee, and – aromas – refreshed players.
 
The Chicago appearance took the cake for assorted headaches – and we’re not referring to those ladies and gentlemen of the “glee” gang who would have hangovers.  ...  ... not to be forgotten was the swaying coffin lid with arisen Edna frantically trying to keep it from clattering to the floor. The lid was saved, but Inger and Mikkel had a fit of laughter.

The following day was the first rest day of the trip and the Windy City was “sighted” by the players. Loop, Outer Drive, the “L”, University of Chicago Chapel, the hoosegow, were high points. In the evening part of the troupe, as yet not sufficiently “dramanized”, saw the play “My Sister Eileen.” Whispered rumors among non-attending members had it that the play proved to be a bit risqué in places – “men det er ikke alene Grundtvigsk, he he?” [“but it is not solely Grundtvigian, ha ha?”] On a "respectable toot" was another part of the players – the rowdy bunch, brought to the sad condition by a Californian who “sometimes behaved.” The theater of their choice was packed to the third balcony, so they decided upon a newsreel joint, then guzzled milk products at Walgreen’s, topped off the evening with unoriental pie and coffee in a Chinese restaurant. One remaining part of the troupe saw the city by night. 
From the "Ordet Odyssey," 1942.
Black-and-white sightseeing photos from Chicago, 1942
Sightseeing in Chicago on the tour's first day of rest.
For about 100 years, beginning in 1870, Chicago was the most popular city for Danish immigrants to settle in. In 1930, at the city's Danish peak, almost 29,000 first- and second-generation Danish Americans lived there. The Danish Glee Club, where the Dana students performed, was one of several Danish institutions in the city. Others include Danish churches, social clubs, mutual aid societies, a veteran's society, choral groups, and more. The Dania Society, founded in 1862, still exists and is now part of the Scandinavian American Cultural Society. Chicago is also home to the Danish Home of Chicago (a senior community) and the Danish American Athletic Society, where members celebrate Danish holidays and enjoy Danish food.    
Four Danish Lutheran churches in Chicago came together to organize the performance there. This required a good deal of cooperation and planning as is evident from the letters and telegram below from the churches in Chicago to Professor Nyholm at Dana College: