“Second City” is a comedy troupe in Chicago, probably best known for being a launch pad for some of the nation’s biggest comedians. And they’ve come to do a part-improv/part-scripted show in Baltimore about…Baltimore. Here’s the scoop:The writers of the show spent some time here, going all over the city to absorb the culture, the neighborhoods, and the people. When you see the show, they “get” the city, to the point where you wonder if the writers grew up here (they didn’t). The show mocks the good, the bad, and everything in between: race and class relations, Peter Angelos, Natty Boh and Baltimore’s (unnecessary) inferiority complex. There’s a skit called “The Wire: The Musical”. You’ll See “The Real Hons of Baltimore City”. There’s a song about “The Sun”, and another one about Mayors Schaefer, Schmoke, O’Malley and Dixon.

Quite simply, the show is fantastic. I can’t remember the last time I was crying with laughter at a live show (or movie, for that matter), but this cast and crew made me do just that. My fiancee Sara and I are telling all of our friends to go see it, and we’re already planning to go back after seeing it last night, since the show is different every night (The show runs through February 20).

The comedy varies from biting satire to sophomoric (but still hilarious) humor. Every performance is a bit different with improv between scripted segments, so I can’t tell you everything you’ll see. But I can assure you’ll see a really talented cast that shows you why “Second City” has the reputation it does. As I told Jojo, tell me you won’t miss this show.

You can get tickets through Center Stage’s website.