SO CLOSE YOU CAN SMELL THE COMEDY >>>

When The Second City, scheduled to hit Tacoma Thursday as part of its "Laugh Out Loud" tour, bills itself as the "world's premier comedy club and school of improvisation," it's a no shit statement. The Second City REALLY IS the world's premiere comedy troupe and school of improvisation, with 50-plus years of service since its 1959 inception in Chicago, and an alumni roster that includes the likes of John Belushi, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner.

That's hard to top.

Thursday, the Second City returns to Tacoma. According to promotion the show is "by popular demand." That's also a no shit statement.

[Pantages Theater, 7:30 p.m., $29-$42, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890, broadwaycenter.org]