America: All Better!

Kick starting the theater's 49th year in existence, Second City's new mainstage show sees Barack Obama's "Yes, we can" mantra and raises it to 11. A massive (by SC standards) seven-person cast, led by the unflappable Pat O'Brien, mines humor from the sudden hope insurgence—a well-delivered speech has the power to keep a shadowy monster at bay; a supremely confident Mayor Daley almost soils Chicago's Olympic chances; Rahm Emanuel, "one kick-ass Jew," busts Blagojevich. Just about every local newsmaker and issue (yes, the Cubs too) makes an appearance; with the country's eye on Chicago, it's exactly what the people want.

Updated 03/10/2009