Opening: Soundtrack City Chicago

Tonight the Viaduct Theater opens "Soundtrack City Chicago," a hip-hop comedy with characters all connected through the buying, selling, building and renting of property. The show features actor and human beatbox Yuri Lane and creates distinct soundtracks for each character and neighborhood. $20, 8pm, 3111 N. Western Ave. Call the box office at 773-296-6024 for more information and to buy tickets.

Daredevils preview @ Neo-Futurarium

"What lies beneath the seemingly ever-present male desire to engage in feats of physical risk?" The new play by the Neo-Futurist theater company will explore this intriguing question in "Daredevils", a play starring some of the more athletic ensemble members. Stunts will be attempted, lives will be examined, and someone might get hurt. Preview shows are tonight and tomorrow, and the show officially opens on Saturday, September 10. See the Neo-Futurist Website for details. The Neo-Futurarium: 5153 N. Ashland. (773) 275-5255.

Laughing Matters: Katrina Relief @ ComedySportz

Four of Chicago's top comedy theatres are donating a portion of their proceeds from performances this week to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Tonight's 8pm show at ComedySportz kicks off the effort. Tickets $17, call 773-549-8080. 2851 N Halsted. BYOB.

Opening: The Cartoonist's Eye

Curated by local comic artist Ivan Brunetti, Columbia College is hosting "The Cartoonist's Eye," a show that promises to be "the most comprehensive retrospective of 20th Century comic art ever assembled." Featured artists include everyone from Chris Ware to Robert Crumb to George Herriman and Charles Schulz. Tonight's opening reception runs from 5-8pm, with Seth presenting a slideshow at 6:30pm. The reception, and the show, are free and open to the public. Columbia's A+D Gallery is located at 619 S. Wabash.

ThickDesign05 @ Art Institute

Who likes cutting edge product design? Well, I do. Go check out ThickDesign05 at the Betty Rymer Gallery, 280 South Columbus Drive (part of the Art Institute). The show runs from August 16 - September 28, 2005, with an opening reception Thursday, September 8, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Designers and artists include Acconci Studio, Yves Behar+fuseproject, Inside Outside / Petra Blaisse, Martin Boyce, collective_difference_studio, FREITAG lab. ag, Herbst Lazar Bell (HLB), IDEO, Karim Rashid Inc., Enzo Mari, C.E.B. Reas, Simon Starling, Adam Whiton and Yolita Nugent.

More info and the exhibit manifesto are availible here.

Einstein's "Hidden Worlds"

Now is your chance to really get quantum mechanics. As part of the Illinois Humanities Council’s series of events honoring the centennial of Albert Einstein’s “Miracle Year” (when he published his theory of special relativity), theoretical physicist Joe Lykken will discuss the implications of Einstein’s theories about the subatomic sphere and the relationship between matter and energy and time and space. This free lecture on Einstein's "Hidden Worlds" takes place in the Thorne Auditorium of Northwestern University at 375 E Chicago Ave. at 6:00 PM. You can reserve a ticket and register for other events in the series by visiting the Illinois Humanities Council’s website.

Urban, Rural, Wild Film Screening

"Urban, Rural, Wild" is part exhibition and part platform to investigate the divisions between the urban, the rural and the wild and where these divisions break down. The exhibition presents workby eight artists focusing on the historical and modern relationships between the urban Chicago and the rural downstate Illinois. The show will run through October 22. Tonight, at 6pm, the exhibition will include a film screening of "Chicagoland Gridded/Revised," at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. Tickets are $9 for general admission, with discounts for students and Art Institute members. For more information, contact Sarah Kanouse at kanouse[at]siu[dot]edu.

Art Show Opening & Katrina Benefit @ Pause

Artist Kevin Swallow's show of Chicago cityscapes opens with a reception tonight at Pause Cafe, 1107 W. Berwyn, 6-9pm. To help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, 25 percent of the proceeds from any prints sold will be donated to the relief effort. More info here (PDF).

Opening: Office Girl

Our favorite damned hairstylist hits the Breadline Theatre this week with his new play, "Office Girl." Joe Meno's story follows a phone operator's professional life whose only joys are record-collecting and listening to the girl who sings in the adjoining cubicle. The play combines elements from film, fiction, drama and punk rock shows, so you know it's not going to be your average sing in the rain. Running through September 25, tickers are $12 and can be obtained by calling 312-375-3105. Shows begin at 8pm. The Breadline Theatre is located at 1802 W. Berenice.