Ever been to the Center Stage Theater? Well it’s about time you cut the shopping spree at bebe short and head up one floor. Tonight the Caught in the Act comedy troupe will be performing. It’s completely improvisational, working off of the audience’s participation and suggestions to deliver a kind of “shoot from the hip,” spontaneous humor that you’ll be sure to enjoy. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $8. You can reach the theater box office at (805) 963-0408 for more information. Or if you’re in the mood for live music, go over to SOhO and see New York-based reggae outfit John Brown’s Body perform. SOhO is located at 1221 State St. upstairs. Show starts at 9:30 p.m. You must be 21+. See www.sohosb.com for more information.

Tonight the Department of Film Studies will present a screening of the new film “Sideways.” It’s the story of a divorced, failed writer (Paul Giamatti) and his famous actor friend’s (Thomas Haden Church) trip up to wine country to try to sort out their troubled lives. The film was shot in and around Santa Barbara, so look for some familiar faces and places. The screening will be held at the Isla Vista Theater, with showings at 7:30 and 10. Tickets are $4 at the door. During the day, the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center is hosting a free symposium titled “Topics in Modernism.” The talk will include UCSB professors Bill Carter, Suzanne Braswell, and Carolyn Butcher. It is located at 2617 South Hall and starts at 3 p.m.

The Microphones (a.k.a. Phil Elvrum) will be performing at the Hard to Find Showspace. And despite having the word “the” preceding a noun from the dictionary of rock ‘n’ roll vernacular, the Microphones most definitely does not fall into the stereotype of “indie rock” as we may all know it. He’s different, so check it out. The Hard to Find Showspace is located at 7190 Hollister Ave. Show begins at 8:30 p.m. and costs $10. Today also marks the opening of an exhibition of the magnificent drawings of surrealist artist Roberto Matta at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 general, and $4 for students.

On Sunday, Grammy award-winning jazz sensation Branford Marsalis will be performing at Campbell Hall. He is known for his technical precision as well as his liveliness and improvisational flair on the tenor saxophone. He and his band will light the place up, so don’t miss it. Tickets are $45 for the general public and $19 for students. The performance begins at 7 p.m. On Monday, the New York Times correspondent and winner of the 2002 Amnesty International Global Award for Human Rights Journalism, Chris Hedges will be discussing why war is just as much about life as it is death in his lecture “War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning: The Truth about War.” Tickets are $10 general and $8 for students. The lecture begins at 8 p.m. in Campbell Hall.

Tonight the Associated Students Program Board will be hosting two events for your pleasure. The first is part of their free noon concert series. The band Crown City Rockers will be performing on the lawn between the UCen and the Lagoon. And then in the evening, there will be a screening of the classic 1971 Stanley Kubrick film, “Clockwork Orange.” See it again, or for the first time, because its better than watching it on your little 19″ TV at home. There are two showings, one at 7:30 and one at 10 p.m.. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for the general public. Check out www.aspb.as.ucsb.edu for more information on these events.

Tonight the Associated Students Program Board will be hosting the CaliComm Tour at the Hub. The tour features Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Aceyalone, Mikah 9, Abstract Rude (performing as Haiku d’etat), Zion I, and Bukue One. Doors open at 7:30. Tickets are $18 for students, $20 general admission, and $22 at the door. Or, you can head down to the Majestic Ventura Theatre for a different show. The Used will be performing along with Atreyu, The Bled and others. Bring some earplugs, because this ain’t no easy listening. The venue is located at 26 South Chestnut St. in Ventura. Tickets are $18. The show starts at 7 p.m. Go to www.venturatheater.net for more information.