Midterms are coming. Midterms are coming. Escape while you can. This week's Arts...Out of Town is packed with the stuff of a full lesson in culture and entertainment. When was the last time you had the opportunity to see "Cyberqueer" and the Grifters in the same day?

The Wexner Center for the Arts welcomes Shadow Vignettes, a 25-piece big band group straight from Chicago's vanguard jazz scene. Experience what the Chicago Tribune calls "brilliance on an epic scale" tonight at 8 p.m. Admission is $20 for the public. For more information, call (216) 292-3535.

Witness an illustrated lecture tonight at the Cleveland Museum of Art with composer Klaus George Roy. Works include Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition amongst others. The first in a series, the lecture is at 7:30 p.m. in the Museum's recital hall. Admission is free. For more information, call (216) 421-7450.

Opening tonight, the Cleveland Public Theatre presents Mortal Coil: Voices From the Hospice, written and performed by Lester Thomas Shane. The work, which was performed at this year's New York International Fringe Festival, confronts the very theories behind mortality with compassion and gentle humor. Showtime 8 p.m. tonight, Oct. 4, 9, 23 & 24; Oct. 11 & 25 at 10 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. Admission for students is $8. For more information, call (216) 631-2727.

Does this sound like your roomate?: Cyberqueer follows the story of a virgin web surfer through his first months of net-excitement. A "satirical and surreal vision" of love on the internet. The performance opened yesterday, and runs throgh Nov. 1. For more information, call (216) 631-2727.

The Cleveland Museum of Art's weekly Music in the Garden Court continues tonight with guests Jeff LaQuatra on guitar and Calista Koh on violin (classical). Admission is free; music is from 6-8:30 p.m. For more information, call (216) 421-7450.

Dubbed "one of the best films of the year" by Siskel & Ebert, Ulee's Gold, starring Peter Fonda, comes to LCCC's Stocker Center tonight.

Admission is $4. For more information, call (216) 366-4040.

If you missed Kolya at both Kettering and LCCC last week, this is your final chance to see the Academy's pick for best foreign language film of 1996. The film shows at the Cleveland Cinematheque tonight at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $4. For more information, call (216) 421-7438.

Indie rockers The Grifters, matched up with Edith Frost and Downside SpecialĘplay the Euclid Tavern Oct. 4. For more information, call (216) 229-7788.

Fritz Lang's infamous M, newly restored, shows at the Cleveland Cinematheque Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. Starring Peter Lorre as the the psychotic child murderer, the film is an essential classic. Admission is $6. For more information, call (216) 421-7438.

Shakespeare's The Tempest goes up as part of the Great Lakes Theatre Festival this weekend, with preview tonight at 8 p.m., and the official opening Oct. 4. The play runs through Oct. 19, Wednesday through Saturday evenings, and special matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays only at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $14-$37. For more information, call (216) 241-6000.

Quench your thirst with Fearless Records punksters Squirtgun. The band plays with The Real Swinger and Sidecar at the Euclid Tavern Oct. 5. For more information, call (216) 229-7788.

Cleveland State University's 10th anniversary concert, Music for the Young and Young at Heart, will be performed Oct. 5. The eclectic repertoire includes selections by Rachmaninov, Gershwin, Debussy and Joplin. Concert begins at 4 p.m. Admission for students is $5. For more information, call (216) 687-2151.

Remember the Psychadelic Furs? Lead-singer Richard Butler's semi-new band, Love Spit Love, make their way to the Agora Oct. 8 for reminiscent Furs-rock. Tickets available through Ticketmaster at (216) 241-5555.

Ever been to the four corners of nowhere? Somebody has; and they made a film about it. Showing Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Admission is $5. For more information, call (216) 421-7450.

For your SF punk desires, check out The Mr. T Experience, Groovie Ghoulies and the Nimrods when they play the Euclid Tavern Oct. 9. For more information, call (216) 229-7788.

Arts...Out of Town is compiled weekly by Lauren Viera. If you know of any pressworthy events occuring out of town in the coming week, why aren't you on the phone? Call x8123 and you're good to go.