MOVIES
“You know you are truly alive when you are living among lions,” wrote Isak Dinesen. Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert lived amid the ferocious for six years when they filmed five children diagnosed with cancer. “A Lion in the House” observes candidly, patiently, unflinchingly as Alex, Tim, Justin, Al and Jen and their families face remission and relapse, chemo and radiation, the unknown in experimental treatments and the unthinkable in letting go. The filmmakers give audiences plenty to feel, even more to think about. At nearly four hours (with intermission), “Lion” may sound relentless. Yet time spent learning from these youngsters, their parents and the oncology staff at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital passes far too quickly.|Lisa Kennedy
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Richard Robertson, associate organist at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington St., will join St. Martin’s Chamber Choir for two concerts this week. The mixed program will culminate with Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb,” a 15-minute cantata for chorus, organ, and soloists. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in St. John’s and 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Hamilton Hall at the University of Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 East Iliff Ave. Tickets are $18. 303-298-1970 or stmartinschamberchoir.org.|Kyle MacMillan
STAGE
In 27 years, Denver Center Theatre Company audiences have never seen anything like “Crowns,” in which an angry, street-smart girl from Brooklyn discovers her roots. “Crowns,” based on a picture book celebrating black women and their church hats, is an “Alice in Afrikaland” spiritual odyssey back to the homeland: two hours of gospel glory that seeps into your bones. It’s black power and women’s empowerment, vamp and camp, humor and heartbreak. It’s a hand-clapping, hallelujah high time – with hats (60 of them). 6:30 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 1:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays through June 18 at the Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets. Tickets $35-$45 (303-893-4100, 866-464-2626 or denvercenter.org).|John Moore
TELEVISION
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” or “Wedding Crashers”? Each has five nominations. Thursday at 7 p.m., the “2006 MTV Movie Awards” will honor Jim Carrey and Spike Lee. Presenters include Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, Zach Braff and Eva Mendes. Jessica Alba will host. New categories include “sexiest performance,” “best hero” and mtvU Student Filmmaker Award. To avoid major embarrassment and lawsuits, the event was taped Saturday night.|Joanne Ostrow
VISUAL ARTS
Warm weather is here, and that means it’s time for outdoor art markets. Among the biggest and most popular is an annual one sponsored by the Art Students League of Denver. More than 200 artists will take part in this year’s installment, which will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and June 11. Booths will be set up on East Second Avenue between Logan and Sherman streets and on Grant Street between East Second and Third avenues. Continuous entertainment will accompany the free event. 303-778-6990 or asld.org.|Kyle MacMillan
POPULAR MUSIC
It’s with ironic detachment and a tongue-in-cheek throwing of devil horns that we welcome the arrival of Tuesday, a.k.a. the date 6-6-6. And what better band to mark such a date than The Giraffes, who will play the Bluebird with The Eagles of Death Metal? Straight outta Brooklyn, this rock quartet is fearless in its approach to straightforward guitar-rock. It’s loud, brash and more abrasive than a Brillo pad. And even more important, they’re passionate. They feel their music, they sweat their rock, they live their songs – which is something, considering the dangerous nature of “Man U.,” “Having Fun” and “JR at His Worst.”|Ricardo Baca
NIGHT LIFE
Heavy-hitting DJs often stop by The Church, one of the region’s most weirdly appropriate venues for electronic dance music. But fans of the converted house of worship should take special notice of Thursday’s set by two-time Grammy nominee Louie Vega. The New York-based house star made a name for himself by starting his own label and spinning at such seminal clubs as Devil’s Nest, Hearthrob and 1018. He went on to remix Debbie Gibson (yes, that Debbie Gibson), write club hits with Marc Anthony and co-found New York’s Underground Network Club with Barbara Tucker. Still, he may be best known as the other half of the Masters at Work remix team with Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez. Visit groovetickets.com for presales. 18 and up.|John Wenzel
