Perhaps you’ll want to bring your coconut shells! “Monty Python’s Spamalot” returns to Denver through May 17 with award-winning actor John Hurley as King Arthur. The 2005 Tony Award winning production, directed by Mike Nichols features a book by Eric Idle based on the popular film created by Idle. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Music and lyrics are by Idle and John Du Prez. The matinee on May 17 will be ASL-interpreted, audio described and open captioned. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $30, 303-893-4100, denvercenter.org.

Reminder: “Object project,” the Museum of Outdoor Arts’ interesting traveling exhibit in which 15 prominent contemporary realist artists painted the same objects, closes on May 23. It’s well worth a visit for anyone interested in how artists perceive their world, as well as for the really skillful painting technique it shows. The MOA is on the second level of the Englewood CivicCenter, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Admission is free. 303-806-0444, moaonline.org.

Longtime Centennial/Littleton resident Harvey Ancell is on a dedicated mission at age 92 and invites readers’ participation. What started as collecting children’s books and delivering them to a few schools so lower-income kids could have their own books, has grown in six years. He distributes thousands now, often at his own expense, across the U.S., especially to areas where a natural disaster has hit. (Think Windsor, Colo., close to home). He has shipped to the Philippines and every week, sends a couple of boxes to a shelter in Burlington, Vt., with which his son is involved. He gets his books from area book dealers who are discarding them, he says, and would especially like to receive more children’s books. Perhaps our readers have a box of gently used children’s books in the basement? He hopes to break a cycle of “poor and illiterate families raising poor and illiterate kids.” Contact Mr. Ancell at 303-798-2815.

“Courtney Hershey Bress and Friends,” presented by Englewood Arts at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24 in Hampden Hall, features the Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Harpist and five colleagues: hornist Jason Lichtenwalter, violinists Larisa Fesmire and Karen Kinzie, violist Philip Stevens, cellist Judith McIntyre. Hampden Hall is on the second floor of Englewood CivicCenter, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Tickets: $10, $5 under 18. 303-806-8196.

Highlands Ranch Historical Society presents Derald E. Hoffman’s program: The Legend Park Trail: Geology in Castle Rock’s Meadows” at 7 p.m. Monday, May 18 at Highlands Ranch Eastridge Recreation Center, 9568 S. University Blvd. Dinosaurs, inland sea, volcanic eruptions and more right close to home! Light refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, reservations requested, children welcome. Call Nancy Linsenbigler, 720-932-6990.

The Town Hall Arts Center and Highlands Ranch Community Chorus are among area cultural groups and restaurants running their own stimulus program to encourage tourism during these tough times. For information, go to Denver5280deals.com.

Area rock musicians are banding together to aid one of their own on May 15 and 16 at Littleton’s Toad Tavern, 5302 S. Federal Circle, Littleton. On March 3, there was a collision between the bus used by Denver-based band Potcheen and a Fed-Ex truck, which badly injured band member Chris Blochinger, a longtime columnist for Colorado Music Buzz and damaged the bus, leaving these full-time musicians without a source of income. Yerkish, Potcheen, Melanie Susuras Band, Quillian, Pairadeux, Melodie Daydream and Nick of America Relay will perform without paying gigs to help Potcheen get on the road again. Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $7, $5. 303-795-6877.

The Fantasticks:” Ovation Players and Main Street Players will hold auditions for their summer production on May 30 and 31 at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Casting for all roles by appointment: www.ovationplayers.com or 303-355-2177. Production dates: August 8 to 16 at Town Hall Arts Center. Rehearsals will be held at Littleton United Methodist Church. Prepare one-minute monologue and 32 bars of a musical theater standard. No a capella or recordings. Accompanist will be provided. Bring bio and headshot. (Not returned. Snapshot OK).

The Southglenn Library will close on May 31 in preparation for its move across the street to the new South Glenn mixed use development, 6739 S. Vine St., Centennial, where it will open to the public on July 16 at 10 a.m. Information: www.arapahoelibraries.org.

“The Sound of America” will celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with a tribute to America’s heroes by the Denver Brass at the Newman Center, University of Denver, Iliff and South University, Denver. Music will range from big city jazz to rural bandstands. Performances: May 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $43-$22, with $5 off for a can of food. 303-832-HORN, www.denverbrass.org. ($2 service charge for tickets purchased at the door.)

“Jazz at Five Points” will start at 11 a.m. May 16 and continue through the day at several locations near the Five Points Light Rail stop. Concerts, lectures. Free. For schedule, see www.denvergov.org/freeconcerts.

Cherokee Ranch and Castle has announced its 2009 Performing Arts Series and 2009 Community Performances, opening with the Lamont Steelpan Ensemble, directed by Tom Miller, at 6:30 p.m. May 29 in the Castle Veranda Tent. The group will play a mix of happy Caribbean and Latin American music, based on music created in Trinidad on 55- gallon oil barrels. Tickets include wine, buffet supper, castle tour, concert and dessert and coffee with the artists. $75. Limited seating. For reservations, call 303-688-4600 Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. or leave name and number for a return call within one business day. For complete schedule, visit www.cherokeeranch.org/performingarts. This is a really wonderful evening at a treasured historic location and there are weekly performances of music of all sorts and some theater.

The longtime area arts organization, Paintbox Guild, recently concluded an exhibit at Bemis Library and announces winners selected by juror Jackie McFarland, a well-known area painter:

Best of Show: Pat Dall, “The Gallery.”

1st Oil: Pam Kramer, “Fall’s Calling”

2nd Oil: Pam Mason, “Star Gazer Lilies”

3rd Oil: Char Davis, “Buddies”

1st Water media: Becky Lucas, “Moment of Wonder”

2nd Water media: Darlene Maestas, “On the Path”

3rd Water media: Carol Hunsaker, “Just Cut”

4th Water media: Holly Beasley, “Be Happy”

1st Pastel: Dorothy Freeman, The Bedtime Story”

2nd Pastel: Holly Beasley, “Still Waters”

1st Mixed Media: Pat Dall, “Tulip Time”

2nd Mixed Media: Ann Neal, “Flower Fiesta”

Honorable Mention: Char Davis, “Looking for Romance”

Honorable Mention: Rosemary Laughlin, “Beach Bum”

Auditions for the 4th Playwrights Showcase of the Western Region will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 30 at Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., Denver. Auditions will consist of group and individual improv games, followed by callbacks with directors as needed. Bring headshot and resume. To attend audition, call Elizabeth Parks, 303-914-6458, elizabethparks@rrcc.edu. Curious is partnering with Red Rocks Community College this year to produce this festival of 28 to 30 new regional works August 5 to 8. There is also a call for directors and dramaturges: contact Lorraine Scott, swtlgs@comcast.net, 720-280-2991. More on this event later.

The South Suburban Community Orchestra performs its May concert at 7:30 p.m. May 15 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 251 E. Sterne Parkway, near South Broadway and Arapahoe Road, Centennial. A $5 donation is suggested. A reception follows the concert. For information: www.sscorchestra.org.

Arapahoe Philharmonic will conclude its 55th season at 7:30 p.m. May 15 at South Suburban Christian Church, 7275 South Broadway, Littleton. Tickets: $20, $15, $10, $5. 303-781-1892, www.arapahoe-phil.org.

The Littleton Symphony presents the next concert in its Russian Masterworks Series at 7:30 p.m. May 15 at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton and SMay 16 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood. Tickets: $12, $10, free under 21. www.littletonsymphony.org.

Note to local jazz fans: Littleton Rotary will present the Queen City Jazz Band at 6:30 p.m. June 7 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Downtown Littleton. This is a benefit for Rotary International’s longstanding campaign, “Polio Plus” which aims to eradicate polio worldwide. Funds raised will help meet a challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Tickets cost $35 each, at Town Hall, 303-794-2787.

Sampler