Brent Smith plays Johnny Cash in “Ring of Fire” at Vert Auditorium in Pendleton on May 6 and 7. Brent and his wife, Jeanette Smith, are the directors of this story of Johnny and June Carter Cash’s music careers.

Ice cream social planned at the Grange

JOSEPH — The Hurricane Creek Grange is hosting an ice cream social on Sunday, April 24, noon-3 p.m., to celebrate Grange Month. This event is free and open to the public. The grange is at 82930 Airport Lane, Joseph. For more information, call Barbara McCormack at 541-605-8233.

Cove High School presents play

COVE — Cove High School theatre presents “Nooses Off” — a “play within a play” farce by Don Zolidis. Performances are set for April 22 and 23 at 7 p.m., and April 24 at 2 p.m. at the Coe Kerr Community Building on the Ascension School grounds, 1104 Church St.

Seating is limited. Ticket reservations are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/nooses-off-tickets-319764001737. Donations are accepted at the door in lieu of ticket pricing.

EOCenes bring bluegrass to Baker

BAKER CITY — The bluegrass band EOCenes will perform live on Saturday, April 23, at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St. Doors open for the concert at 6 p.m., and the music starts at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance at www.churchillbaker.com, or $15 at the door. Admission is free for youth age 15 and younger who attend with a ticket-holding adult. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required. Enter through the 16th Street parking lot.

The EOCenes formed at Eastern Oregon College (now Eastern Oregon University) in La Grande. The musicians were members of the EOC Ambassadors from 1969-1971 and performed concerts around the Northwest as a recruiting program for the college. After graduation, the musicians went their separate ways and played with various bands throughout the years. They reformed as a performance group about 12 years ago.

Staged readings set for April 24

LOSTINE — Fishtrap and MidValley Theatre Company will host “Staged Readings with E.M. Lewis” at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at Lostine’s South Fork Grange, 317 Rosewell St. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be provided.

E.M. Lewis is a playwright and writer-in-residence at Fishtrap. Local actors will be reading three pieces out of Lewis’ vast repertoire: the new one-act “Dorothy’s Dictionary,” as well as two shorts, “Drop-Off Day” and “The Last Four Things My Father Held Against Me.”

This event, according to Fishtrap, is a return to live theater in Wallowa County. MidValley Theatre Company’s mission is to provide high-quality community theater to the county and to offer opportunities for amateur participation in all aspects of theater. Learn more at www.fishtrap.org.

Nazarene church plans yard sale

HERMISTON — The Hermiston Church of the Nazarene is hosting a yard sale to raise money for a July mission trip to build a church in Honduras. People are invited to come shop for treasures Saturday, April 23, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at the church, 1520 W. Orchard Ave. Volunteers are welcome.

For more information, including about the mission trip, visit www.hermnaz.church or call 541-567-3677.

Chamber Music Festival returns April 23

PENDLETON — After two years of virtual performances, the Oregon East Symphony’s Chamber Music Festival returns in person at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Vert Clubroom, 345 SW Fourth St.

The festival features a variety of small ensembles, plus hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided by the Oregon East Symphony’s volunteer board of directors.

Tickets are $25 per person and available at www.oregoneastsymphony.org or at the OES Office, 345 SW Fourth St.

This year’s concert will feature a flute trio led by OES flutist Cathy Muller and featuring violinist and Assistant Concertmaster Viet Block and Principal Violist Emily Muller-Cary, a song by Iranian-born soprano Nasibeh Abdollahi, a piece by James Dean Kindle, and a number by the OES Youth Chamber Collective.

‘Ring of Fire’ runs May 6-7 in Pendleton

PENDLETON — The live music of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash are back on stage in “Ring of Fire,” performed at the Vert Auditorium, 480 SW Dorion Ave., for three performances: May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and May 7 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at www.elginoperahouse.com or by calling 541-663-6324. Tickets are $18 for lower level, $8 for balcony or $13 per person in a group of 10 or more. There is a $2 processing fee for each ticket.

In this performance, the lives of Johnny and June Carter Cash are played by four different acting couples. Playing Johnny Cash are actor-singers Brent Smith, Ashley O’Toole, Tucker Murphey, J.D. Kindle and Dr. Wesley Rampton as an aged Johnny. June Carter Cash is played by Jeanette Smith, Jocelyn Berado, Staci Elguezabal and Karen Taylor. The cast also includes Misty Hines as Johnny Cash’s mother and Jordan Uhlman as a featured singer.

The concert showcases 30 songs and several Johnny-June duets.

Art shows on display through April 30

LA GRANDE — There’s still a chance left to explore two art exhibits at Art Center East, 1006 Penn St.

The “Discover After School Educational Exhibit” in the Orlaske Gallery features work from Discover After School, an ACE after-school program that was inspired by the Qapqápnim Wéele/Grande Ronde Community Science Project. This show features youth art projects, interactive items for visitors, infographic posters and more.

ACE’s main gallery exhibit is the Annual EOU Junior Exhibition that showcases artwork by Eastern Oregon University junior art majors and minors. This year’s theme is “Emergence” and includes work by Allyson Bates, Koedi Birmingham, Jessica Hitzman, Gretchen Litzlbeck, Alexis Lowe, Cira Mesubed, Erin Monagle and Corrina Stadler.

Both shows are on display through April 30. Works can also be viewed online at artcentereast.org, under the “Exhibits” tab.

Hermiston book club meets May 10

HERMISTON — Bookminders, the Hermiston Public Library’s book club, meets Tuesday, May 10, from 1:30-3 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room, 235 E. Gladys Ave. The featured book is “The Fortunate Ones” by Ed Tarkington. A limited number of copies of the book are available for checking out at the front desk.

For information, visit the library or call 541-567-2882.