ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, January 18, 2020
East Oregonian
C3
BRIEFLY
Grande Ronde
Symphony
chamber series
Nelson
Coughlan
Johann
Melonville gets ready to yuk it up in 27th year
EOTEC hosts
annual comedy
festival
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Fea-
turing three funnymen,
tickets are still available
for the Melonville Comedy
Festival.
In its 27th year, the
event is Friday, Jan. 24 at
8 p.m. at the Eastern Ore-
gon Trade and Event Cen-
ter, 1705 E. Airport Road,
Hermiston. A no-host bar
is available when the doors
open at 6:30 p.m. The head-
liner is James Johann, the
featured comedian is Tra-
vis Nelson and the emcee
is Jeremiah Coughlan.
Born and raised in the
Midwest, Johann started
his standup career in Kan-
sas City. Incorporating a
self-deprecating sense of
humor and high-energy
style, Johann offers every-
thing from advice on rais-
ing kids and dating to the
different types of rock ’n’
roll. He provides a glimpse
of life how he sees it.
In addition to headlin-
ing in comedy clubs across
the country, Johann par-
ticipated in a theater tour
“Paying For The New
Trailer” (Blue Collar Com-
edy Tour) starring Jeff
Foxworthy and Larry the
Cable Guy. Also, from
2005-07, he was a part of
“The Slackers Tour,” a
national tour from one of
the producers of The Blue
Collar Comedy Tour.
Raised near the rainfor-
ests of Washington, Nel-
son attributes the lack of
sunshine and his abundant
intake of caffeine as feed-
ing his obsessive person-
ality. On stage, he offers
a mixture of personal sto-
ries and experiences with
absurd and imaginative
thoughts — inviting audi-
ences to escape into the
recesses of his mind.
Nelson has performed
in comedy clubs, theaters,
colleges, bars, cruise ships
and numerous comedy fes-
tivals, including the 2016
Seattle International Com-
edy Competition and he
placed first in the “Best of
the Fest” at the Burbank
Comedy Festival in 2018.
He also appears on Sirius
XM satellite radio.
Coughlan, who attended
Kennewick High School,
is now based in Portland.
He is said to physically
resemble what would hap-
pen if Chris Farley ate Bob
Ross. On stage, Coughlan
creates a paradoxical mix
of chaos and control.
He offers a conversa-
tional brand of self-dep-
recating humor and has
become a regular per-
former at clubs all across
the Pacific Northwest. He’s
also been invited to per-
form in festivals in New
York, Boise, San Francisco
and Toronto, Canada.
Melonville
Comedy
Festival tickets are $35 if
purchased in advance or
$40 at the door. Ticket pur-
chases help support the
local Special Olympics
program. They are avail-
able at www.melonville-
comedyfestival.com,
or
Last Chance Tavern (240
S.W. 11th St.) and Mid-
way Bar & Grill (1750 N.
First St.), both in Hermis-
ton. Also, tables of 10 are
available for $300. For
questions, contact 541-567-
5180 or events@midway-
bargrill.com.
———
Contact
Community
Editor Tammy Malgesini
at tmalgesini@eastorego-
nian.com or 541-564-4539.
805-5574, 541-519-7234 or
grsymphony2@gmail.com.
LA GRANDE — The
Grande Ronde Symphony
Association kicks off the
decade with a unique cham-
ber series concert featur-
ing musical selections from
Tony award-winning com-
poser and lyricist Jason
Robert Brown.
The event, which fea-
tures vocalists Renee Wells
(soprano) and Devin Fra-
sier (tenor), will entertain
audience members in an
intimate home setting. The
event is Saturday, Jan. 25 at
7 p.m. at 307 C. Ave., in La
Grande. The doors open at
6:30 p.m.
In the performance,
Wells and Frasier will take
on the roles of a married cou-
ple dealing with the circum-
stances of life. Selections
are from Brown’s modern
play that shares an emo-
tional musical journey about
two New Yorkers in their
20s who fall in and out of
love over the course of five
years. While singing selec-
tions from the play, Wells
and Frasier will delight the
audience with the magic of
telling a story through song.
Single tickets may be
purchased at the door for
$25 each. Also, Chamber
Series season ticket passes
for the remaining four per-
formances may be pur-
chased for $100 per person
through the GRSA at P.O.
Box 824, La Grande, OR
97850 or via www.grand-
erondesymphony.org.
For more information,
contact Alice Trindle at 541-
OES youth
orchestra presents
free concert
PENDLETON — A
piece by Pendleton-born
Hollywood composer Chris
Thomas is featured during
an upcoming performance
by the Oregon East Sym-
phony Youth Orchestra.
The concert is Thurs-
day, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at
the Vert Auditorium, 480
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pend-
leton. There is no admis-
sion charge. The program
also features The Preludes
Orchestra and students from
the Symphony Strings after-
school program.
Thomas took piano les-
sons as a youth from Sue
Nelson. In a 2012 East Ore-
gonian interview, Nelson
said he was talented as a
player but initially couldn’t
read music, much less write
it down at that time.
Since that time, Thomas
has soared — creating com-
positions for TV and movies.
Also, he was commissioned
by the Central Oregon Sym-
phony Association to write
a piece to celebrate the nat-
ural wonders and commu-
nities in the Harney County
Basin. Its world premier was
last May in Burns.
For more information
about the Oregon East Sym-
phony and its programs,
contact contact 541-276-
0320, info@oregoneastsym-
phony.org or visit www.ore-
goneastsymphony.org.
— EO Media Group
WHAT TO DO
FESTIVALS
Eagle Cap Extreme Sled
Dog Race
•Jan. 22-25
•Joseph, Enterprise, Fergi
Ski Area
www.eaglecapextreme.com
Free, except Saturday night
banquet ($20/adults, $12/vol-
unteers $9/ages 5-12) Peo-
ple can watch races, which
include the Iditarod & Yukon
Quest qualifiers; meet-and-
greet with mushers at vet
checks; Race Central and Kids’
Corner.
Melonville
Comedy
Festival
•Friday, Jan. 24; 8 p.m.
•EOTEC, 1705 E. Airport
Road, Hermiston
www.melonvillecomedyfes-
tival.com
$35/advance,
$40/door,
$300/table for 10. Features
headliner James Johann, fea-
tured comedian Travis Nelson
and emcee Jeremiah Cough-
lan. (541-567-5180).
Walla Walla BrewFest
•Saturday,
Feb.
8.;
noon-4 p.m.
•Downtown Walla Walla
www.downtownwallawalla.
com/brewfest
$40/advance,
$50/door.
Admission includes a wrist-
band, commemorative tast-
ing glass and 5 scrip. Features
15 downtown Walla Walla
venues and 25 breweries.
Daddy Daughter Dance
•Saturday, Feb. 8; 6-9 p.m.
•Sunridge Middle School,
700 S.W. Runnion Ave.,
Pendleton
www.pendletonparksan-
drec.com
$20/person. DJ music,
dancing, prize drawings, hors
d’oeuvres and a posed por-
trait. For fathers and their
daughters in kindergarten
through eighth grade. Regis-
ter by Jan. 24 or until sold out
(541-276-8100).
Daddy Daughter Dance
•Saturday,
Feb.
15;
6-8:30 p.m.
•Boardman Pool & Rec-
reation Center, 311 N. Olson
Road
www.boardmanpool.com
$30/couple; $10/additional
daughters (tickets available
soon). For dads and their
daughters ages 3 and up.
Includes DJ music, snacks,
portraits and craft proj-
ect to make a photo frame.
(541-616-1050).
ART, MUSEUMS & AUTHORS
“Watercolor Views in Dif-
ferent Hues”
• M o n d ay -T hu r s d ay s ,
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
•Betty Feves Memorial Gal-
lery, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden
Ave., Pendleton.
Free. Features the works of
seven watercolor artists from
eastern Washington. Gallery
also open by appointment
by calling 541-278-5952. Runs
through Feb. 6.
MUSIC
Brass Fire
•Saturday, Jan. 18; 7-10 p.m.
•Red Lion, 304 S.E. Nye Ave.,
Pendleton
No cover. Features regional
horn band, playing Big Band
Era music as well as blues, soul
and rock.
Joe Slick Band
•Saturday, Jan. 18; 8 p.m. No
cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
James Dean Kindle & The
Eastern Oregon Playboys
•Saturday, Jan. 18; 8 p.m.
•hq, 112 Depot St., La
Grande
www.lagrandehq.com
$5. The all-ages show will
feature the Pendleton-based
band performing a set featur-
ing songs from The Cars.
Martin Luther King Jr./
Musical Tribute
•Monday, Jan. 20; 6 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Featur-
ing a variety of local artists
performing songs from the
Civil Rights Movement.
The Phoenix
•Friday, Jan. 24; Saturday,
Jan. 25; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
Bart Budwig LP release
•Tuesday, Jan. 28; 7 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Enter-
prise-based folk-Americana
musician offers up “Another
Burn On The Astroturf.”
Youth Winter Concert
•Thursday, Jan. 30; 7 p.m.
•Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
www.oregoneastsymphony.
org
Free. (see brief this page)
Open Mic at GP
•Thursday, Jan. 30; 7 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages are wel-
come. Bring your instrument,
voice, family and friends.
Cory Wilds
•Friday, Jan. 31; Saturday,
Feb. 1; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
NIGHT LIFE
The Brew Bro’s Takeover
•Saturday, Jan. 18; 4-8 p.m.
No cover
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Drink specials
and giveaways.
Time for BINGO
•Saturday, Jan. 18; 6-9 p.m.
•Neighbor Dudes., 405 N.
First St. Suite 104, Hermiston
No cover. Alonna and Ash-
leigh lead the charge.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Saturdays; 7 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
Saturday Night Trivia
•Saturdays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
Free. Show what you know
for fun and prizes.
Ms. Pac-Man Tournament
•Saturday,
Jan.
25;
noon-9 p.m.
•Oregon Grain Growers
Brand Distillery, 511 S.E. Court
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Adult and chil-
dren’s divisions — top three in
each division win prizes. Food
and drink specials all day.
Beers and Bingo
•Saturday, Jan. 25; 6-9 p.m.
No cover
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. First bingo card is
free; also a 50-50 raffle.
Creepy Tiki Night
•Monday, Jan. 20; 4-9 p.m.
•Oregon Grain Growers
Brand Distillery, 511 S.E. Court
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Special Tiki cock-
tails and Polynesian-inspired
food available. Screening
of “Creature from the Black
Lagoon” at 7 p.m.
Karaoke Party
•Wednesdays & Thursdays;
9 p.m. No cover.
•The Pheasant Blue Col-
lar Bar & Grill, 149 E. Main St.,
Hermiston
Wino Wednesdays
•Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m.
•Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N.
Thielsen St., Echo
Karaoke at the Packard
•1st/3rd
Wednesday,
9 p.m.-midnight
•The Packard Tavern, 118
S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
No cover.
Thirsty Thursdays
•Third Thursday; 6 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
No cover. Hosts a local
brewery offering tastings and
food pairings.
Trivia w/Two Dads Tipsy
Trivia
•Thursday, Jan. 23; 6-8 p.m.
•Ordnance Brewing, 405 N.
Olson Road, Boardman
No cover. Teams of five
compete. (541-314-8720).
LOL Comedy Night
•Thursdays; 8 p.m.
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
No cover. Jan. 23: Marc Yaf-
fee, Vanessa Dawn; Jan. 30: BJ
Johnson, Jesse Warren
Karaoke Night
•Thursdays; 9 p.m.
•Union Club, 201 E. Main St.,
Hermiston
No
cover.
Performers
receive 15% off drink tab.
Karaoke
•Thursdays, 9 p.m.
•The Pheasant Blue Col-
lar Bar & Grill, 149 E. Main St.,
Hermiston
Wine tasting
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Fridays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
DJ and dancing
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant Blue Col-
lar Bar & Grill, 149 E. Main St.,
Hermiston
Karaoke
•Fridays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
First Thursday Wine
Tasting
•Thursday, Feb. 6, 5-7 p.m.
•The Gathering Place at
Bellinger’s, 1823 S. Highway
395, Hermiston
Free. Featured winery or
cellar TBA
THEATER, STAGE,
FILM & LECTURES
Sensory Friendly Movie
•Saturday, Jan. 18; 10:30 a.m.
•Hermiston Stadium 8 Cin-
ema, 355 W. Theater Lane
w w w.facebook .com/
arcofumatillacounty
$6. In conjunction with The
Arc Umatilla County, senso-
ry-friendly screening of “Dolit-
tle” with lights up a little and
volume down.
HOT TICKETS
•College Community The-
atre-Blue Mountain Commu-
nity College: “The Sound of
Music” (February), and “The
Two Gentleman of Verona”
(May) individual performances
and season tickets available
via
www.collegecommuni-
tytheatre.com.
•Capital Theatre in Yakima:
“Peter and the Wolf” (Jan.
27, $7); ”Beautiful: The Car-
ole King Musical” (Jan. 28-29,
$12-$84); “The Lonely: Cel-
ebrating the Music of Roy
Orbison” (Feb. 9, $48); “Chi-
cago: The Musical” (Feb.
25-26, $12-84). Tickets avail-
able via www.capitoltheatre.
org. These shows are all ages.
(509-853-2787).
———
Want to get your event listed
in our calendar? Send informa-
tion to community@eastore-
gonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.