Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” runs at Miners Alley, 1100 Miners Alley in Golden, through June 29. Credit: Courtesy Miners Alley Playhouse

There aren’t a lot of things people can agree on these days, but I think one thing we all can share a love of is Johnny Cash. Over the years, I’ve seen the “God Bless Johnny Cash” bumper sticker on pretty much every kind of car there is.

With that in mind, who better to celebrate on stage than The Man in Black, which is just what Miners Alley Playhouse is doing with its latest production, “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.”

“We wanted to do a big show that appeals to a lot of people and few things bring people together like Johnny Cash,” said Len Matheo, director of storytelling and community engagement. “Everyone loves his music.”

“Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” runs at Miners Alley, 1100 Miners Alley in Golden, through June 29. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Directed by Kate Gleason and featuring stage management by Christine Moore, the show was created by Richard Maltby, Jr. and conceived by William Meade. It’s a jukebox musical filled with some of Cash’s most iconic songs, including “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Ring of Fire.”

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The show features the acting and musical chops of Mitch Jervis, Clark Destin Jones, Cooper Kaminsky, David Otto, Caitlin Secrest, Michael Phillips, Isabella Duran, Sean Case and Keith Ewer. Each performer is a multi-instrumentalist and brings a huge amount of skill to the stage.

 “This show is not typical musical theater,” said Susan Draus, musical director of the show. “The stage is full of instruments that look so beautiful and we’ve made some changes to give the music a different feel.”

When she first started working on the music for the show, Draus was worried that it would get repetitive, so she reorchestrated to start with a more earthy, simple sound and let it evolve as the show progresses.

“For me, the show is more like an outdoor festival than a concert,” she said. “The atmosphere is really loose — it feels like one big family and party.”

Instead of a traditional biography, “Ring of Fire” uses Cash’s songs to trace his journey from the cotton fields of Arkansas to the Grand Ole Opry and beyond. And the aim is that the show provides audiences with an enjoyable night out while also creating new fans of the music.

“This story goes a lot deeper than many bios do. It’s about breaking into the music world, about being on the road and all the trials and tribulations that come with that,” Matheo said. “I hope people come away with a deep appreciation for Johnny Cash and June Carter’s role in the story.”

For more information, visit www.minersalley.com.

Go On a Creative Forage at Walker Fine Art

Denver’s Walker Fine Art gallery, 300 West 11th Ave. No. A, welcomes summer with its newest exhibition, “Foragers,” which is on view through July 12. The show features six artists — Matt ChristieTheresa ClowesKim FerrerJamie GrayVirginia Steck and Ben Strawn — who use a variety of mediums, including painting, mixed media, and installation, to explore the world through the kaleidoscope of experiences they’ve gathered. As a result, visitors are invited to interrogate the experiences they carry with them and how they shape their world.

Exhibition details are available at https://www.walkerfineart.com/.

Take a Meditative Retreat at Hudson Gardens 

As we head into the hot summer months, everyone could use a little self-care and relaxation. Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, is offering to help with that at the Spring Renewal Herbal Meditative Retreat.

The event begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 and is broken into four activities: the first is guided by Kirsten Dehmlow and will teach attendees how to incorporate natural healing practices into their daily routine. Next, Judy Thurman will teach a session on Qigong Movement practices. In the afternoon there will be a hands-on herbal activity and the day will end with a sound bath.

Register at www.hudsongardens.org/event/womens-herbal-meditative-retreat/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Leon Bridges at Red Rocks

In my book, Leon Bridges has yet to miss. In his decade as a professional musician, he’s explored different styles of soul and R&B music, always staying true to his Texas roots while constantly embracing new sounds. Last year’s album, “Leon,” was another extremely strong entry in his catalogue and one of the best albums of the year. Not only that, it’s perfect summertime music.

In support of the album, Bridges is coming to Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 23. The opener for the evening is LA LOM. Bridges’ music will sound amazing at Red Rocks, so seize the opportunity to see him live.

Tickets are available at www.axs.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

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