JOHN DAY — It’s almost showtime at Painted Sky Center for the Arts.

The nonprofit art center is gearing up for a performance of “The Velveteen Rabbit,” a book written by Margery Williams that has been given new life as a play. The play will be directed by Julie Reynolds and will be performed at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 13.

The presentation of “The Velveteen Rabbit” is the first such event for Painted Sky Center for the Arts since its acquisition of the former Blue Mountain Junior High School building on Northwest Bridge Street. One of the attractions of the building was the gym, which can be used as a performance space.

“We wanted to do performing arts,” Painted Sky Executive Director Valerie Munyon said.

The play is in good hands with Reynolds as its director, according to Munyon.

“Julie Reynolds is a drama teacher and has been doing all the work,” she said. “She did all of the casting calls and rehearsals.”

Munyon said the idea to perform “The Velveteen Rabbit” came from Reynolds, who had directed the play previously.

Admission to the performance is free. A suggested donation of $5 will go toward youth programs at the center.

Munyon said she wants the community to come and see the play and support the actors and actresses who are performing.

“Come on down and check out the play,” she said. “It isn’t long, so it isn’t a massive time commitment.”