Lawrence.com

Country Stampede lineup announced

Manhattan  Trisha Yearwood, Sawyer Brown, Neal McCoy, Travis Tritt and Chris LeDoux are among the country music stars who will be appearing at the Country Stampede June 21-24 at Tuttle Creek State Park, north of Manhattan.

The festival will begin June 21 with a kickoff party featuring Clay Walker, Chad Brock and Dustin Evans.

For the rest of the festival, the parking areas will open at 8 a.m., the festival gates will open at 11 a.m. and performances will begin at noon.

The lineup includes:

 June 22: Dustin Evans, 2 p.m.; Keith Urban, 4 p.m.; Tracy Lawrence, 8 p.m.; 10 p.m., Chris LeDoux.

 June 23: Dixie Road, noon; Beach Boys, 1:30 p.m.; 38 Special, 4 p.m.; Charlie Daniels Band, 6 p.m.; Travis Tritt, 8 p.m.; Sawyer Brown, 10 p.m.

 June 24: Shannon Smith, noon; Williams & Ree, 1 p.m.; Billy Gillman and Jessica Andrews, 2:30 p.m.; Mark Chesnutt, 4 p.m.; Trisha Yearwood, 6 p.m.; Neal McCoy, 8 p.m.

Tickets for all three days are $70 until June 19 and $80 at the gate. One-day tickets are $35 until June 19 and $40 at the gate.

For tickets and campsite information, call (800) 795-8091 or (785) 539-2222.

KU orchestra, choirs join for concert

Major works punctuate the Kansas University Symphony Orchestra and KU choirs spring concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lied Center.

The performance opens with the choir's performance of "Stabat Mater," by Emanuele d'Astorga, which features soloist Nicholas Probst. The second half includes the KU Symphony Orchestra performing Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op.125" and the choir groups singing "An die Freude," the so-called "Ode to Joy" by poet Friedrich von Schiller. Soloists from the Beethoven work are Wendy Zaro, Ruby Poulson, Hugo Vera and KU music professor Simon Carrington.

Brian Priestman conducts the KU Symphony Orchestra, and Carrington directs the choirs.

Admission is $7 for the general public and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the Murphy Hall Box Office, 864-3982; Lied Center Box Office, 864-ARTS; and Student Union Activities Box Office, 864-3477.

Installation students slate exhibit at KU

Kansas University students in Maria Velasco's installation art class will show their work in an exhibit that begins at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Art and Design Gallery in the Art and Design Building at KU. Thirteen students are participating in the exhibit.

Installation art incorporates several media, including sculptural objects, sound and video. Many of the works will reflect the students' last unit of study, a concept called "body as site," which encourages artists to explore how the body creates space.

The opening reception is from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. Monday. The exhibit runs through Tuesday.

InPlay presents thought-provoking play

Kansas City, Mo. Â InPlay Theatre Company will stage "The African Company Presents Richard III" at 8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and May 10-12 and 17-19 at Just Off Broadway Theatre, 31st and Broadway.

The play is about James Hewlett, one of the first black Shakespearean actors in the United States, and the African Grove Theatre, the first black theater in the United States. The play is set in 1821, and the actors must fight for the right to perform.

Tickets, which are available at the door, are $12 for the general public and $6 for students and senior citizens.

Welsh singing festival planned

Raymore, Mo. Â A Welsh hymn singing festival, called Y Gymanfa Ganu, will be at 2 p.m. May 20 at the Second Presbyterian Church, 55th and Oak streets. The festival, which is free, will feature organist John Schaeffer and director Geraint Wilkes. A Welsh tea will follow the concert.

On May 19, a catered dinner and traditional Welsh cultural entertainment will begin at 6 p.m. at the church. Reservations for the dinner must be made by Saturday by calling Elaine James, (816) 942-2446.

Bluegrass fest slated in Park City

Wichita  The Eighth Annual Park City Bluegrass Festival will be held today-Saturday at the Kansas Coliseum, 85th Street North and Interstate 135.

On the lineup are the Del McCoury Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Larry Stephenson Band, Continental Divide and Mountain Heart.

For more information, call Jim Bullard, (316) 691-8178, or visit the Web site, www.parkcitybluegrass.com.

Ruiz to talk about empowerment

Kansas City, Mo. Â Don Miguel Ruiz will present "Living the Four Agreements: Reclaiming Your Word and Your Will" at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at the Cornerstone Foundation, 707 W. 47th St.

By breaking the chains of your old agreements  those which come from fear, deplete your energy and rob you of your joy  Ruiz says you can create new agreements that will help you reclaim your personal power.

Ticket prices range from $20 to $35. For tickets or more information, call Cornerstone at (816) 561-1627.

Electronic arts show to boost festival

"Aurora: The Harvest of the Electronic Arts," a benefit for Harvest of the Arts, will be Wednesday at The Granada, 1020 Mass.

Performers at the all-ages show include J.J. Mesmer, .COM, DJ P.M.S., Xan Lucro, AC, Loop, Miss Michaela and C-Quence.

Admission is $10, or $7 with a canned food item. Food donations will be given to the Salvation Army.

Woodcarvers gather at Metcalf South

Overland Park  The Kansas City Wood Carvers Club will hold its "Artistry in Wood" spring woodcarving show Saturday and Sunday at Metcalf South Mall, 95th Street and Metcalf Avenue.

Woodcarvers from the Midwest will exhibit and sell their works, books, carving blanks, supplies, tools and wood.

Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-5:30 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission charge.

Organists to appear at Bachathon

Kansas City  Two Lawrence students will perform organ concerts at the 22nd annual Bachathon from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 13th and Broadway.

Lawrence High School student Jared Ostermann will perform at 2 p.m. Kansas University student Robert Horton will perform at 5:30 p.m.

The concert features organ music by Johann Sebastian Bach. The concert is free and open to the public.

Children needed for 'Casper' chorus

Kansas City, Mo. Â Starlight Theatre is holding auditions to cast 50 children ages 7-14 for the chorus of "Casper The Musical."

Auditions are from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the theater, 4600 Starlight Road. Children should bring a performance resume and an 8-inch-by-11-inch black-and-white photograph. They will sing the first 16 bars of "Tomorrow" from "Annie."

Rehearsals will run July 9 through July 22. Performances are July 16 through July 22.

"Casper the Musical" is about a friendly, young ghost who inspires greedy treasure seekers to see the value in friendship.

Chamber musicians to gather for festival

Topeka - The Sunflower Music Festival will include eight concerts performed by nationally recognized chamber musicians.

The event is planned for June 1-9 at the White Concert Hall, Washburn University.

Director will be Larry Rachleff, who serves as professor of conducting and music director of Rice University's Shepherd School Orchestras.

Concerts will feature the students participating in the Blanche Bryden Sunflower Music Festival Summer Institute. This program provides young musicians from across the nation the opportunity for advanced study and performance experience in chamber music with master teachers and performers.

Doors to all events open at 6:30 p.m. Early arrival is recommended for choice seating. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, call (785) 231-1010, ext. 1511.

Late-night variety show features short acts

Lawrence's only short attention span variety show, "Three Minutes or Less," is back. The show will be held at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 N.H.

All acts must be performed in three minutes or less; violators risk being escorted off the stage. The lineup includes storyteller Mike Boring, singer-songwriter Lance Fahy, The Stompettes, instrument inventor/player Lynn Wilson, bird caller Mark Taylor and monologist Amy Dorsey.

Doors open at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $3 at the door. For more information, contact Robert Baker at 842-6572 or bakerbop@aol.com, or call the Lawrence Community Theatre, 843-7469.

Artists to have open house

500 Locust Gallery, 500 Locust, will have an open house from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The artists' group is moving from that location at the end of May.

The open house, titled "The 500 Locust Last Waltz, Sayonara, Goodbye, Adieu, Ciao, Adios, See You Later, Cheers, It's Been Fun, How Long Has it Been Now? Farewell Show," will feature live music, art, poetry and refreshments.

Among the artists showing are Stephen Addiss, Nellie Habegger, Ruth Lawner, Maryann Gravino-Askew, Henri Doner-Hedrick, John Haller, Sally Piller, Diana Dunkley, Gary Smith, Gail Underwood, Robert Sudlow, Ted Johnson and Hobart Jackson.

The event is free and open to the public.

Edmonds exhibiting quilts in Abilene

Abilene  Chris Wolf Edmonds, a textile artist and art quilter from Lawrence, will describe and exhibit her recent works at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1400 N. Cedar. She also will show examples of the forms in nature from which she takes her inspiration.

Edmonds has won numerous national and international competitions and has exhibited and taught throughout the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan.