Wichita-area events: Laverne Cox at WSU, music fest at Dyck Arboretum
‘Orange Is the New Black’ star at WSU
“Orange Is the New Black” star Laverne Cox, the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award, will speak on April 29 at Wichita State University’s Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. North. Cox, who was just named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, will be the keynote speaker for “Gaypril,” an event put on by the school’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Her speech is titled “Ain’t I a Woman? My Journey to Womanhood.” The speech starts at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at the WSU bookstore, at www.selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-7328 and at Select-a-Seat outlets. They are $10 and are general admission. Cox portrays Sophia Burset in “Orange Is the New Black,” a Netflix original series that returns in June. For more information, visit wichita.edu/Lavernecox or call 316-978-3034.
Prairiestock music fest at Dyck Arboretum
Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, 177 W. Hickory in Hesston, is hosting Prairiestock, a local music festival, on Saturday. The day starts at 10 a.m. with Thor Bonner (acoustic guitar) and ends with the Ne’er-do-wells (acoustic, roots, rock), who play at 6 p.m. Also on the playlist: Barry Jones, Jammin’ Biscuits, Delores and the Pickin’-Fretter, Emily Strom, Book of Jebb, Knocknasheega and the DeVeils. Attendees can also shop at the FloraKS Native Plant sale and buy food from B.S. Sandwich Press and Lincoln Perk. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Admission is $5 for adults; ages 16 and under get in free. Call 620-327-8127 for tickets. More information: http://dyckarboretum.org.
Bull riders at Intrust Bank Arena
See some of the top bull riders in the world when the Professional Bull Riders BlueDEF Velocity Tour rides into Intrust Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman, on Saturday. Riders scheduled to appear include Austin Meier, Jordan Hupp, Robson Palermo and Rubens Barbosa. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the event beginning at 7. Tickets are $17-$52 at selectaseat.com or 855-755-7328.
Ardua Harris and Denise Neil
This story was originally published April 24, 2015 at 9:57 AM with the headline "Wichita-area events: Laverne Cox at WSU, music fest at Dyck Arboretum."