Theater tour
Now’s your chance to get behind the curtain for a glimpse inside a working community theater company.
Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) will offer an hour-long tour of their facility on Monday, January 28, 10 a.m. There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome.
Pat Carroll and Sally Jo Bartlett will meet participants in the lobby and guide them around all the areas of the theater (including some you never guessed were there).
Those taking the tour will also get a chance to watch part of a rehearsal for LLT’s upcoming musical comedy “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
Get to know LLT and maybe get inspired to participate, either onstage or off.
Exhibition
U.S. painter Edward Gillian opens an exhibition of his oil paintings at the Efren Gonzalez Art Center (Marcos Castellanos 7, Ajijic), Saturday, February 2, 3 p.m.
Gillian’s work focuses on women and ranges from figurative art to cubism. The paintings are vibrant and reflect Gillian’s association with the coast of Mexico where he has lived for many years. Cocktails and snacks will be served.
Auditions
The Naked Stage will hold auditions for “Beyond Therapy” on Thursday, January 31, 11 a.m. at the theater (Plaza de la Ribera at Rio Bravo 10A, behind Daniel’s Restaurant). Performance dates are February 22, 23 and 24. The cast includes three women and four men.
Written by Christopher Durang, the play is a farcical comedy focusing on Prudence and Bruce, who are seeking stable romantic relationships with the help of their psychiatrists, each of whom suggests the patient place a personal ad.
For more information contact the director, Robin Lawrason, at 766-3070 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Schedule change
The Naked Stage has had to cancel the Saturday, January 26 reading of “The Exonerated.” That performance has been rescheduled for Monday, January 28, 4 p.m. The Friday, January 25 and Sunday, January 27 performances are still in place.
For reservations go to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 765-3262.
Showstoppers
“Showstoppers,” Los Cantantes del Lago’s entertaining and fun show featuring all your favorite songs from Broadway musicals, airs Sunday, February 10, 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas del Pilar.
The sixth version of Showstoppers features some newer Tony Award-winning shows and several new performers.
The energetic Betty Lloyd Robinson will emcee and Timothy G. Ruff Welch, the choir’s professional director, will provide the musical accompaniment.
Tickets are 200 pesos and on sale at Diane Pearl Colecciones, Mia’s Boutique, from any member of Los Cantantes del Lago or by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Street festival
Efren Gonzalez will reprise his very popular and successful Marcos Castellanos Art Festival on Saturday, February 16 and 17. The festival will feature artists of painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics and engraving. There will be lots of live music, good food, drink and folkloric and pre-Hispanic dance.
Gonzalez says that he still has room for a few more artists (he wants a total of about 60). Those interested in participating should call him at (376) 766-5381.
Clubbing
Ajijic’s newest cabaret/nightclub, El Piano Rojo, will present Mexican guitarist Gilberto Gonzalez on Thursday, January 31; Friday February 1 and Saturday, January 2, all at 7:30 p.m. The cover charge is 100 pesos.
Raised in Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Gonzalez began his musical instruction at the University of Guadalajara, focusing on the classical guitar. As a member of the school’s Folkloric Ballet troupe for three years, he learned the roots of Mexican music, while his travels to Bolivia, Chile and Peru with the troupe gave him the opportunity to learn how to play a variety of rhythms on his guitar.
Upon graduating as a music instructor in 1990, Gonzalez started playing the electric guitar. He taught himself different techniques in jazz, rock and Latin music, including Brazilian, Cuban and flamenco styles, and began writing and performing original compositions.
Gilberto released his first album in 2002. His work has been critically acclaimed as being romantic, passionate and a colorful fusion of Latin rhythms. He has since released two more albums.
Gonzalez promises a program of “jazzy Latin” or “Latin jazz,” mellow and romantic for his show at El Piano Rojo, which is located on Colon just south of 16 de Septiembre. Reservations are a good idea. Call (376) 766-2876.
Miniatures Exhibition
The Lake Chapala Painting Guild will open an exhibition of new work at Galeria Sol Mexicano (Colon 13, Ajijic) on Friday, February 1, with a reception from 4-7 p.m. The Lake Chapala Painting Guild is specifically focused on brush and palette wall art created with oil, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, encaustic, pastel or mixed media. Participating artists are Steve Achs, Geraldine Classen, Winnie Hunt, Julie Elizabeth Mignard, Carolina Owers, Bev Kephart, Betty Petersen, Varn and Lois Schroff.
If you miss the opening, be sure to stop before the show closes on the February 21. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
ASA
The Ajijc Society of the Arts (ASA) will meet Monday, February 4, 10 a.m. at La Bodega Restaurant, (Septiembre 124, Ajijic). Marian Decker will have more information about the upcoming open studio plans and adaptations. Salvador Ortiz will be showing “out of the box” examples for displaying, framing and presenting canvas art, paper art and jeweled art. He’ll demonstrate how interesting framing can continue the story or idea launched in your art.
Arrive early. The coffee is on at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome.
‘Drowsy Chaperone’
Lakeside Little Theatre’s annual musical will run from Saturday, February 16 to Tuesday, February 26.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” is a joyous spoof of a 1920s song and dance frolic, as imagined by an obsessive 21st century musical aficionado. Show times are 7:30 p.m., except on Sundays when the matinee begins at 3 p.m. The full service bar and ticket office open an hour before curtain.
Tickets for 250 pesos go on sale Thursday and Friday, February 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to noon and will be on sale everyday at that time except Sunday until sold out. The box office number is 766-0954. The email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..