Auditorium acoustics
Hooray for the improved auditorium. The appearance and acoustics are much improved thanks to the efforts of Pro Auditorio and the contributions of members of Lakeside musical organizations. All agree that the money was well spent!
Directors needed
The Naked Stage is looking for directors for the coming season. Those interested in directing an appropriate play for Readers Theatre or one of the board’s selections, should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and submit the title(s) and author(s) by March 18.
Costumes
Men’s double-breasted suits and jackets, as well as 1960’s ladies dresses, are required for “Not Now Darling,” the upcoming production at Lakeside Little Theatre.
If you have any of these items and would be willing to loan them or donate them to the theater, contact Shirley Appelbaum at 766-2522 or Lois Cugini at 766-0603 as soon as possible.
Naked stage
“The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer runs March 15, 16, and 17 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) at the Naked Stage (Rio Bravo 10A, west Ajijic).
Directed by Jim Lloyd, this largely autobiographical play focuses on the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the gay Jewish-American founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group.
Joseph Papp, who produced the original production of The Normal Heart in 1985, says the play “reveals its origins in the theater of Sophocles, Euripides, and Shakespeare. Yet what gives this powerful political play its essence, is love — love holding firm under fire, put to the ultimate test, facing and overcoming our greatest fear: death.” The play won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Revival on Broadway.
To get to The Naked Stage drive west on the Carretera from Ajijic, turn south on Rio Bravo, and drive about two blocks downhill. The theater is behind Daniel’s Restaurant on the east side of the street. Daniel’s is open for lunch and dinner with a no-host bar available at 3 p.m. The box office opens at 3:15 p.m. and the show starts at 4 p.m. Reservations guarantee a seat. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone Michelle Boudreau at 765-6408.
Free concert
Daniel Medeles, conductor of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Ajijic, is offering a free concert with a diverse program on Saturday, March 9, 7:30 p.m. at Ajijic’s Casa de la Cultura. The concert is in honor of his birthday, but he won’t tell us which one. In any case, you’ll be amazed at the quality of music an orchestra from a little village can provide.
VIVA bus trips
There are still a few seats available on the Friday, March 15 bus trip to Guadalajara to hear the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra interpret works by de Falla, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky.
The Friday, March 22 concert features Verdi’s “Forza del Destino Overture,” Lalo’s “Violin Concerto” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No.2.”
Summer concerts
Tickets for the Viva la Musica 2013 summer concert series will be available soon. The schedule is:
Sunday, June 6, 4 p.m. St. Andrew’s Church. Pianist Rosa Maria Valdez interprets works by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Liszt, Ponce and Carrasco.
Sunday, July 21, 4 p.m. St. Andrew’s Church. Flutist Cuauhtemoc Garcia and the Cronopius Chamber Ensemble present a program of classical and Mexican music.
Sunday, August 18, 4 p.m. St. Andrew’s Church. Cellist Isaac Ramirez and pianist Andres Sarre play romantic and 20th century music.
Sunday, September 15, 4 p.m. St. Andrew’s Church. Flutist Nury Ulate and classical guitarist David Mosqueda interpret a classical program.
Sunday, October 13, 4 p.m. St. Andrew’s Church. A quartet with Robert Nelson and friends play chamber music.
Los Cantantes
The Mexican premiere of “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” by U.S. composer Carol Barnett can be seen at Los Cantantes del Lago’s 2013 Spring Concert.
This major work will be accompanied by a bluegrass group (banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddle and double bass) made up of musicians from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Ajijic.
The rest of the concert, titled “Americana” this year, will feature American folk, revival and gospel music favorites.
Two shows are scheduled: on Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 13, 4 p.m.
Tickets are 250 pesos and available from Rosemary Keeling at 766-1801.
Soprano and guitarist
Coloratura soprano Katia Sanchez and classical guitarist Jim Byers will showcase music from the Renaissance to the Baroque periods at the lovely Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo in Chapala on Sunday, March 10, 4 p.m. Admittance is 50 pesos.
Live from the Met
Bus trips to the “Live from the Met” broadcasts at the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara continue through April.
Next up is Zandonai’s “Francesco da Rimini,” a romantic tale of star-crossed lovers, on Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m.
The famed New York opera house’s season ends on Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m. with the live broadcast of Handel’s baroque masterpiece “Julius Caesar.”
Get your tickets for the bus trips by visiting the LCS ticket sales area on Thursday and Friday mornings or contacting Marshall Krantz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Remember, VIVA has to purchase tickets a week before the concert.
Judged show
The Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA) opens its 30th annual “Judged Show” on Saturday, March 16, 5-7 p.m. at the Ajijic Cultural Center.
This show will feature the work of about 80 artists in various media.
To top off the weekend, ASA will stage an exhibition on Ajijic’s principal plaza on Sunday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Roosters
For his last show of the season, Ken Gosh opens his El Gallo Gallery (Guadalupe Victoria 30, Ajijic) on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, March 9, 10 and 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can see the work of 14 artists and recent rooster paintings by Gosh. Call 766-4171 for more information.
Ladies
Local artist Alfonso Nava opens an exhibition of his work at the Gecko Gallery (Ocampo 61, Ajijic) on Saturday, March 16, from 4-8 p.m. This show of his latest work in oil, “Cherchez la Femme,” is, as the name implies, all about women. The show will remain mounted until April 16.