Naked Stage
“Clever Little Lies” plays at The Naked Stage Readers Theatre, Friday to Sunday, February 24-26.
The cast of Fred Koesling, Maryanne Gibbard, Jennifer Wisniewski and Harry McFadden take on this play by Joe DiPietro and directed by Lila Wells.
A mother always knows when something is wrong. When Alice notices her beloved husband Bill has returned home on edge after a tennis match with their son, she grows suspicious and springs into action. Determined to piece together the puzzle, she invites her son Bill, Jr. and daughter-in-law Jane over for drinks and dessert. Comic chaos ensues as Alice digs for the truth, resulting in even more honesty than anyone expected.
Reservations are recommended at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Box office opens 3:15 p.m., show starts at 4 p.m. A cash bar is open from 3 p.m. with proceeds benefiting local animal shelters. The Naked Stage Theatre is located at Hidalgo 261 (on the Carretera) in Riberas del Pilar. Suggested donation is 100 pesos.
Cultural Carnaval
In addition to all the high-decibel hoopla, Chapala’s Carnaval celebration wraps in a variety of cultural events presented each evening from 7 p.m. at the outdoor stage on the east leg of the Malecón.
Performing Friday, February 24 is the Ballet Folklórico Macehuani, followed by the Son de Chapala musical group. Traditional Mexican tunes will fill the air with vocalist with Lola La Tequilera and Mariachi Real de Axixic on stage. Saturday, February, 25.
Ballet Folklórico Ayuntamiento de Chapala and Ballet Folklórico Sierra del Tigre will dance back to back on Sunday, February 26. The program closes Tuesday, February 28 with the appearance of singer Luis Sanchez.
Also on the bill are the Hermanos Vazquez Circus shows under the big tent set up just inside Cristiania Park behind the main fairgrounds. Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. daily, plus the 6:15 early shows on Saturday and Sunday. Free entry is included in the price of general admission, 35 pesos for adults, 25 pesos for kids.
Chapala’s Carnaval parade takes place Sunday, February 26, from 11 a.m., running south to north along Avenida Madero, and looping back through the center of town from the north end of the main thoroughfare.
Levi Kreis
Levi Kreis, known for originating the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in Broadway’s Tony-nominated musical “Million Dollar Quartet,” will give a concert at the Auditorio de la Ribera Saturday, February 25, 6 p.m. The role of the famous rock ’n’ roller won him the 2010 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, a 2010 Outer Critics Circle Award, and a 2010 Drama League nomination.
Kreis is a singer-songwriter whose piano-pop recordings have been featured on network television shows, including The Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy, So You Think You Can Dance, Mob Wives, The Apprentice, Days of Our Lives, Young And The Restless, and several films. Kreis has four albums to date and a 2009 Outmusic Award for “Stained Glass Window,” the theme song for the Del Shores film “Southern Baptist Sissies.”
Tickets are available at Diane Pearl, Jose Melendrez or Wildes, or reserve at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dance demonstration
A free lecture, plus a ballet and contemporary dance demonstration, will be held at the Ajijic plaza, Saturday, February 25, 6 p.m. The talk will be given by ballet instructor Hector Hernandez (father of Isaac Hernandez, lead principal in the English National Ballet), while the dances will be performed by his students from the Auditorium Ballet School.
Jewish film fest
The 8th annual Ajijic Jewish Film Festival finishes Sunday, February 26, 1:30 p.m. with a screening of “My Mexican Shivah” (2007, Mexico). This hilarious comedy with hints of magical realism intermingles cultures sometimes in the extreme, when family members gather from near and far for the shivah of their Mexican/Jewish patriarch.
Presented by the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation, the film begins at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are 60 pesos, available at the cinema. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Mision San Pablo.
JPO bus trips
Viva la Musica hosts bus trips to the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra concerts in February.
Sunday, February 26: Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.” Thursday, March 2: Brahms’ Symphony #1 with the Percussion quartet; Sunday, March 12: Latin rhythms and Lalo symphony with A. Olivo solo violin: Thursday, March 16: Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” and a clarinet concerto; Sunday, March 26: Old Testament themes including Bernstein’s “10 Commandments,” “Nabucco Overture” and “Samson and Delilah.”
Bus tickets, 450 pesos (550 for non-Viva members), are available at the Lake Chapala Society on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Pottery
Pottery hand-building demonstrations by Ceramic artist Rob Miller are scheduled at Galeria Sol Mexicano Saturday, February 25, noon to 3 p.m. in conjunction with a re-run of the artist reception held earlier this month. There will also be an opportunity to hear Phyllis Rauch give a short talk about the work and life of her late husband, artist Georg Rauch at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Karen Spencer will also be on hand to talk about the inspirations for her photography. The exhibition will continue until March 5. Above, from left, Karen Spencer, Phyllis Rauch, gallery owner Lorraine Farrow and Rob Miller at the opening reception last week. Galeria Sol Mexicano is located at Colon 13 in Ajijic.
LCS films
English-language films are shown Thursdays at 2 p.m. to LCS members (bring your card). On March 2 the featured film is “Moonlight” (2016, United States). This timeless story of human self-discovery and connection, chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world.
Sunset Poetry
Cellist Areli Medeles is accompanied by Timothy R. Ruff Welch on the piano at the inauguration of “Gritos y Susurros” (Shouts and Whispers), a photographic exhibit of artistic nudes by Lucero Alcaraz at the Bravo Theatre, March 4, 5 p.m. This concert is a fundraiser for Medeles, who is beginning to study for a Masters in music at the Postgraduate Music Center in Puebla. Open bar 4:30 p.m. Tickets, 250 pesos, include one free drink and appetizers. Available at the Auditorio d la Ribera, Diane Pearl or call (331) 148-7493.
Democrats Abroad movies
Democrats Abroad is sponsoring ten movies over nine Sundays dealing with U.S. politics, racial, economic and humanitarian issues. All the films are shown at Cinema del Lago in the Bugambilias Plaza in Ajijic, 1:30 p.m. beginning March 5 with “Hidden Figures,” the incredible untold story of three brilliant African-American women working at NASA, whose crucial contributions to the space program were largely overlooked during a pivotal moment in American history. Tickets are 60 pesos and proceeds support the Democrats Abroad Lakeside Voter Registration program. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Ballet Folclorico de Ixtlahuacan
The Ballet Folclorico de Ixtlahuacan celebrates its 30th anniversary with a show at the Auditorio de la Ribera Sunday, March 5, noon. The group is a five-time champion of the Rafael Zamarripa prize at Guadalajara’s Fiestas de Octubre and has toured the southeastern states of Mexico in recent years. Tickets are on sale at the Auditorio and Diane Pearl.
Naked Stage Audition
The Naked Stage Readers Theatre is auditioning for “Four Places,” by Joel Drake Johnson. Director Pierre Blackburn is looking for three women and one man. Production dates are April 28-30. The auditions take place Tuesday, March 7, 10 a.m. at the theater, Hidalgo 261 (Carretera), in Riberas del Pilar. Contact: Pierre Blackburn at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a script or questions.
Live from the Met
Viva La Musica sponsors Saturday bus trips to the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara to view productions of Live from the Met. Operas screenings are March 11, “La Traviata” by Verdi; March 25, “Idomeneo” by Mozart. April 22, “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky, and May 13, “Der Rosencavalier” by R. Strauss.
Bus tickets, 400 pesos (500 for non-Viva members), are available at LCS on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Democrats Abroad
Democrats Abroad’s first Sunday movie screening on March 5 is “Hidden Figures,” the incredible untold story of three brilliant African-American women working at NASA.
Standards
Mac Morison puts on a show with Cindy Paul and Judy Hendrick of “Simply Standards,” Tuesday, March 14, 7 p.m. at Club Exotica on the Ajijic Plaza. The show also features excepts from LLT’s recent musical “Chicago,” sung by Alexis Hoff and Christine Molly.
The show is a fundraiser for Ajijic Cares, a program that educates local teens on sexually transmitted diseases and provides free testing for AIDS, HIV and other STDs. Tickets, 350 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and Chicas. Call 766-2489 for more information.
Writer’s Conference
Authors Rachel McMillen and Michael Hogan will be on hand at the 12th annual Lake Chapala Writers Conference, March 15 to 17 at Ajijic’s Hotel Danza del Sol.
The program will feature panel discussions and one-on-one consultations with New York editor Sandi Gelles-Cole, Hollywood literary and script agent Ken Sherman and independent publishing and printing experts Judy Briles, Mikel Miller and Carsten Groppe.
The event opens Wednesday, March 15, 5 p.m., with a cocktail reception for participants and presenters. Working sessions on Thursday and Friday run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Table space will be available for registered scribes to sell their books.
Early sign-up, open through February 28, is offered at a reduced rate of 2,000 pesos. After that date the cost goes up to 2,500 pesos. Registration forms with full details are now available at Diane Pearl or by email request to Herbert Piekow at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..