Open studios
The Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA) 2018 Open Studios admission booklets are now available.
This event, held February 10 and 11, supports the Lake Chapala Society Children’s Art Program and the yearly Summer Art Camp, attended by about 125 local children, who attend a host of workshops. The Open Studios event bring together the many artists of ASA in their galleries, studios and workshops during two days. Admission booklets, which allow passage to the studios on those days, cost 50 pesos and are available at Diane Pearl and Ken Gosh Gallery and Studio at Guadalupe Victoria 30, as well as the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) on Mondays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to noon at the ticket area. Admission booklets will also be available during Open Studios on February 10 and 11 at all participating venues.
Naked Stage
“Love, Loss and What She Wore” by Nora and Delia Ephron is on now at the Naked Stage Readers Theatre, Friday, December 29 to Sunday, December 31, 4 p.m.
Rosann Balbontin directs the cast of Phyllis Silverman, Maryanne Gibbard, Roseann Wilshere, Anne Drake and Susan Quiriconi.
Written by the authors of “Sleepless in Seattle” and “When Harry Met Sally” and based on the book by Ilene Beckerman, this show is a fast-paced scrapbook of stories about unfortunate prom dresses, the traumatic lighting in fitting rooms, high heels, short skirts and the existential state of having nothing to wear. Accessorizing these tales – which are mostly comical but often sad or sentimental too – are the mothers who disapprove, the men who disappear, and the sisters who’ve got your back.
Tickets, 100 pesos, are available at the box office and reservations can be made by email 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.. The box office and bar open at 3 p.m. The Naked Stage is on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar, across from the Catholic Church and in front of the Baptist church, where parking is available.
Painting exhibition
The Lake Chapala Painting Guild will host a viewing of new work by its 16 members on the first floor of the Ajijic Cultural Center Saturday, January 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. A traditional Three Kings Day cake, botanas and drinks will be served. All are invited.
Country style
Flip Nicholson, formerly of The Tall Boys, is debuting a new band, Ol’ Country Boys, at the Cave, Saturday, January 6, 8 p.m.
The band includes Gary Trego on pedal steel, Don Pratter on lead guitar, Treavor Armstrong on bass, Jim Baker on fiddle and J.J. Bernard on drums. Cover is 50 pesos.
The Cave is located next to Fenix Real Estate on the Carretera in San Antonio.
ASA meets
James Broehl will speak at the next Ajijic Society of the Arts meeting, Monday, January 8 at La Bodega. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. and the presentation at 10:30 a.m.
Says Broehl: “At age 50 I had mid-life crisis of meaning. I decided to be an artist full time. To do this, I decided to rearrange my day to begin as artist and make money at other times, like weekends or evenings. First, I took three art classes from nationally known art teachers but realized I needed to still be my own artist. I view art as a vehicle, a language. One of the lessons I learned in the process was to overcome my fear of expression and not be too judgmental on what I created, some things might take time to understand. Another lesson was to never be too stuck on my own success treadmill but abruptly change medium and usage. These four ‘rules’ continue to allow my creative inner self to live.”
“Agnes of God”
Written by John Pielmeier and directed by Paul Kloegman, “Agnes of God” is Lakeside Little Theatre’s next stage production, set to run January 12-21.
Riveting and provocative, this drama about faith, spirituality and science raises old and new questions, and tests our thinking. A young nun is accused of murdering an infant she gave birth to in a cloistered convent. The psychiatrist assigned to her case meets opposition in the convent’s Mother Superior, and all three women explore questions of Faith, Memory, and the meaning of Sainthood.
Deborah Spitz, Jacinta Springer and Johanna Labadie comprise the cast.
The first Saturday and both Sundays are matinees, 3 p.m. and the evening shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at LLT’s box office, 10 a.m. to noon, every Wednesday and Thursday and one hour before curtain. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (376) 766-0954.
Classical concerts
Bravissimo! is a concert series featuring singers from Guadalajara, Mexico City and Lakeside.
January 14, local favorite Amaranta Santos will perform with her concert Storytellers, with works by Kander and Ebb, Randy Newman and José María Cano. Santos was formerly a back-up singer for Shakira and has graced many Lakeside theater and musical stages.
February 5 brings tenor David de la Mora with Canciones del Mundo – Songs of the World.
Finally, on March 18, tenor Ricardo Calderon, winner of several national awards, showcases a selection of composers from Spain.
Timothy G. Ruff Welch is the collaborative pianist for all the concerts.
Welch is the director of the Zapopan Municipal Choir, Los Cantantes del Lago and the Minister of Music at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. He has performed around the world as a pianist, chorister and director. Most recently he has directed the choruses for Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Otello” and “The Planets” at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara. In 2017, Welch was the guest director for two operas at the Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
Tickets for these concerts may be purchased individually for 300 pesos, or as a series at 1,000 pesos for four concerts, at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique or 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..
All the concerts will be presented at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.
Pottery classes
Master potter Frank Howell offers pottery classes for beginners and intermediate students, with one two-hour class per week for six weeks on Tuesdays, beginning January 16. Call 376-765-5221 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Lip Sync
The Ajijic Lip Sync show, a benefit for the Auditorio de la Ribera, began in 1982 and claims to be the largest and longest running lip sync show in the world.
The show features 25 songs this year — an eclectic mix spanning the years 1792 to 2017, in Spanish, English and German.
Director Michael McLaughlin encourages audience members to bring their cameras to the shows, leave their cell phones on and have a good time.
Master of Ceremonies again this year is man-about-town John Ward, who will introduce 30 acts, all of whom are performed by your Lakeside friends and neighbors.
Performances are Thursday, January 18, and Friday, January 19, both at 4 p.m.; Saturday, January 20, 7 p.m. and Sunday, January 21, 2 p.m. All are held at the Auditorio de la Ribera.
Tickets, 250 pesos for center seats and 150 pesos for side seats, are on sale at Mia’s, Yoli’s and Diane Pearl, as well as at the Lake Chapala Society, from January 2-9, 10 a.m. to noon. Reserve tickets via 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..
Exhibition
Oils, watercolors and etchings by renowned Zacatecas artist Eos Othere will be on display at Galeria Efren Gonzalez beginning Thursday, January 18, 3 p.m. You can hobnob with the artist and enjoy cocktails and snacks. The gallery is at Marcos Castellanos 7 in Ajijic.
Cssting Calls
The Naked Stage Readers Theatre is holding auditions for “Seascape” by Edward Albee Thursday, January 4, 11 a.m. at the theatre located at Hidalgo 261 in Riberas del Pilar. Director Rndy Warren is looking for 2 males, any age. Production dates are February 22-24. for more information and scripts email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Director Russell Mack is looking for four women and one man to cast Lakeside Little Theatre’s production “The Clean House,” written by Sarah Ruhl.
Part telenovela, part fantasy, part social commentary, this tender comedy tackles love, life and death with audacious humor. A serious career-oriented doctor, Lane, has hired a quirky Brazilian maid. The only problem is that the maid, Matilde, hates to clean. Instead, she longs to be a comedienne. Lane is deserted by her husband, Charles, who leaves her for his mistress.Ruhl’s enchanting play reminds us that there is humor and beauty to be found in life’s most unlikely messes.
Auditions are Friday and Saturday, January 12 and 13. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the auditions begin at 10 a.m.
Show dates are March 23-April 1.
For scripts and information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.@gmail.com.