Mariachi
The Lake Chapala Society holds its third annual Mariachi Festival Saturday, January 6 with two shows planned: one at 11:30 a.m. and another at 3 p.m.
Musicians will be Mariachi Real Axixic, Estrellas de Chula Vista from San Diego, California and Grupo Bella. Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at the LCS office, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Country style
Flip Nicholson, formerly of The Tall Boys, is debuting a new band, The 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.
The band will play the following Saturday at El BarCo.
Totally ‘80s
Christine Deaver returns a fourth time to Ajijic with her new show “Like, Totally 80s” Monday, January 8, 6 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera. A trained singer, actress and natural comedienne, she possesses a rare combination of talents. She is sly, devious, clever and wildly funny, but then she glides into a strong heart-felt luscious ballad and shows us another side of her amazing capabilities.
This time, Deaver brings the big hair, big shoulder pads, big fun to salute the 1980s in a unique and comedic way with music from Madonna, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Pat Benatar, The Police, Lover Boy, The Pointer Sisters, and more. Tickets available at Diane Pearl and The Dildoria.
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.”
Romantic crooning
Mac Morison presents his sixth annual benefit concert of romance and jazz standards, “I Wish You Love,” Wednesday, January 10, 7 p.m. at The Cave in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
Morison croons in a baritone that will remind you of Sinatra, Damone, Torme, Bennett and others. The show also features vocalists Judy Hendrick, Cindy Paul and “Roxie” Kristine Moily. Special guest singer Mike “Scatman” Fortier is also on the bill. This show benefits the technical upgrades and renovations to Lakeside Little Theatre. Tickets, 350 pesos, are on sale at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and Jose Melendrez. For more information, call Barbara Clippenger, 766-2489.
‘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.
Ajijic painter on the road
Efren González heads out to the Pacific coast next week to kick off his 11th annual winter show in the seaside village of La Manzanilla. The exhibit opens Friday, January 12, 4-7 p.m. with a cocktail reception at Galeria La Manzanilla, Calle Perula Sur 83, open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 11 to 3.
Later in the month the Ajijic painter will take off for the United States to retrieve more than two dozen works featured as guest artist for the prestigious December 6 through January 15 exhibit held at the Universidad Autónoma de Mexico campus in Chicago. He will take the pieces to Austin, Texas to complement the big collection titled “Luz de mi Tierra2 that he is putting together for the Mexican American Cultural Center, running January 27 through March 3.
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 tells how each of the songs relate to her. She will sing pop in English and Spanish, some boleros and spirituals.
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.
Viva La Musica
Viva is holding its annual general meeting on Sunday, January 14, 3 p.m. followed by a membership party and concert at 4 p.m. at Nicolas Bravo 35 on the lakeshore in Ajijic.
Champagne and canapes will be served at no cost to paid-up members and guests for 150 pesos. Viva membership is 300 pesos, which funds scholarships for promising young Mexican musicians. In 2017 Viva paid out over 100,000 pesos in scholarships.
The concert will feature pianist Daniel Flores, a 19-year-old Viva Scholarship winner who is in the third year of his performance degree program at the University of Guadalajara. For more information, phone Rosemary Keeling 766-1801.
Art on the block
Looking for great deals on original art? Don’t miss the auction to be held Wednesday, January 17, 4 p.m., on the Ajijic Plaza esplanade outside the Centro Cultural.
More than 15 local artists will be putting a selection of oils, watercolors, pastels, photographs and sculptures on the block at the fund-raiser for the Marcos Castellanos primary school. Efren González will ably handle the gavel.
Angels
Lakeside Little Theatre presents a National Theatre telecast of the two-part theatrical production of Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.”
Set in the United States during the 1980s, “Angels in America” is presented in two parts. Part I: “Millennium Approaches” and Part II: “Perestroika” combine to present a complex, compelling look at AIDS and homosexuality in America in the midst of the epidemic.
This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning epic contains a stellar cast, including Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), Denise Gough (People, Places and Things), Nathan Lane (The Producers) and James McArdle (Star Wars: The Force Awakens).
Proceeds from both performances will benefit Ajijic Cares.
Part I: “Millennium Approaches” will be presented Saturday, January 27, 3 p.m. Part II: “Perestroika” will be shown Sunday, January 28, 3 p.m. Tickets are 300 pesos per performance, or 500 pesos for both performances when purchased together. Tickets area available at the LLT box office Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Ajijic Cares is dedicated to generating a culture of respect and inclusion against the social reality of HIV and contributes to the defense and development of persons with HIV and their families. Ajijic Cares strives to provide the education necessary in the prevention of new cases.
For more information, call Christopher Wessel, (332) 212-7080, 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..
Trips to the opera
Viva La Musica continues bus trips to see live opera from the New York Met on screen at the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara.
Trips to the opera are 450 pesos (550 for non-members), available at LCS ticket booth Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon, or by calling Rosemary Keeling 766-1801.
Saturday, January 27: “Tosca” by Puccini. A story of tragic love with Sonya Yoncheva as Tosca, Vittorio Griogolo as Cavaradossi and Bryn Terfel as Scarpia. The show runs three hours. The bus departs at 10:30 a.m. for the noon show.
Saturday, February 10: “Elixir of Love” by Donizetti. A comedy of love with Pretty Yende as Adina, Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, and Devide Luciano as Belcore. The show runs three hours. The bus departs at 9:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. show
Saturday, February 24: “La Boheme” by Puccini: this popular opera features some of the most ravishing opera arias and stars Sonya Yoncheva as Mimi and Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo. The show runs three hours. The bus departs at 10 a.m. for the 11:30 a.m. show
Saturday, March 10: “Semiramide” by Rossini. This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks stars Angela Meade as Semiramide, Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace, and acclaimed Mexican tenor Javier Camarena. The show runs four hours. The bus departs at 10:30 a.m. for the noon show.
Saturday, March 31: “Cosi Fan Tutte” by Mozart. This satirical tale of love features Kelli O´Hara as Despina and Christopher Maltman as Don Alphonso. The show runs three hours. The bus departs at 9:30 a.m. for 11 a.m. show
Ballet
Viva La Musica presents a Ballet Gala featuring solo pieces, pas-de-deux, and ensemble pieces with the acclaimed Jalisco Ballet Friday, February 2, 7 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and LCS, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to noon.