America’s Got Talent
Branden and James, a cello and vocal duo, bring their musical energy to the Auditorio de la Ribera, Friday, January 26, with two shows, one at 3 p.m. and another 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at Diane Pearl, The Dildoria and Jose Melendez, or at the Auditoro before the event.
Naked Stage
“The Lyons,” written by Nicky Silver and directed by Pierre Blackburn, is the next production of The Naked Stage Readers Theatre. The show runs from Friday, January 26 to Sunday, January 28.
The play is a black comedy about a standard-issue dysfunctional, middle-class, Jewish, suburban family. The basic joke of Silver’s savage comedy is that the characters are given license to speak their private thoughts out loud. While the head of the family lies dying in hospital, family members purge themselves of all thoughts and ideas that they would never have said otherwise to their father, husband and employer, causing havoc and humor.
Cast members are Pam Pettus, Deanne Barber, Johan Dirkes, Chris L’Ecluse, Grahame Lech and Clay McAdam.
Cost is 100 pesos. The box office and bar open 3 p.m.; all shows are at 4 p.m. Reservations 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 Naked Stage is on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar, across from the Catholic church and in front of the Baptist church. Parking is available in the parking lot of the Baptist church.
Sangre Viva Festival
The fifth annual Festival Cultural Sangre Viva, slated for Friday, January 26 through Sunday, January 28 on the plaza in Ajijic, will encompass diverse activities to develop connections to Mexico’s ancestral roots.
A craft fair set up daily around the village plaza is the place to purchase unique handmade goods directly from artesanos visiting from different parts of the country, as well as a big selection of medicinal herbs, typical cooking ingredients and food items.
Experience physical and spiritual cleansing in the Temascal ritual sweat baths to be offered periodically throughout the weekend at a site on the Ajijic beach.
Live entertainment will feature performances by the Chichimecas Jonaz pre-Hispanic dance group from Guanajuato, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Mariachi Traditional Acatic from Jalisco, Saturday, January 27, 5 p.m.; and Grupo Macehual, a pre-Hispanic musical ensemble from Colima, at 7:30 p.m. Four other groups play fusion styles that mix reggae, ska and electronic music with ancient sounds and beats.
The Living Blood happening will also include conferences on archaeology and herbal medicine, workshops on making reproductions of pre-Hispanic instruments and painting and ceramic workshops for children.
All activities are open to the public free of charge, although there will a donation box to collect voluntary contributions toward festival expenses.
Costa Rica-Mexico Gala
As part of the Encuentro Cultural, Costa Rican dance group Cabo Blanco will perform with the Ballet Folclorico del Ayuntamiento de Chapala Saturday, January 27, 7 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia in Chapala. No charge.
Instrumental group Trio Difase, also from Costa Rica, will perform a series of boleros, ballads and Latin American tunes at El Merendero restaurant and the Andador Cultural Ajijic Saturday, January 27, 7:30 p.m. No charge.
Sunday, January 28, noon, the Ballet Folclórico Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Mariachi Real Axixic and Danza Costarricense Cabo Blanco will close out the bicultural festival in a special gala performance at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Tickets, 150 pesos, at the Auditorio.
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.
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. Both shows are almost sold out.
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..
Name change
The former Casa del Musico in San Antonio is now Funky Finns Bar and Grill. Blue Jay Slim and the Blues Machine with special guest Wayne Watson on trumpet will headline their grand opening, Saturday, January 27, 7:30 to 10 p.m. and the Ol’ Country Boys will play there Monday, February 5.
Actors Studio
The Lakeside Little Theatre will hold a workshop, “Knowledge and Nibbles, A Playreading Class,” in three sessions, January 30, February 6 and 13, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Reading plays out loud can be an exciting and moving literary experience. Since plays were written to be heard, it is the best way to experience a playwright’s efforts short of seeing a production. In this casual and fun class you will hear great plays by great writers, be moved, illuminated and entertained. This is limited to 12 participants. Make a reservation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ballet
Viva La Musica presents a Ballet Gala featuring solo pieces, pas-de-deux and ensemble pieces with the acclaimed Ballet de Jalisco under the direction of Dariusz Blajer, Friday, February 2, 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta. The Ballet de Jalisco is this state’s only full-time professional classical dance troupe. Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and LCS, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to noon.
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Trips to the opera
Viva La Musica continues bus trips to see live opera telecasts from the New York Met 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, 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.
Affair of the Heart
A fundraising performance of music and dance by the children of Villa Infantil Orphanage and the Lake Chapala Chorale will be held at La Huerta Eventos in West Ajijic, Saturday, February 10, 12:30 p.m. Lunch and a surprise guest gift package and concierge service will be on the menu. Tickets, 350 pesos, or VIP for 1,000 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl and Mia’s Boutique
Bravo!
An encore production of “I, Claudia,” starring Jayme Littlejohn in a one-woman show playing four different characters, will be held at the Bravo Theatre, February 17, 23, and 24 at 7 p.m. and February 18, 21 and 25 at 4 p.m. It is a touching and funny look at a pre-adolecent’s view and experience of life and family that reminds us of our youth (and how lucky we are to be past it!). The original production was directed by Lynn Phelan. This encore is directed by David Wharff. Reserve 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..">.
Northern lights opener
Kicking off the Northern Lights Festival de Febrero is the Quartetto Gelato, known for virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, pyrotechnical solos, blazing gypsy show pieces, multi-instrument mastery and a world accordion champion. Quartetto Gelato not only thrills its audiences with its multi-instrument mastery, but also offers the bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor. With a performance repertoire that spans the globe, including classical masterworks, operatic arias, the sizzling energy of tangos, gypsy and folk songs, the group’s theatrical stage presence and relaxed humor establishes an intimate rapport with audiences worldwide. Hear them at the Auditorio de la Ribera, Friday, February, 16, 7:30 p.m. tickets are available, starting Monday, January 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at La Nueva Posada. Reservations: 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..