Viva concert
Venezuelan violinist Alvaro Larez, of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, will be joined by pianist Manuel Delaflor from Mexico City to present works by Beethoven, Schumann, Sarasate and Piazzolla at a Viva la Musica! concert at the Haus der Musik on Friday, March 23, 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar in the garden. Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Mia’s Boutique and Diane Pearl.
LLT season finale
“The Clean House,” written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Russell Mack, takes to the stage at Lakeside Little Theatre, Friday, March 23 through Sunday, April 1.
This tender comedy tackles love, life and death with audacious humor. A serious career-oriented doctor, Lane, has hired a quirky Brazilian maid, Matilde, who hates to clean, but instead, longs to be a comedienne. Lane is deserted by her husband, Charles, who leaves her for his mistress, Ana, a passionate, older Brazilian woman upon whom he recently performed a mastectomy. Ruhl’s enchanting play reminds us that there is humor and beauty to be found in life’s most unlikely messes. The cast is Amaranta Santos, Patteye Simpson, Candace Luciano, Peter Luciano and Tracy Foy.
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.
Painting Guild
The opening reception for the Lake Chapala Painting Guild will be Friday, March 23, 5-7 p.m. at Gallery Calli, Ocampo 30 in Ajijic. For details, contact 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..
Ajijic Cultural Fest
A spring cultural festival will take over the streets of Ajijic, March 23 to 25. Ballet folclorico, flamenco, concerts of son, cumbia and son jarocho are just some of the presentations planned. Children will be able to join in art workshops and an exposition and sale of regional crafts will take place as well.
In the culinary realm, the Feria de Capriotada, featuring the special Lenten Mexican bread pudding, will be held Saturday, March 24 from 3 to 8 p.m., on the Malecon, organized by Lee Hoper.
Texas two step
Break out the hat and boots and step lively to the ‘Ol Country Boys at El BarCo, Friday March 23, 8 p.m. Tickets, 766-0452.
Free concert at CCGG
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first train to Chapala, the Orquesta Tipica de Chapala – under the baton of Javier Raygoza Munguia – will perform a free concert, “From Mexico to Veracruz, A Close Look,” Saturday, March 24, 7 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo (old Chapala train station). The concert is sponsored by the National Museum of Mexican Railways and the Jalisco Culture Secretariat.
Viva bus trip to JPO
Viva La Musica offers a bus trip to hear the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra at Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara, Sunday March 25. The program is Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with soloist Abdiel Vázquez, and Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances.” JPO director Marco Parisotto conducts. The bus departs 10:30 a.m. for the 12:30 p.m. performance.
Tickets, 450 pesos, 550 for non-members, are available at the LCS ticket booth Friday, 10 a.m. to noon, or call Rosemary Keeling at (376) 766-1801. Buses leave from the Carretera near Farmacia Guadalajara.
Theater at LCS
Potter Productions reprises its first offering, “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” Sunday, March 25, 3 p.m., at the Lake Chapala Society.
Written by Nora and Delia Ephron and directed by Rosann Balbontin, the play is based on the book by Ilene Beckerman. The play 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 comical and poignant tales are the mothers who disapprove, the men who disappear, and the sisters who’ve got your back.
The cast is Phyllis Silverman, Maryanne Gibbard, Roseann Wilshere, Sue Quiriconi and Anne Drake.
LCS’ doors open at 2 p.m. Use the side entrance (same as for Open Circle). Admission is 100 pesos. Liquid refreshments and snacks are available. Email your reservation requests to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include your preferred date and number in your party.
Naked Stage
The Naked Stage Readers’ Theatre will present “The Quality of Life,” directed by Alicia Madrid, Friday to Sunday, March 30-April 1. The cast is comprised of Ken Yakiwchuk, Diana Rowland, Damyn Young and Jayme Littlejohn.
In this dramatic comedy, playwright Jane Anderson explores a myriad of ethical, religious, and moral beliefs, as well as personal rights issues concerning life and death.
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, across from the Catholic church and in front of the Baptist church. Parking is available in the parking lot of the Baptist church.
ASA
Ceramic artist Juan Soto will be the speaker at the next meeting of the Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA), Monday, April 2 at La Bodega Ajijic. Coffee is on at 9:30 a.m.; the meeting begins 10 a.m. and the programed speaker is at 10:30 a.m.
Keen on art since his childhood, Soto graduated from the Universidad de Guadalajara as an industrial and graphic arts designer and worked in that field for eight years. While looking for a way to express his artistic yearnings, he found Tlaquepaque and Tonala particularly interesting because of their terracotta work. He frequented both places, studying the technique with local instructors.
Soto based his studio in Jocotepec, where he created personal terracotta pieces for 14 years. He presented his collection in a twice a year at the ENART show in Tlaquepaque, which draws clients from all over the world. He closed his studio in 2015.
About a year ago Soto started to use the repujado technique, presenting his work during the 2018 Open Studios Show in Ajijic.
Bus trips to opera
Viva La Musica hosts three more bus trips to see live screenings of the Met Opera at the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara.
Saturday, April 7, the featured opera is “Cosi Fan Tutte” by Mozart. This satirical tale of love features Kelli O´Hara as Despina and Christopher Maltman as Don Alphonso. The opera runs for four hours. The bus departs at 9:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. show.
Saturday April 14, “Luisa Miller” by Verdi, starring Placido Domingo in this rarely performed gem. It is a heart-wrenching tragedy of fatherly love also with Sonia Yoncheva in the title role opposite Pietr Bezala. The opera runs three and half hours. The bus departs at 9:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. show.
Saturday April 28, “Cinderella” by Massenet is the final showing of the season. This masterpiece stars Joyce DiDonato in the title role, with Kathleen Kim, Alice Coote, Stephanie Blythe, and Laurent Naoui as Pandolfe. The opera is just over three hours. The bus departs at 10 a.m. for the noon show.
Viva bus trips cost 450 pesos, 550 for non-members. Tickets are available at the Lake Chapala Society, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to noon or by calling Rosemary Keeling, (376) 766-1801.
Blast from the past
The trio of Jim Barto on trumpet and flugelhorn, Cindy Paul on vocals and Roberto Cerda on vocals and guitar were once immortalized on the walls of La Tasca – a former favorite musical venue on the edge of Lake Chapala across the street from La Nueva Posada. The trio are reuniting to play a concert at La Bodega, Friday, April 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets, 150 pesos in advance and 200 at the door, are available at La Bodega. No reservations. Call (376) 766-1002 for more information.
Bus trip to ballet
Friday, April 13, Viva La Musica offers a bus trip to the performance of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by the talented Ballet de Jalisco at the Cabañas Cultural Institute in Guadalajara. The bus departs at 6:30 p.m. for the performance at 8 p.m. Tickets, 500 pesos for Viva members, 600 for non-members, are available at the Lake Chapala Society, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to noon. Call Rosemary Keeling, (376) 766-1801, to reserve.
Musical magic
Arya Tara, a band of musicians from Guadalajara with very distinct musical roots,will play the Centro Cultural Ajijic, Saturday, April 14, 6 p.m. Arya Tara members Mari Camarena, Ravi Daniel Rangel, Noe Castro and Eddie Lara bring a synergy consisting of Bel Canto, flamenco sounds, Indian influences, classic guitar, a passion for the accordion and percussion that makes you want to dance. Tickets, 120 pesos, are available at the Centro Cultural Ajijic.