Ultimate guitar
Virtuoso Mexican guitarist Paco Renteria and his band “Free Play” entertain at the Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago in La Floresta on Wednesday, October 12, 7:30 p.m., as part of Pro-Auditorio Autumn Arts Festival. Tickets are 150 to 250 pesos and are on sale at the Lake Chapala Society, Charter Club Tours, Diane Pearl’s Colecciones and the Auditorium. Proceeds from this performance will go toward the renovation of the auditorium that will begin in April 2012.
So far, the Pro-Auditorio committee has raised 480,000 pesos. They must raise 520,000 pesos more by the end of 2011 to receive matching funds from the Jalisco Culture Secretary and the National Council for Culture and the Arts (Conaculta).
The mural
Join in the “kick-off” of the painting of the Children’s Art Program mural at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) on Saturday, October 8, 11 a.m. Be there to meet artists Javier Zaragoza and Jesus Lopez Vega – who both attended the program when they were kids – as they put the first color on this historical work. Refreshments will be available.
Closing
The official closure of the successful erotic art show “Sin Tabues,” featuring the work of painter Luz Preciado and designer Jose Melendrez, will take place Monday, October 10, 8 p.m. at the Ajijic Cultural Center on the Ajijic plaza.
Representatives from the newly-formed Alas a las Artes group will be there to discuss their upcoming projects and Sergio Unzueta, director of the upcoming International Film Festival of the Third Millennium, will be on hand explain the ins and outs of the event and highlight its homage to actress Esther Fernandez.
Auditions
Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT) has announced auditions for two shows on their 47th season playbill. The first audition is for the musical “A Taste of Broadway,” written and directed by Barbara Clippinger, choreographed by Alexis Hoff with Patteye Simpson as music coordinator. Dates are Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16, 1 p.m. (registration at 12:30 p.m.) at LLT’s main stage. The show needs six female and six male singers, four female and four male dancers and one male or female narrator. Performances are set for February 25 to March 6, 2012. For audition packages contact Patteye Simpson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The second audition is for “How the Other Half Loves,” written by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by Dave McIntosh (Ann Swiston assisting). Show up on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 10 a.m. (registration at 9:30 a.m.) in the LLT lobby. McIntosh will be casting three women and three men. Performances dates are January 14-22, 2012. For scripts and information contact the director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Lakeside Little Theatre encourages and welcomes everyone interested in acting (new or experienced) to attend auditions.
ASA weekend
The Ajijic Society of the Arts (ASA) will open its “Soul of Mexico” exhibition on Saturday, October 15, with a reception from 4-7 p.m. at the Ajijic Cultural Center
ASA’s many artists of all media will be outside on the Ajijic plaza on Sunday, October 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll find a huge range of artistic talent on display – and the Cultural Center will be open so you also can stop at the Soul of Mexico show.
Getting naked
The Naked Stage Reader’s Theater will present a reading of “The Absence of a Cello” by Ira Wallach on October 21, 22 and 23 at Plaza de la Ribera (formerly Sol in Luna) on Rio Bravo in west Ajijic. Wallach wrote the story as a novel in 1959 and then adapted it for the Broadway stage in 1964, where it received a Tony nomination in 1965.
Directed by Ann Swiston, the cast includes Daphne Peerless, Dave McIntosh, Collette Clavadetscher, Kat Tetrault, Amy Friend, Garry Peerless and Ken Yakiwchuk. The play is recommended for adults only. The donation is 80 pesos and reservations are a MUST! Call Ann Pinkerton at 766-5986 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you have reserved seats and can not attend, please telephone to cancel so others may use your seat.
Naked auditions
Coming up are auditions for Naked Stage Reader’s Theater’s reading of the classic “Separate Tables,” on Friday, November 4, 1 p.m. at the theater located at Plaza del la Ribera. For a copy of the play contact Betty Robinson at 765-3262.
Senior stuff
The latest presentation in the works by My, My, How Nice Productions is “The Senior Class,” set to open November 3 at Plaza de la Riberas (formerly Sol y Luna).
The production is strictly a musical review that hardly gives performers a chance to catch their breaths between songs. There are no segues, no speaking – just singing. It’s high energy with a healthy, humorous view of aging. Peggy Lord Chilton compiled the music and crafted the show that rejoices in the process and experiences – something we all do (if we’re lucky). It also celebrates the fact that the performers are still vibrant and talented giving the whole show a high-energy, positive vibe. The songs are the “Hit Parade” of our lives.
Performances will be on November 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11 and 12. Curtain on Thursdays and Fridays will be at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m. The cash bar opens one hour before the show. Tickets are 175 pesos and can be purchased at Dian Pearl Colecciones or Mia’s Boutique or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The cast includes Amaranta Santos, Millicent Brandow, Patteye Simpson, Ray Himmelman, Lee Hitchcock, Jayme Littlejohn and Peggy Lord Chilton. A portion of the proceeds from the show are earmarked for the Pro-Auditorio Renovation Project.
MAS
The Music Appreciation Society (MAS) has just completed a very successful two weeks of selling season tickets at the Lake Chapala Society. The next opportunity will be from October 15-28.
MAS has announced its gala Kick-off Party to be held at La Nueva Posada on Friday, October 28, 4-6 p.m. at La Nueva Posada, Donato Guerra 9 in Ajijic.
The party is free for season ticket holders and there is a charge of 200 pesos per guest (to be paid at the door). Please RSVP before October 24 to Michael McCarthy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., indicating your name, number of season ticket holders and the number of guests (if any). To reserve a table, please contact Jill-Ann Skaggs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Showstopper
Los Cantantes del Lago’s Timothy Welch is back and already putting the choir through their paces rehearsing for one of their popular Broadway Showstopper shows. It’s set for Sunday, October 30, 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. Tickets are 175 pesos each and are available by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., from any member of Los Cantantes or at the Tickets, Etc. booth at the Lake Chapala Society. This year features some of the community’s favorite singers and some fresh faces as well.
Website
Phil Shepherd has created a new website for the Lakeside Little Theatre. Have a look at www.lakesidelittletheatre.com.