Piano concert
Pianists Efrain Daniel Ulloa and Everado Rojas Silva perform works by Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and Debussy at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo in Chapala, Friday, July 13, 8 p.m. Entrance is 100 pesos.
LCS Music Fest
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) head honcho Terry Vidal and his wife Amalia Garcia enjoyed the first Summer Music Fest in 2014.
You can dance with other groovy folks at the next event, Saturday, July 14, 2:30-7 p.m., featuring the one and only Woodstock Band and The Crooners, a duet of brothers who sing ballads and pop music from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s in English and Spanish, accompanied by their big band … and other musical surprises. Summer food fare, including hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob and cakes, will be available. A cash bar will operate.
Tickets, 150 pesos for members and 180 pesos for non-members, are on sale at LCS and Diane Pearl. Tickets at the gate on the day of the event are 200 pesos. Food and drink are not included in the entry price.
Bravo
Actors Roger Larson and Ken Yakiwchuk reprise their successful roles in “Visiting Mr. Green,” a funny, emotional and compelling story presented at Bravo Theatre Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15. The play is directed by Jayme Littlejohn.
The actors have brought this show to life twice before and this time the performance is in loving memory of Roger’s partner Phil Shepherd, as a benefit to help defray medical expenses.
The show got raves reviews, one comparing it to an off-Broadway production.
“The play is a little different this time around, as the actors have had the luxury of going into more depth with their characters’ relationship,” Littlejohn says.
Ruth Kear has designed a new set for this production. She has a restaurant design background and earlier this year designed the set for LLT’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Curtain rises Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, 4 p.m. Tickets, 250 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique or 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..
Jazz
Trialogo Jazz will present a homage to Mingus and Coltraine Saturday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Ajijic. Entrance is free.
JPO bus trips
Viva la Musica offers summer trips to Guadalajara’s Teatro Degollado to hear the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sunday, July 15, the JPO presents Brahms’ Violin Concerto, with virtuoso Korean-American Esther Yoo, and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, with Marco Parisotto conducting. Bus departs at 10:30 a.m. for the 12:30 p.m. performance, leaving from the Carretera near Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic.
Tickets, 450 pesos (550 for non-members), are available at the LCS ticket booth Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, or by calling Rosemary Keeling at (376) 766-1801.
Benefit music fest
Galeria La 133 in San Antonio is holding a benefit music jam and art photograph raffle to help out lakeside taxi driver German Garia while he recuperates from emergency surgery.
The ticket cost of 300 pesos (in advance) or 350 pesos at the door includes food from LA 133, a live jam by lakeside musicians and a raffle of a photograph by renowned photographer Luis/Caballo.
The fun is Sunday, July 15, 4-8 p.m. at La 133. Tickets are available at Chopsticks or contact Nancy, 331-135-9230.
Film Aficionados
Lake Chapala Society members can take advantage of Film Aficionados screenings each Thursday at 2 p.m. On July 1, “Maurie” (2017, Ireland/Canada) will be shown. An arthritic Nova Scotian woman works as a housekeeper while she hones her skills as an artist and eventually becomes a beloved figure in the community. Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke shine in very challenging roles (111 minutes).
Viva summer concerts
This summer, Viva La Musica is sponsoring a concert series titled “Romance in the Village,” featuring chamber music concerts held in private homes and small concert halls at lakeside.
Friday, July 20, the Galatea Early Music Ensemble presents “Renaissance Romance,” a musical journey through Europe using ancient instruments popular during the Renaissance, including lutes, baroque violins, guitars and a viola de gamba. The ensamble is accompanied by a talented soprano soloist and guest baritone. This concert will take place in a private home in Rancho del Oro.
The “Opera Romance” gala on Thursday, August 30 features soprano Jessica Alcala, mezzosoprano Mayela Lou and baritone Jose Manuel Gonzalez, with piano accompanist Rodrigo Sierra Moncayo. Romantic music by Donizetti, Rossini, Wagner and Lehar will be performed.
Friday, September 21, Sergio Parra, a scholarship student of Viva’s for many years, will play a program of Chopin, Messiaen, Iberia and beautiful Debussy preludes in St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas del Pilar.
Tickets cost 500 pesos and include champagne and canapés served at 3:30 p.m. before the 4 p.m. concerts.
The location is disclosed on the back of each ticket, which are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) ticket booth, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon.
Get out and sing!
The Lakeside Singers will begin a sing-along at Casa Anastasia retirement home (next to Maskara’s Clinic) in Riberas del Pilar, Wednesday, July 25, 4:30 p.m. All are welcome to join the Singers. The group will eat out together after the sing-along. Information 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
The next production of The Naked Stage Readers Theatre is “Church And State” by Jason Odell Williams, Friday to Sunday, July 27-29.
Collette Clavadetscher directs a cast comprising Harry McFadden, Val Jones, Carolyn Cothran and John Ward.
“Church & State” is a fast-paced dramedy about faith, politics and “The Twitter.”
Three days before his bid for reelection, in the wake of a school shooting in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, a Republican U.S. senator makes an off-the-cuff comment to a blogger that gets leaked on “the Twitter,” calling into question the senator’s stance on guns and God. As his devoutly Christian wife and liberal Jewish campaign manager try to contain the damage, the play looks at how religion influences politics and politics has become a religion. It is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting.
Press reviews are impressive:
LA Times: “[“Church and State”] is surprisingly subtle and gripping entertainment … a sophisticated dialectic that presents both sides of the gun debate … Williams avoids demonizing his conservative Southerners, who are winning, strikingly intelligent, and above all, sincere in their beliefs.”
National Public Radio: “Feels very of the moment. An enjoyable, thought-provoking and, I promise, humorous piece of theater. I wish every member of Congress would see it!”
Time Out NY: “Williams is adept at jacking up the tension, and he leavens potentially leaden debates with plenty of humor.”
Tickets are 100 pesos, reservations are 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 Naked Stage is on the Carretera in Riberas, across from the Catholic church and in front of the Baptist church. Parking available in the lot of the Baptist church.
Curtain rises 4 p.m. Box office and bar open at 3 p.m.
LCS Art Camp
The Lake Chapala Society’s most popular community project, the Children’s Art Program, observes its sixth annual Art Camp, July 30-August 3, 10 a.m. to noon daily on the LCS patio. The Camp, replete with instructors from the Ajijic Society of the Arts, will accommodate 130 children this year. Registration at LCS offices ends July 28.
Saturday, August 4, LCS holds the Children’s Art Sale 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a portion of the proceeds going to the artist and the remainder to support the program.
To make a financial or material contribution or volunteer for this program, contact Danielle Page, 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..