Summer workshops
“Pure Tales” is the theme of a summer course theater workshop for children to be held at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo in Chapala from July 18 to August 12.
Children aged from eight to 12 years old can attend courses that include shadow theater, puppets and faces, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 4 to 6 p.m. The workshops conclude with a presentation of their work. The cost is 350 pesos per course.
Also offered is a singing workshop for children and adolescents on Wednesdays, from 4 to 6 p.m. The cost is based on the amount of kids who sign up. For more information on either course, call 765-7424.
Variety at Bravo!
“Extravaganza – a Variety Show” organized by Jaime Littlejohn will be on at the Bravo! Theatre Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23.
Entertainment of all types is on the bill: The Ukulele Club is doing sing-a-long numbers; Peggy Lord Chilton is strumming and singing her rendition of “Cinderella” — a comic masterpiece; three tap dance numbers will be performed by both beginners and intermediate tap classes, plus one solo piece. Some of these people have taken up tap dance as older adults for the first time in their lives and some took tap decades ago and wanted to get back to it. There are two soloists – Amaranta Santos and Jayme Littlejohn – as well as Barbara Pruitt and a trio doing Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.” Wanda White will perform “I Got Love” from the Broadway musical “Perlie.” Jacinta Stringer is performing a comedy piece: The Three Little Pigs Shakespearean style. Mariaceli Navarro Salerno on piccolo and Timothy G. Ruff Welch on piano will play three movements from Souvenirs by Robert Beaser: Happy Face, Spain and Cindy Redux. (See story page xx.) A few comedy improvisations and more acts are also planned.
The shows are Thursday, July 21, 4 p.m.; Friday, July 22, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 23, 4 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos and can be reserved at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by stopping by Mia’s Boutique or Diane Pearl. Bravo Theater is located at Rio Bravo 10 in Ajijic.
Ixtlahuacán culture
The annual Santo Santiago fiestas in nearby Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos encompasses a full calendar of cultural events, taking plaxe at the town plaza every evening, 8 p.m. Appearing Saturday, July 16 are the Orquesta Típica de Ixtlahuacán, Coro Son y Alma and a local folk dance troupe.
The program for subsequent dates features Ballet Folklórico Metzi de Tonalá, Sunday, July 17; Mariachi Hacienda de Atequiza, Monday, July 18; Ballet Infantil Despertar Izaccihuatl de Atequiza, Tuesday, July 19; Redes y Cantos de Chapala, Wednesday, July 20; Danzas Arabes, Thursday, July 21; Rondalla de Chapala, Friday, July 22; Ballet Folklórico Ixtlahuacán, Saturday, July 23; Banda Municipal de Tlajomulco Sunday, July 24; and closing Monday, July 25, 7 p.m., with Los Centenarios folk harp duo.
Two guitar recitals
Alan Gomez interprets music by Augustin Barrios, Fernando Sor, Johann Sebastian Bach and Francisco Tarrega at a recital Thursday, July 21, 7 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo in Chapala. Entrance is 50 pesos.
At the same venue, Thursday, July 28, 7 p.m., Hugo Gracian plays works by Spinacino, Bach, Regondi, Francisco Gabilondo Soler (Cri-Cri), M. M. Ponce, and Krieger. Entrance is 100 pesos.
Sidney Gay concert
Local storyteller, comedian, musician and artist Sidney Gay will give a benefit concert for Lila Wells (a local educator facing medical hardship), Thursday, July 28, 5 p.m. at La Bodega restaurant. The presentation is titled “Wings On My Boots” Seating is at 4:30 p.m. and an optional dinner is scheduled at 6:30 a.m. Cost is 200 pesos, reservations at 766-5295.
The Naked Stage
Lakeside’s Naked Stage Readers Theatre, at which minimalistic play readings are performed for adult theater lovers, is presenting “Ripcord,” Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 29, 30 and 31.
The play is by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Collette Clavadetscher. The cast is formed by Georgette Richmond, L.B. Hamilton, Robert Stephen Browning, Carolyn Cothran, Kevin Leitch and Alfred Kirkland, Jr. Reservations are recommended 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 box office opens at 3:15 p.m. and the show begins at 4 p.m. A cash bar, proceeds of which benefit local animal shelters, is available from 3 p.m. The Naked Stage is located at Hidalgo 261 on the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Children’s theater
Don’t miss “Midnight Travelers of The Universe,” the upcoming production by the young students of La Cochera Cultural, who last year staged “La Reina Michi-Cihualli, The Legend of the Lake.”
Children took part in creative writing workshops on May 19 and will paint sets and make props at a theater camp to be held during the last two weeks of July.
There are only two opportunities to see these young lakeside actors and their teachers bring the children’s very own stories to life. The shows are at Lakeside Little Theatre on Saturday, July 30, 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 31, 2 p.m. Tickets, at 200 pesos, are available at theater (during regular box office hours), Diane Pearl, Fiaga Boutique and Corazon Creativo.
Opera Gala
Soprano Maria de Jesus Cardenas, mezzosoprano Teresa Banderas, tenor Jose Luis Villarruel and baritone Ricardo Lavin will sing opera pieces by Mozart, Bizet, Bellini and Rossini at a benefit for the Train Garden at Chapala’s Centro Cultural Gonzalez Gallo on Thursday, August 4, 7 p.m. Entrance is 200 pesos.
LCS Music Fest
“Looking Through A Lava Lamp,” a ‘60s and ‘70s rock retrospective is planned Saturday, July 30 at the Lake Chapala Society. The band that played at the Woodstock festival in 2014 is back by popular demand. Also on stage will be the CUBCA Orchestra from the University of Guadalajara. The event is catered by Alex’s Pasta Bar and Number 4 Restaurant. Purchase tickets at LCS: 100 pesos for members, 150 pesos for non-members, or 180 pesos at the door.