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Ribera Arts Review - January 9, 2016

LLT auditions

Auditions for “Other Desert Cities,” an award-winning drama by Jon Robin Baitz, will be held Friday and Saturday, January 8 and 9, at the Lakeside Little Theatre in San Antonio Tlayacapan. 

The play will be presented from Friday, March 25 through Tuesday, April 5.

Directed by Russell Mack, the play’s cast includes two men and three women. Registration for the auditions is at 9:30 a.m. They begin at 10 a.m. 

The play is a riveting family drama of secrets, conflict and compassion. The fragile harmony of Christmas at the affluent Wyeth home is shattered when daughter Brooke arrives bearing a soon-to-be-published memoir full of family secrets. 

For scripts and information, contact Mack 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..

1 9 16 24Lip Sync Show

“The world’s longest and largest lip sync show” (as advertised) premiers at the Auditorio de la Ribera Friday, January 8, 3 p.m, with additional shows on Saturday, January 9, 7 p.m. and Sunday, January 10, 3 p.m. 

See artists such as Celene Dion, Pavarotti and the Andrew Sisters, as well as dancers from the musical “Chicago.” Introductions and more will be courtesy of ringmaster John Ward. 

Tickets are available at the Auditorio, Mia’s Boutique, Yoli’s and Diane Pearl. More information from Michael at (376) 106-2076 or email 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..

Bravo! Theatre

An almost all-female version of the Pulitzer Prize winning play “Glengarry Glen Ross” by David Mamet continues performances at The Bravo! Theatre.  

Directed by Dora Award nominatee Bernadette Jones, the play stars Kathleen Carlson, Jayme Littlejohn, Kathleen Morris, Barbara Pruitt, Jacinta Stringer, Roseann Wilshere and Ken Yakiwchuk.  

The storyline is about a competitive sales office where all is fair ... until it isn’t. There is a lot of strong language and, as Mamet will not allow any script changes, the characters are still referred to as men.  It is a gripping yet often hilarious drama.

“Glengarry Glen Ross” shows at the Bravo! Theatre, west Ajijic on Rio Bravo just south of the Carretera on January 8, 9, 12 and 14. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Matinees on January 10 and 13, 3 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos, available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique or by emailing 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..

Mariachi concerts

Mariachi Internacional Guadalajara appears with Mariachi Estrellas de Chula Vista from San Diego, California at two concerts, Saturday, January 9, 4 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society gazebo and Sunday, January 10, 1 p.m. at the  Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia, Chapala’s former town hall. Thanks to the co-sponsorship of American Legion Post 7 and the Lake Chapala Society, these talented mariachi groups will be appearing at Lakeside’s First Annual International Mariachi Festival.  

The musicians from both mariachi groups will give three days of sectional workshops, when they will explain the skills and tricks of their craft. Members of the public are invited to visit the grounds of the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic on Friday, January 8 to observe the violin, trumpet and bass workshops. 

Tickets for the concerts are available at Post 7 in Chapala and at the Lake Chapala Society at a cost of 150 pesos. 

Distinguished artists

The Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia in Chapala  opens a new art exhibit titled “Recognition of the Woman in Mexico” on Friday, January 8, 5 p.m. Works by 18 leading female artists from all over the nation, including local painters Cathy Chalvignac and Luz Preciado, are going on display in the second floor Miguel Miramontes Carmona Gallery.

Yelapa memories

Gecko Gallery and Art Studio presents the exhibit “Yelapa: A Mexican Coastal Village in the 1970s,” with an opening reception Saturday, January 9, 4-8 p.m. 

The show featuring the work of U.S. photographer Celest Greco also includes photos of sculptor Margarita Solorio at work on figures of pre-Columbian deities, completed in Yelapa in the early 1980s.

Gecko Gallery is located at Ocampo 61, Ajijic.

‘Los Magicos’

The Efren Gonzalez Art Gallery is hosting two artists with help from the Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago at a grand opening cocktail, Saturday, January 9, 4 p.m.  Esperanza Gama, a Tapatia who now lives in Chicago, will display some 20 works in papel amate (bark) and Juan Chawuk, an internationally renowned artist from Chiapas, will hang some 15 works.  

Carlos Tortelero, director of the Chicago museum, will be on hand at the event. Gonzalez notes that this is a good opportunity for local avant-garde artists to make themselves known. 

The gallery is located at Marcos Castellanos 7, Ajijic. The show will hang for two weeks.

Calling all culture vultures

Chapala area artists, activists and promoters involved in all disciplines of cultural activities are invited to attend a meeting on Monday, January 11, 10 a.m., in Chapala’s Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia auditorium. The purpose of the gathering is to introduce interested parties to the municipality’s Culture Department staff and offer guidance on tapping into government funding for worthy projects. 

1 9 16 25aPiano concert 

Internationally renowned pianist Dr. Michael Tsalka is bringing a rare treat to lakeside. At a performance sponsored by Viva la Musica at the Auditorio de la Ribera on Thursday, January 14, 7 p.m., Tsalka will perform the last piano sonatas composed by Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert.

Concert tickets are 200 pesos at the Auditorio, Diane Pearl and the Lake Chapala Society box office on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-noon, and at the door before the concert.  All seating is open.

Paint Guild exhibition

The Lake Chapala Paint Guild opens an art exhibition themed “Tasty Colors” at The Creperie (just east of Maria Isabel Restaurant at the Ajijic pier) Friday, January 15,  4-6 p.m. All are invited to attend. The Creperie will offer two-for-one Margaritas at the opening.

Art exhibits

Centro Cultural Ajijic presents the work of lakeside artists Jesus Lopez Vega, with “Imagineria Fantastica,” and C. De Paul Durham, with “Memorias Misticas,” at an opening reception Saturday, January 16, 4-7 p.m. The show will remain up until January 30. 

The reception includes live music, cocktails and botanas. Lopez Vega’s children Rosario and Jesus Eduardo will also be showing new work at the reception. 

Centro Cultural Ajijic is currently showing Grandes Talentos, a collection of paintings by a dozen young lakeside artists that will remain on display through January 14.

Centro Cultural Ajijic is located on the village’s main plaza (jardin)

‘Good People’

Lakeside Little Theatre presents a drama by David Lindsay-Abaire, “Good People,” January 15-24. The play is directed by Lynn Phelan with cast members L.B. Hamilton, Greg Clarke, Patricia Guy, Rosann Balbontin, Russell Mack, Allen McGill and Connie Davis. Evening shows are at 7:30 p.m. The first Saturday and both Sundays matinees are at 3 p.m. Tickets are 200 pesos, available at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and at the LLT box office on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to noon; and every day during the show, from 10 a.m. to noon, excluding Sunday, and one hour before curtain. Call 766-0954 for more information.

CREM concert

Tr3bol, a musical group of students of the Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales (CREM) under the direction of Victor Garcia and the CREM Orchestra, will give a concert Saturday, January 16, 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera.  Also included are presentations of dance by MOV Rhythm Studio, flamenco by Leonor Zertuche, Ranchero music by Armando and more.

The ticket price of 250 pesos includes a glass of wine and finger food donated by restaurants La Mision, Roberto’s, Jardin de Ninette and Armando’s. Tickets available at those four restaurants, Chapalajara Realty (next to the Waffle House), Diane Pearl and at the door. 

ArtXikXik art event

ArtXikXik, the gallery located on the former Billy Moon Collection estate in West Ajijic, will be highlighting master sculptors, ceramists, 3D artists and others not usually seen at Lakeside, with a gala reception on Saturday January 16, and continuing sales on Sunday January 17, 1-4 p.m.

The art of Larkin Chollar, Barush Esparza Ugalde, Rigoberto Navarro Robledo, Linda Sherman, Gethyn Soderman, Steve Weckel, Brad Mowers, Rene de la Pena and Carlos Alberto Paz will be part of the exhibit and sale.            

The afternoon will consist of elegant, exclusive exhibitions creatively displayed throughout the property’s expansive gardens. Music by Recuerdos de Mi Mexico, two bars and catered food will be provided.

Tickets pre-event cost 200 pesos, available at Diane Pearl in Ajijic, and 250 pesos at the door on the day of event.

Jewish Film Festival

The Seventh Annual Ajijic Jewish Film Festival continues with “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsolam” (Israel, 2014) on Sunday, January 17; “Hunting Elephants” (Israel, 2013) on Sunday, January 24 and “Diplomacy” (France/Germany 2014) on Sunday, January 31. 

All of the Sunday films begin at 1:30 p.m. at Cinemas del Lago at Plaza Bugambilias, located on the Carretera at Calle Revolucion. They are presented by the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation. 

Tickets at 50 pesos are available at the box office. A portion of the proceeds benefits selected lakeside charities, including Chapala Cruz Roja. 

Sip and sketch

Unleash your inner artist: paint, drink and have fun in this special event with Rodrigo Zuioaga on Wednesday, January 20, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Studio 18 at Colon 18 in Ajijic.  The fee of 500 pesos includes all materials, one-half bottle of red or white wine per person and light munchies. This class is limited to eight students. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information and reservations. 

Singers wanted

​Los Cantantes del Lago is starting their ​Spring Concert chorister registration.  They welcome new singers from the community.  

If you have always yearned to be in a choral group, this is your chance.  To register or for more information go to http://loscantantesdellago.com and click on the “Come Sing With Us” tab. Then click one of the links at the bottom of the page, or email 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..

1 9 16 25bAcustico

Canadian singer Kim Kuzma will be returning to Ajijic on Saturday, January 23 to perform with her band, Acustico, at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Her shows combine high energy and contemporary songs in English integrated with Spanish favorites.

Kuzma played El Piano Rojo here two years ago to a full house and her fame and notoriety in Puerto Vallarta has continued to increase.  The band includes Eduardo Leon on guitar and vocals, Roberto Falcon on bass, Fernando Huerta Gonzalez on guitar and vocals, Bob Tansen on the flute and Jeronimo Guido on drums and percussion.  Tickets are available at Diane Pearl or www.lakesidetickets.com.

Mac is back!

For those of you who missed Mac Morison’s show “One More For the Road” in December – and for those who loved the show and want to hear more great music – Mac Morison and Judy Hendrick bring you a dinner/concert singing those heartfelt songs we all love and remember. 

The performance is on Wednesday, January 20, at La Mision Restaurant, at Rio Bravo 7.  A delicious three-course dinner (fresh sea bass or Thai kung pao chicken), including a bottle of red or white wine for two, starts at 6:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:30. 

After the show partake in a decadent dessert table filled with unlimited tastes for the serious sugarholic. Reservations, tickets and table selection at La Mision or 376-108-0887.

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