Kim LeMieux
Email: kimslakesideliving@gmail.com
The Lake Chapala Society host Open Circle every Sunday at 10:30am, a popular community gathering in Ajijic, to enjoy a diverse range of presentations.
Entrance by the side gate on Ramón Corona, gate opens at 9:30am. We recommend bringing a hat and bottled water, and please remove containers upon departure. Use of mask is optional.
Check their website for upcoming presentations, make your reservation if you want to attend and if you missed a past presentation, you could still enjoy it online. https://opencircleajijic.org/
SEPTEMBER PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE:
September 4th, Brian Mattes, Want to See a Great Drama? Check Out What Goes on Backstage at a Theatre!
Our presenter likes to say that for every person on stage, there are 5 more backstage whose difficult and hard work sometimes involves the best drama in the theatre. He will bring with him several people from Lakeside Little Theatre who will describe what goes into producing the shows you see on the Theatre’s stage.
Brianis President of Lakeside Little Theatre in Ajijic, Mexico’s oldest English-language theatre. Prior to retiring at year-end 2015, he was a federal lobbyist for 12 years. He holds a B.A. degree in Communications & Theatre and an M.B.A. from Temple University. He moved to Ajijic, Mexico in 2018.
September 11th, Bethany Anne Putnam, Reflections on 9/11
When the Twin Towers were attacked on September 11, 2001, Bethany Anne Putnam was living in Asheville, NC. Like most people, she wondered how she could be of assistance as she watched the broadcasts depicting the tragedy. Two and a half years prior to 9/11, Bethany founded an organization that addressed a need for nationally based disaster relief within the Episcopal Church. Her phone rang on September 19th, and Trinity Episcopal Church was curious how quickly could she get to New York to help them. She packed a few bags and drove through the night, not knowing what to expect or how her days would be spent. Hired as the Disaster Director for St. Paul’s Chapel, Bethany spent six weeks implementing systems, caring for the first responders, and creating opportunities for hundreds of volunteers every day at Ground Zero. She had full security clearance for the entire site, and she will provide a first-hand account of the days immediately following the attacks. It was equally heart-breaking and life-affirming to be in New York at that time. Bethany’s stories will paint a picture of a city that came together and took care of each other in the most basic of ways. It was a humbling experience, and she was proud to play a role alongside the brave men and women who were called upon to serve.
Twenty-one years ago, Bethany was the foremost expert on domestic disaster relief and volunteer coordination within the Episcopal Church. Her experience and training led to being hired immediately following 9/11, as the Disaster Director of St. Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero in New York City.
September 18th, Juan José Álvarez Brunel, Secretary of Tourism
Guanajuato
September 25th, Ed Tasca
The puzzling dissonance of Mexican national identify.
This presentation is about how Mexico became Mexico, the story of Hernan Cortes and the seminal events that created what we now know as Mexican culture and national character. It is a nation that is uniquely Hispanic but has rejected its Hispanic identity for over five hundred years while stubbornly clinging to a rich indigenous culture and roots.
Ed Tasca is from Philadelphia. His humor has been published in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, England, Italy, Australia, and Norway. Ed has been writing a humor column for the Guadalajara Reporter since 2016. Ed has also worked as an actor at Lakeside Little Theater, where he performed his own one-man show, Mark Twain, Uncensored. And had another feature play performed at Bare Stage.
Taught fiction writing at Ghost Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2014. Ed is also a history buff.
September 30 – October 9, Lakeside Little Theatre presents THE REVOLUTIONISTS, by Lauren Gunderson.
Directed by Russell Mack
Showtimes: Evenings at 7:30pm, Matinees at 4pm. Saturday and Sunday Shows are Matinees.
This grand and dream-tweaked comedy is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we go about changing the world. “Sometimes a revolution needs a woman’s touch” – four passionate badass women strive to find “Liberte Egalite Sororite” during the French Revolution.
“A sassy, hold-on-to-your-seats theatrical adventure…wonderfully wild and raucous…” Cincinnati Enquirer
Tickets are $350 Pesos. For ticket information go to the LLT website at lakesidelittletheatre.com.
The premiere offering of the Mark Boyer 10 Minute Play Festival, held August 4-7, 2022, was a huge success. Although it had been delayed because of the pandemic, Festival Director Collette Clavadetscher was delighted with the result.
Seven playwrights were showcased, and their plays were directed by five different directors. A total of sixteen actors filled the nineteen roles. Six backstage crew members played important roles in construction, make-up, stage managing, sound and lighting. The festival provided a platform for people to try out new skills.
The winning playwright was Randy Warren, who wrote “Borderline”. His prize of $5,000 pesos was generously donated back to the theatre. LLT selected three people with extensive acting and directing experience to judge the seven plays. Their decision for the winning play was unanimous. The judges were Debra Bowers, Dave McIntosh, and John Wharton.
The People’s Choice Award went to John Ward, who wrote “To Err is Human”, which garnered 48% of the votes!
September 23rd, 24th & 25th Bare Stage Theatre’s production is Weekend Comedy.
When a couple in their mid-fifties and a couple in their mid-twenties discover that they’ve accidentally rented the same cottage for a three-day weekend, they decide to share it. The older couple is married, the younger couple is not. The audience becomes a voyeur to the comedic clash between generations and ideas. The show is a reminder that growing older doesn’t mean we must get set in our ways, take each other for granted or forget to stop and smell the roses while we still can.
Playwrights Sam and Jeanne Bobrick, have co-authored over 40 plays, including Norman, Is That You?, Murder at the Howard Johnsons and Wally’s Café, as well as penned TV hits like ‘The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle USMC and The Flintstones.
Roseann Wilshere directs Rosann Balbontin, Jon DeYoung, Douglas Pinkerton, and Florette Schnelle.
Tickets are $200 to join in the fun. RESERVE NOW at barestagetheatre2018@gmail.com.
We are located at #261 on the mountain side of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar across from the Catholic Church. Door and Bar open at 3:00 pm. Seats are held till 3:50 pm. Auditorium curtains will be open for air flow. Please Like, Follow & Share our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/barestagetheatre2018/
FoodBank Lakeside is excited to launch a new and improved website. It’s still at www.foodbanklakeside.org, but has a fresh new look with new images and updated content.
Please Like, Follow & Share our Facebook Page: facebook.com/FoodBankLakeside
When COVID first hit in March 2020 Mary Fernandez started providing for the families who needed help in her neighborhood. She reached out to FoodBank Lakeside when she saw us on Facebook and has been with us ever since.
September 16, Mexican Independence Day. This fiesta-friendly holiday celebrates Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810, and it’s filled with national pride, colorful parades, mariachi concerts, and food. A lot of food.
The town of Ajijic is probably the busiest during this month since it has 3 big celebrations lined up very close to each other such as:
September 10, Balloon Regatta, held at the Ajijic soccer field, this event is fun for the whole family and the kids sure love watching the balloons made of China paper rise to the sky.
September 11, Rebozo Parade, a truly traditional event that takes place in the town square (Ajijic Plaza), the Rebozo parade is a beautiful tradition that has been celebrated for years in the Lakeside area, some date it back over 100 years. Young girls and women love to take place in walking around the square wearing their finest and most traditional Mexican dresses, respecting the local traditions of carrying flowers and wearing a Rebozo (Shawls).
September 15, be sure to visit the Ajijic Plaza after 10 p.m. on for the recital of El Grito de Dolores by the town’s delegado (the closest thing to a mayor that the town has). This recital occurs all over Mexico at the same time on Independence Day Eve: delegados, mayors and even the president reciting the famous battle cry that Hidalgo gave in 1810, which stirred the people into battle and eventually led to the independence of a nation.
It’s short (you’ll end up waiting a lot longer for it to start than it takes to recite), but sweet, and an important part of Mexico’s history.
September 16, Independence Day Parade is a fun event where you can experience and see how the Mexican people remember their independence. Make sure to show up as early as 8am, since the parade in Ajijic starts at the west end of La Floresta (where the horse tracks end) and continues down Av. 16 de Septiembre, ending at the Ajijic Plaza.
For more information about Lake Chapala visit: www.chapala.com
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