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Puerto Vallarta News NetworkVallarta Living | March 2008 

Out and About in Puerto Vallarta
email this pageprint this pageemail usTwila Crawford - PVNN


Vallarta has seen a major growth in its exciting cultural life within the last few years. From musical theater productions and Tango classes to Chamber Orchestra performances and Sitar concerts there's something for everyone in Puerto Vallarta.
 
There's drama at the drama house. That's Santa Barbara Theater... and we're not talking about on the stage. With the current owner leaving town, there has been interest from 12 persons (six couples) tied to Santa Barbara, the restaurant and the church, in some way, to take over there.

Some offer financial backing, others don't have that option. Well, you can imagine all of the talk around about all of this. Inquiries from media brought a heavy-handed letter from one of the non-financial participants. If this undertaking happens, we wish them well at making it work.

In addition, an Internet company has been interested in the space. The building that houses the theater, and some of the other area, eventually may be sought for condos or other investments. With current theater owner Ed Hutmacher returning to the U.S., we wish him well there.

Professional and popular performers such as Sol Rose, Mark and Dana Zeller, and Sandi Lee are not involved in this possible undertaking. Sol returns in April to the U.S. for the summer, as usual, to perform, and the Zellers return to their theater in New York City until next high season.

Speaking of Sol, he showed what a pro, what a trooper, he is as a performer on opening night. He was losing his voice in the last part of Stop the World. Sol pulled out the stops for his closing song, What Kind of Fool Am I?, and closed beautifully to a standing ovation.

Tencha Avila's prize-winning play, Kiss Bessemer Goodbye, will be off-Broadway in 2009. Another of Tencha's prize-winning plays, Did It, is currently playing in Colorado.

Excellent poetry and various readings are especially strong at the Writers Group during the high season, with more than 70 persons sometimes in attendance. Meetings are at 10:30 am on Saturdays at the International Friendship Club, Libertad and Miramar.

Don and Rhonda and group will perform in an upcoming sitar evening concert on March 10th in the garden at Cafe des Artistes. Time being determined. Tickets are $550 pesos, including dinner. Tickets are available at the restaurant or from Don and Rhonda, (322) 221-6078.

The show, Always, Patsy Cline, will return for shows March 6th and 13th at 8 pm at Santa Barbara Theater, with Sandi Lee and Mikki Prost.

Musician/vocalist David Lyons may make his concert at the Santa Barbara Theater at 8 pm on March 11th his farewell concert. So for sure, enjoy his classic standards, backed by local jazz musicians.

It is a lot of fun at theater director Eileen O'Leary's improv and readings with various good actors here in Vallarta. It is a relaxed time of one hour of entertainment and laughter. Come to the International Friendship Club at 7:30 pm on Thursdays. A small donation is asked that goes to IFC programs.

Hundreds of persons attend the last Vallarta Chamber Orchestra to hear beautiful music by the 20 musicians from Mexico, Cuba, England, Canada and the US. The spring concert is on March 16th at 8 pm at the American School in the Marina Vallarta area.

One musician, violinist Reyes Abelardo Oliveros, who dreams of becoming a classical violinist, practices 3 hours a day, helps his mother operate a tienda and taco stand, and often plays with a Mariachi band. He currently is using a borrowed violin after humidity damage to his own, and is saving money to buy a new one. For more information, contact music director Mary MacLachlan at 222-7806.

Al and Barbara Garvey threw a spectacular Tango party to inaugurate two new dance floors at their home, including a roof terrace. Dancers were there from San Francisco CA, Florida, Canada, Poland, Guadalajara and La Manzanilla, and of course, local dancers. The Garveys are instructors of Argentine Tango. Call 222-8895 or email alybarbara(at)yahoo.com for information.

The Valentine's Day celebration for animal care of SPCA de PV raised money through a high tea and fashion show at Janice Chatterton's Puerta del Cielo. The owner of Los Caprichos de LOLA, Liliana Joya Gutierrez, presented an elegant and fun high fashion show. Yes, the dogs and cats present looked lovely, too.

Doloros Bittingham, chef and owner of Essence of Cuisine, makes gourmet cooking with shortcuts fun. Scrumptious food. She will speak at Wise Women on June 25th. For her classes, call 222-7017.

We were at a dinner party recently that Devil's Food owner Kathy Overly catered. It was a dinner of Greek food everyone present was praising. Devil's Food catering offers a wide variety of services for all your event needs, from scrumptious food to entertainment, equipment rental and specialty cakes. Kathy has 25 years of experience in professional party planning, insuring the success of your special event. For more information, send an email to kathy.ptcity(at)yahoo.com.
An award-winning journalist, Twila Crawford lives in Puerto Vallarta, where, in addition to contributing articles to the Vallarta Tribune and other local and international publications, she writes Out and About in Puerto Vallarta, a weekly column that offers inside information about who, what, why, where and when it's happening around Banderas Bay.

Click HERE to read more of Twila's "Out and About" articles



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