Recap: Good Morning, From Here, January 11 – 17
Monday
To Adele, a Tribute by Gloria Fiona at Teatro Vallarta was… Grand. From the sequins glittering like stars under the intense lights to the string quartet, it was a concert played at Vallarta’s highest possible level. Gloria’s voice soared over the stage and was touched with emotion that ran high all evening. Her musicians were impeccable, and everything ran like the dream she had dreamt a year ago. Her guest star, the superb Kevin Anthony, shone with equal light.
Twice, Gloria left the stage – still singing – and climbed the treacherous stairs to mingle with her friends, who had come out in droves to witness the most triumphant night of her career. ‘Her’ girls were there, like a troupe of cheerleaders from the Vallarta Girls School that received 20% of the profits from the show. Gloria volunteers to teach them to sing, and they clearly adore her.
She is an admirable role model, having arrived in Vallarta a decade ago from Italy with no English and no Spanish, just her voice. When she was down to 50 Euros, she had a choice – eat or buy a guitar. In days, she was busking on the Pitillal bus route; the rest, as they say, is history.
Gloria’s standing ovation was interrupted by Irene, who came onstage and, in a voice cracking and breaking with emotion, went down on one knee and asked Gloria to marry her. We were all crying anyway from the sheer magnitude of Gloria’s concert, so another river of happy tears didn’t matter. What. A. Night.
Gloria met with well-wishers in the lobby of Teatro Vallarta immediately after the show, smiled, and posed for photographs. The tribute was, and Gloria remains, a tour de force.
The Vallarta Girls School benefited from yet another musical event – the second one donated by Cellovoci as the first concert sold out in a day or so.
Effie Passero (Francesca Bavaro) and Branden and James have pooled their resources and created CelloVoci that debuted at Carnegie Hall a couple of months ago. The three have appeared together sporadically over the last couple of years here in Vallarta and, after touring the American Midwest, generating some funny stories and solidified a musical connection. All three play piano; James, the cello, and the combination of their voices creates a tapestry of harmony that elicits delicious chills and unbidden tears from the sheer enormous beauty of it all. Their end notes hang in the air like tinsel, the audience spellbound, until suddenly applause breaks out with everyone wanting more.
Francie Nguyen, owner of Casita & Garden and co-founder of the Girls School, serenely moved through the sold-out crowd at her restaurant/wine bar, greeting friends and seating patrons. She exudes warmth and grace and constantly gives back to the community with her time, endless energy, and fabulous spaces full of good food and spirits.
Branden and James have a new show starting in early February at Coco Cabaret. Effie Passero as herself, Francesca Bavaro, is in Nashville, Tennessee, cutting her first solo album. She will be back in about six weeks with some stories to tell.
Tonight, Deborah Darr is sold-out at The Palm Cabaret, and later at Nacho Daddy, Mark Hartman accompanies Gouda Gabor and Seth Sikes in “Hello, Gorgeous” with a nod to Barbra Streisand at 7:30. See you there From Here.
Tuesday
Sunday is the new Saturday, with dance class at noon at the International Friendship Club, taught by Deborah Darr. Even though this is non-impact stuff, I am grateful for the end where we are on the floor on cushions relaxing; I do that best!
Round One (of two) of Season Four of the So, You Think You Can Rise? talent competition, took place at Coco Cabaret, with Prescott Seymour hosting the event, consisting of eight vocalists. The uber-animated Sargento, translated everyone’s English comments into Spanish. Sargento finished second in last year’s cont est after then-ten-year-old Angeloo scooped first place.
Different protocols this year – the four judges face the audience with their backs to the performers, and the contestants’ names are withheld until after the judging a la ‘The Voice.’ Coco Cabaret’s second tier over the main stage was perfect! The audience recognized friends, of course, made some noise and alerted the judges to listen hard. It was exciting when two (or more) judges vied to become the coach of the aspiring singer. There were some surprise entries; this show gets better and better every season, culminating in the Grand Finale on February 23 at Teatro Vallarta. The four vocalists going to the finale are: Mitch Kushner, Jason Mathis, Vizente Cañas, and Warren Wesley Weir. They will work hard for the next month with their respective judges and now coaches: Luis Villanueva, Maru Prado Conti, Roy Cruz, and Kevin Anthony.
Next Sunday at 2 pm, Richard Lucas, aka Gouda Gabor, will host the second and final round of eight contestants – no singers; these will be dancers, acrobats, jugglers, magicians, and more; we will have to wait and see what the variety portion of the show brings us. Coco was packed, so get your tickets and yourself to the theater in good time next Sunday for the 2 pm start.
I had lunch with David Boz at the Cigar Factory yesterday. It has been five years since he’s been here with his piccolo trumpet in hand, playing Bach; we had a lot to talk about! The sound of this baroque horn echoing off the hallowed walls of our Guadalupe church is the definition of h-e-a-v-e-n. His concert is this coming Friday, January 17th, at 8:30 pm. If you love classical music, then do not miss this FREE concert; just get there early, as there is no reserved seating.The concert also stars the gorgeous soprano Vanessa Amaro and concert pianist Aquiles Morales playing the organ and taking a break from his Vallarta Symphony Orchestra job as conductor. Boz has been offering these fabulous free concerts since 2013 and is delighted to be back picking up these musical threads and spreading the magic of Bach, et al, once again. There will be a donation basket passed with 100% of the funds given to the Church.
The next day, Saturday the 18th, is the first anniversary of the Vallarta Gay+ Community Center. There is an Open House at the Center from 2 to 5 pm, Morelos 1021, Local 3B. See you there and everywhere, From Here.
Wednesday
Sargento is funny and doesn’t have to tell jokes to make people laugh. He just has to step into a room or step on a stage; he requires attention like the perfect extrovert he is. In return, you will laugh and be joyous because that’s how Sargento flies through life. He is meticulously coquettish, and his unusual voice cracks like adolescents in rollercoaster English, the cadence up and down.
His first voyage into Mentiras the Musical, which opened in 2009 and is still running in Mexico City, was at Casa Karma last summer. The limited space and the fact that Sargento had to play four different women – color-coding the characters was the first sign of sheer genius. Plans evolved to make the show bigger and more accessible to a larger audience.
Opening Night of The Men-Ti-Ras Experience at Nacho Daddy had a percussionist, pianist, and four mannequins on stage, each wearing a different colored jacket.
The story unfolds of how the four women, all deeply involved with the same man (who never appears), are united at his funeral. The lies (mentiras) had grown so burdensome the rogue male character, Emmanuel, fakes his own death and accuses one of the women in a letter left behind of killing him. They ALL had good reason! Convoluted? You betcha. Funny? OMG. For now, Sargento is content performing this remarkable adaptation at Nacho Daddy once a month until May. Check Vallarta Calendar for details.
‘Hello, Gorgeous’ is a musical celebration of Barbra Streisand’s career. With Musical Director the legendary Mark Hartman at the piano, Gouda Gabor, all seven feet of her and Seth Sikes sang solo and in duets some of Streisand’s biggest hits. Amy Armstrong had a cameo appearance and the audience was called upon to help sing along as well. This show reprises at Nacho Daddy on Monday, January 20th, at 7:30.
A message from Sunny Rossi, the vivacious President of the Vallarta Garden Club, “Hey! Did you all get your tickets? This is the VGC’s primary Fundraiser of the year and very important to the continuing projects of our city planter boxes, Isla Cuale and the beautification of other important areas! Plus it’s a fun way to meet like-minded people! Live entertainment from MAU and the Band Monaco will be playing for your entertainment accompanied by a beautiful three-course Dinner! Hope to see you there!” This Gala is the best party in Vallarta and takes place at Oscar’s, 6 pm, January 23. It is elegantly extravagant, From Here!
Thursday
There is something incredible about being out of the city, right by the Rio Cuale with green mountains in the distance shining in the late afternoon sun, and some of the best music of your life being sung mere feet away by a tremendously talented musician. And so it was, last Tribute Tuesday, out in Paso Guayabo, with Jeff Scott as Elton John, proving once again why he is the finest interpreter of Elton John’s music in the world. The ‘boys’ of El Rio BBQ Bar, Kurt and Hollis, set up shop every Tuesday at the new event space, Rancho Santiago, about 1.5 kilometers upriver from their old location. They bring the same fabulous smoked ribs, some of the old wait staff, fine tequila, tribute shows, and that same rarified air that’ll stay with you for an additional day or two. Next Tuesday, ABBA. Wear your dancing-queen shoes, or better yet, get your bare feet into some fine sand, just mind the dancing horse.
Put the words Open Mic and Mark Hartman together in the same sentence and you have a guaranteed sell-out crowd; just ask David Sabella over at Ovations Piano Bar at Act2!
Mark joined forced with Richard Lucas (aka Gouda Gabor) upstairs at Nacho Daddy last Tuesday to deal with a hectic night of entertainers clamoring to get on the stage to promote their shows scattered about town. The irrepressible Zoe Lewis is back in town; one of sweetest, quirkiest, most loveable entertainers ever; find Zoe at the Palm. Delilah Beaucoup, Angeloo, Nick Rogers, Patriz, Gene Berube and a handful of newcomers, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch understudy (Yitzak) Hailie Mackay, sang, promoted their shows, and entertained the rest of us until some of us had to get home to bed! Check VallartaCalendar.com to find out exactly when and where these performers are playing. You can look under ‘Entertainers’ if you have forgotten an artist’s name, find their face, click on it, and there you go – an entire list of opportunities to see your fave!
What a Drag tickets go on sale today (https://vallartacalendar.com/events/what-a-drag-2025/) for the March 9th fundraising extravaganza at Teatro Vallarta, for Vallarta’s Women’s Shelter Casa Esperanza. Straight men dress up in drag and dance, sing, or whatever else they can do in high heels and glitter to entertain a packed house. WAD is – by far – the funniest thing you will see onstage all year, and what a great cause!
Usawa opens tomorrow at 4 pm at Los Mercados; wander by until 7, and see their gorgeous all-natural soaps, bath products, and edible candles (well… you could eat them!). On Saturday, the Gay+Community Center celebrates its first anniversary from 2 until 5 pm at Morelos 101. See you there and everywhere, From Here.
Friday
Colina Spay and Neuter Bingo at Nacho Daddy was good, broke my losing streak, and won the second game – Langostinos; here I come (again!) for vegetarian pasta.
This weekend is full of great things to do and listen to, including:
Tonight, Friday, is the Grand Opening of Tash Smith Santana’s (yes, that Santana!) Usawa, at Los Mercados on Aquiles Serdan between 4 and 7. Then, Ann Kittredge at 7, at Act2PV with Romantic Notions. At 8:30 pm, our Guadalupe Church will ring with a classical music concert that includes Bach’s only Cantata for soprano and trumpet. If you caught this brilliant work five years ago, come back tonight and hear it again. It gives me goosebumps in anticipation!
Tomorrow, Saturday, the First Anniversary of Gay+ Community Center is having an Open House at Morelos 101 from 2 to 5 pm; they have helped so many Vallartenses in a year.
Karen Mason closes her run at Act2; she has caused quite a sensation in Vallarta, and I am anxious to see her and hear her voice.
Sunday is dance class at noon at the International Friendship Club led by Deborah Darr, a certified Non-Impact-Aerobics instructor. It is a 120 peso donation to IFC. At 2 pm, the second and final round of auditions for So, you Think You Can RISE? Talent competition for the local orphanage at Coco Cabaret. There will be eight entrants – all non-singers, with only four advancing to next month’s Grand Finale at Teatro Vallarta. Then, to round out the afternoon, Gloria Fiona gives a free concert on the Isla Cuale from 4 to 5:30 pm as part of the Vallarta Garden Club’s Sunday Music in the Park series. Bring a blanket and/or chairs, a picnic, bottle of wine, or whatever you want, and enjoy Gloria’s magnificent voice. For more information on any of the above events, check VallartaCalendar.com. You know where to find me From Here.
