May 26- June 6

Corpus Christi Festival in La Villa, province of Los Santos. Folklore performances, special activities for tourists. Call IPAT, 226-7000

Horse races

At Presidente Remón race track in Juan Díaz. Call: 217-6060

June 26

The "One Thousand Pollera Parade", a tribute to Panama's national attire for women, on Calle 50 at 3:00 p.m. Call IPAT, 226-7000.

May 23

"Panamá Moda 2005", at Convento las Monjas (Old Panama ruins) at 8:00 p.m., featuring Panamanian and international designers. Tickets: $35.00, for sale at Joyería Barakat.

May 27- June 5

Stage performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar”, at Panama City’s National Theater. Tickets: 30.00, $25.00, $20.00 and $5.00. For more information, call: 279-1010

Oldies

"Coffee and Tea Evenings to Rememberr" and oldies hits at Gran Hotel Soloy, on Avenida Peru, from 3:00 p.m. To 6:00 p.m. Admittance: $5.90 per person. For reservations, call: 301-1133.

Juan Carlos Adames will play the role of Jesus.

One of the biggest theatrical events of the year will be the stage presentation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, which will run at Panama City’s National Theater May 27-June 5.

Directed by renowned Panamanian theater producer Bruce Quinn and co-produced by Diana Abouganem and Nikki de Roy, the cast includes Juan Carlos Adames (in the role of Jesus), Luis Arteaga (Judas), Janelle Davidson (Mary Magdalene), Edwin Cedeño (Herod), and Tete Olivella (Peter). Dino Nugent is the Musical Director.

Co-written by Tim Rice as a rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar was introduced in1970. It highlights the political and interpersonal struggles of Judas Iscariot and Jesus, and is told largely from Judas' irreverent point of view. The action takes place within the last week of Jesus's life, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Cruxifiction. Twentieth-century attitude and sensibilities pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout.

The opera was first heard as an album before being staged—in London's West End and later on Broadway.

The show opened on Broadway in 1971 to mixed reviews. Many religious groups protested outside the theatre, claiming that the show sacrilegiously portrayed Jesus Christ as a mere man.

Tickets cost $30.00, $25.00, $20.00 and $5.00, for sale at TicketCenter. For more information, call 279-1010 or visit www.ticketcenterpa.com

Visitors are invited to the show entitled "Expresiones Folkloricas de Nuestra Tierra" (Folklore Expressions of our Land", a Panamanian folklore dance spectacle which takes place every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. The performance accompanies a Panamania buffet dinner.

Restaurante Pencas is located on the Amador Causeway. For more information, call: 211-3671 or visit the page www.pencas.com

La Traviata's cast includes a number of renowned Latin American performers.

La Traviata, a three-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi, will be staged June 1-2 at Atlapa Convention Center at 8:00 p.m.

Two renowned, Latin American ensembles will perform La Traviata: Orquesta Lírica Latinoamericana and the Mozart Chorale. Directed by Constantino Juri and Mario Perusso, the event will feature some of the best voices of Central America, such as Guatemalan singers Luis Girón and Carlos Vittori.

Set in the mid-19th century, La Traviata is the story of Violeta, a distinguished Parisian courtesan who falls in love with Alfred Germont. The couple decides to live together in the outskirts of Paris against the will of Alfred’s father, who tries to convince Violeta to break up the relationship. Deciding to sacrifice her love for her beau, the courtesan agrees to leave Alfred, leaving behind a harsh and cold letter. Hurt, Alfred decides to search for Violeta and insults her in public, but when his father reveals the truth to him, he discovers that his beloved Violeta is gravely ill.

Tickets to La Traviata cost $100, $65, $40 and $20 and are for sale at TicketCenter. For more information, call 279-1010.

Renowned Panamanian Jazz star Danilo Pérez will return to his homeland this month to offer his first, "national tour". Proceeds from each concert (Tickets cost $2.00) will benefit a number of local charities for children and youths. The list of performances read as follows: Saturday, May 21: grounds of the Fair of Boquete, province of Chiriquí.
Wednesday, May 25: at the Escuela Normal teachers college, Santiago, province of Veraguas.
Thursday, May 26: at Stragos Convention Center, Chitré, province of Herrera.
Friday, May 27: at the auditorium of Universidad del Trabajo, Penonomé, province of Coclé.
Saturday, May 28: at the Catholic Church of El Valle de Antón, province of Coclé.

Tickets for sale at all Accel gas stations. They may be also purchased at Penonomé’s mayor’s office and at El Valle’s shopping center.

The Chorus of the University of Notre Dame, best known as the "Glee Club", will arrive in Panama to offer a single concert at Atlapa Convention Center on Thursday, June 2 at 8:00 p.m.

Founded in 1915, the chorus is characterized by a rich, 90-year history and the strong bonds of friendships shared by its members. The group has traveled from coast to coast in the United States and around the world, offering versatile concerts with a repertoire offering every thing from Negro Spirituals and Latin American folk tunes to classical masterpieces.

The Chorus is considered one of the top all-male singing groups in the United States. Its upcoming performance on the Isthmus is the fourth seasonal offering of the National Concert Association this year. Tickets, which cost $50, $20 and $5, can be purchased at the Association's offices, tel.: 214-7236.

Visitors are welcome to the fourth annual Film Appreciation Course, which takes place every Saturday at Cines Alhambra, on Vía España until July 30. Cost is $2.00 per session (students $1.00). Send an e-mail to: info@enredartepanama.org

Rubén Blades, Panama's Tourism Minister (third from left to right, seated) recently announced that this year's "One Thousand Pollera Parade" will be held on Sunday, June 26, on Calle 50. The event honors Panama's beautiful, national female attire.

Panama takes on the United States next month --this time on the football pitch. Soccer enthusiasts will flock to the Rommel Fernandez Stadium, located in Juan Díaz on Wednesday June 8 for this epic battle of the two national teams. The game is extremely important, as it is part of the CONCACAF finals, from which the teams representing the Americas will be selected for the 2006 Germany World Cup. The Panamanian team, which has improved substantially in recent years thanks to its Marea Roja ("The Red Tide" --the team's fans) is also competing against México, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago. Panama has never made it to a World Cup. Perhaps we’ll make it this time.