Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Lauren Gunderson: Playwright, the “Christmas at Pemberley” series, The Book of Will
Lauren Gunderson, recognized as the most produced contemporary playwright in America four of the last five years, including 2025, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
Lauren Gunderson is a prolific playwright whose plays are produced all over North America and in Britain and Europe. She is best known for such plays as “The Book of Will” and the “Christmas at Pemberley” series of three plays (co-written by Margot Malcon). She also worked on the script for the Pixar film “Lightyear,” and her book for the musical version of “The Time Traveler’s Wife” recently played in London.
As of the first week in December, two plays are currently being produced in the San Francisco Bay Area. Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley, runs December 5-28 at TheatreWorks Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto, and Ada and the Engine plays at the Pear Theatre in Mountain View through December 7th. A third play, Louisa Alcott’s Little Women played earlier in 2025 at TheatreWorks in Mountain View, and plays at Portland Center Stage through December 21st.
In this interview, she discusses those plays and others, with emphasis on Muse of Fire, in which she performs, directed by Evren Odcikin, which wil be produced by the Magic Theatre from September 22nd through October 11th.
Among upcoming plays in 2026 are Silent Sky in Bethesda Maryland in February. The Book of Will in Wisconsin in January and Raleigh, North Carolina in April, The Revolutionists in Rhode Island in May and Raleigh in August, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women at the Guthrie in Minnesota next April through June. The Half Life of Marie Curie will be in Eureka California iwill be performed in February, 2026 in Eureka, California.
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Alan Furst: Master Spy Novelist
Alan Furst, historical spy novelist, discussing his early career and resistance during World War II in a unaired excerpts from an interview recorded September 26, 2002 in the KPFA studios while he was on tour for Blood of Victory. His latest novel, Under Occupation, was published in 2019.
Alan Furst’s career took off with his novel Kingdom of Shadows in 2000, the sixth book in his series of stand-alone novels about heros and villains in Europe in the years leading up to, and including World War II. Suffused with atmosphere, his books feel as if you’re living with the characters in those haunted times. Of course, there is added resonance as we live through what might be similar times today.
These excerpts are from the second of five Bookwaves interviews with Alan Furst. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025.
Book Passage. Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
Books Inc. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
The Booksmith. Monthly Event Calendar.
BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months.
Green Apple Books. Events calendar.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). See website for upcoming productions.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre Judy Garland, We Need A Little Christmas with Debbie Wileman, Strand, Dec. 6-7. Rudolph & Scrooge, A YC Double Feature, December 18-20, Strand. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Jan. 21 – Feb. 1, 2026, Toni Rembe (Geary). Paranormal Activity, Feb. 19 – March 15, Toni Rembe.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
Berkeley Playhouse. Annie. November 7- December 21. Once, February 20 – March 22.
Berkeley Rep. The Hills of California .by Jez Butterworth, Oct. 31 – Dec. 7, Roda Theatre. Mother of Exiles by Jessica Huang, World Premiere, Nov. 14 – Dec. 21, Peets Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming productions.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings.
BroadwaySF: The Golden Girls Live, December 4-21, Curran. Moulin Rouge! The Musical, December 16-28, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters.
Broadway San Jose: A Beautiful Noise, December 30 – January 4. See website for other events.
Center REP: A Christmas Carol, Dec. 10 – 21..
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works See website for information on the 2026 season.
Cinnabar Theatre. Holiday Songbook, Dec. 19-21. My Fair Lady, January 23 – February 8, 2026.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Ebenezer Scrooge, an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Joel Roster, December 6 – 21. . See website for other events.
Golden Thread See website for upcoming productions.
Hillbarn Theatre: Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, December 4 – 28.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Soulful Christmas, December 19-21, Magic Theatre.
Los Altos Stage Company. A Christmas Carol, November 28 – December 21..
Lower Bottom Playaz See website for upcoming productions.
Magic Theatre. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre presents Soulful Christmas, December 19-21.
Marin Shakespeare Company: See website for events and productions.
Marin Theatre: The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell, Aaron Posner and Erin Weaver, Dec. 13 – 23. .The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov Jan . 29 – Feb. 22, 2026.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Ruthless, Dec. 5 – January 11, 2026.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. Cabaret, November 21 – December 14.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. Ada & The Engine by Lauren Gunderson, November 21 – December 7. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. See website for upcoming productions.
Presidio Theatre. Peter Pan Panto, Nov. 29 – Dec. 28. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: Mean Girls. May 2026.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. Into the Woods. November 30 – January 17, 2026.
SFBATCO. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season
Shotgun Players. Sunday in the Park with George, November 15 – December 30.
South Bay Musical Theatre: Let It Snow: A Broadway Holiday Celebration, December 20-21, Little Women, The Broadway Musical, January 24 – February 14, 2026.
SPARC: See website for upcoming events.
Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Lunatico See website for upcoming productions..
Theatre Rhino Pirates! by John Fisher, December 4 – 13. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Georgiana & Kitty, Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Dec. 3 – 28, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto.
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.
Misc. Listings:
BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Fort Mason Center. Events calendar.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances.
San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings.
San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings.
Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]
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