Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Don Winslow, author of “City of Dreams,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded via zencastr on April 12, 2023
Don Winslow is the author of 22 novels, many of which focus on crime and the criminal underworld, including The Cartel, The Force, Savages (which became an Oliver Stone film), and The Border. His latest novel, “City of Dreams”, continues the saga of “City on Fire,” which told of a mob war using as a template the story of the Trojan War, The Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid and other works. In this latest novel, we follow the character of Danny Ryan, (Aeneas) as he finds himself in Hollywood, and falling in love with one of filmdom’s biggest stars, which tells the story of Aeneas and Dido, with forays into the Odyssey and the greek tragedies of Aeschylus and Europides. The third volume, which shifts the locale to Las Vegas, is scheduled to be published in April, 2024. Don Winslow has stated that these will be his final novels.
Don Winslow also produces political videos aimed at saving the American democracy from insurrectionists and fascists, and is a vital force on Twitter.
Complete Interview. Photos: Richard Wolinsky.
Artwaves
Norah Piehl, who is the Director of Literary Programs at the Bay Area Book Festival, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
The Bay Area Book Festival is in its 9th season and runs Saturday and Sunday May 6th and 7th in various venues around Berkeley, including the Berkeley Public Library and Freight & Salvage. Among the guests are singer and activist Joan Baez, novelist and cyber-expert Cory Doctorow, playwright V (Eve Ensler), historian Adam Hochschild, and novelists Dave Eggars and Jane Smiley.
Norah Piehl has been the Director of LIterary Programs since November, 2021 and before that served as the Executive Director of the Boston Book Festival. She is a freelance writer, and the author of a series of books titled “Social Issues Firsthand.
Website for the Bay Area Book Festival.
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 vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Standard Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival Lists of guests at the upcoming Book Festival, May 6-7, 2023, event calendar and links to previous events.
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 Calendar. On-line events only.
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
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). See website for past streams.
Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
American Conservatory Theatre Poor Yella Rednecks: Vietgone 2 by Qui Nguyen, March 30 – May 7, Strand.
Aurora Theatre Cyrano by Edmond Rostand, adapted by Josh Costello, April 7 – May 7.
Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming.
Berkeley Rep English by Sanazz Toosi, March 31 – May 7, Peets Theatre.
Boxcar Theatre. See website for calendar listings.
Brava Theatre Center: See website for events.
BroadwaySF: Pretty Woman: The Musical, April 26-30, Orpheum
Broadway San Jose: Riverdance, 25th Anniversary Show, May 12-14. 1776, May 6-21.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). No 2023 season scheduled. See website for events calendar.
Center Rep: In The Heights, May 27 – June 24.
Central Works The Dignity Circle a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich June 24 – July 23.
Cinnabar Theatre. Tosca, June 9 – 25.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre To Master the Art by William Brown and Doug Frew, April 21 – May 21, 2023.
Curran Theater: Into The Woods, direct from Broadway, June 20-25, 2023.
Custom Made Theatre. Tiny Fires by Aimee Suzara, postponed to a later date in 2023.
Cutting Ball Theatre. Exhaustion Arroyo: Dancin’ Trees in the Ravine by W. Fran Astorga. April 13 – May 21.
42nd Street Moon. The Scottsboro Boys, May 4 – May 21, Gateway Theatre.
Golden Thread See website for ongoing special events.
Landmark Musical Theater. Hair, May 6 – June 4, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In The Evening By The Moonlight by Traci Tolmaire, co-created and directed by Margo Hall, June 15 – July 2, Young Performers Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco.
Magic Theatre. The Ni¿¿er Lovers by Mark Anthony Thompson, May 3 -21. See website for other events at the Magic.
Marin Theatre Company Where Did We Sit On The Bus? by Brian Quijada, May 4 – 28,
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Locusts Have No King by C. Julian Jimenez, April 7 – May 14. The Confession of Lily Dare by Charles Busch, May 12 – June 11.
Oakland Theater Project. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, May 26 – June 18.
Pear Theater. Pear Slices 2023, Original short plays. April 20 – May 14.
PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023.
Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions
Ray of Light: Spring Awakening In Concert, June 8-10, Victoria Theatre. Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical, September 8 – October 1, Victoria Theatre. The Rocky Horror Show, Oasis Nightclub, October 6 – 31. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein’s at the Nikko.
San Francisco Playhouse. Clue, based on the screenplay, March 9 – April 27, 2023.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: Grand Horizons by Bess Wohl, April 5 – 30. 2023.
Shotgun Players. Triumph of Love by Pierre de Marivaux, must close April 30. Streaming on demand April 26 – May 7.
South Bay Musical Theatre: Singin’ In the Rain, May 13 – June 3.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Pericles by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by John Fisher, May 26 – 27. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. A Distinct Society by Kareem Fahmy, April 5 – 30, 2023, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
Word for Word. Home by George Saunders, April 5-29, Z Below. See schedule for one-night readings and streaming performances.
Misc. Listings:
BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season, starting February.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings.
San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings.
Playbill List of Streaming Theatre: Updated weekly, this is probably the best list you’ll find of national and international streaming plays and musicals. Each week has its own webpage, so scroll down.
National Theatrical Streaming: Upcoming plays from around the country.
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]