Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to on-line and streaming local theater & book events
Bookwaves
Film critic and historian David Thomson discusses his latest book, “A Light in the Dark: A History of Movie Directors” with host Richard Wolinsky.
David Thomson is the author of The Biographical Dictionary of Film, How to Watch a Movie, The Big Screen: The Story of the Movies, Have You Seen… and several other books examining film and the people who make movies.
This book discusses directors and their role in the making of films. In the interview, he talks about reassessment of films and directors, directors Fritz Lang, D.W. Griffith and Alfred Hitchcock, and changes in how we watch films in the past several years, focusing on how our lives have changed during the pandemic.
The complete 50-minute interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast.
Artwaves
Johanna Pfaelzer is tha Artistic Director of Berkeley Rep, one of America’ premier regional theatres. She is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky
In this interview, she discusses in depth a new streaming production, “The Waves in Quarantine: An Experiment in Six Movements,” which consists of six short films based on Virginia Woolf’s “The Waves,” written by Lisa Peterson, conceived by Lisa Peterson and Raul Esparza, and directed by Lisa Peterson, which runs on the Berkeley Rep website through May 28, 2021, free with RSVP required.
Johanna Pfaelzer also discusses Berkeley Rep’s life during the pandemic, through the events of Black Lives Matter, and how the company is hoping to open up in the coming months.
(photo by Benjamin Michel/Berkeley Rep).
The complete 48-minute version of this interview can be found as a Bay Area Theater podcast.
Streaming Book Interview and Theatre Links
Bay Area Book Festival May 1-9: Virtual Festival; Kazuo Ishiguro, Sunday May 2, 2 pm. See website for other guests.
Books Inc Erin Bowman, with Jodi Meadows, April 28, 6 pm; Rachel Michelberg with Laura Davis, April 29, 5 pm.
Book Passage. Sen Mazie Horono with George Takei, May 1, 4 pm. Alec MacGillis, May 2, 4 pm. Olivia Laing, May 4, 12 noon. Lee Child & Laurie King, May 4, 6 pm. Sharon Stone, May 5, 6 pm. Julianna Margulies, May 7, 1 pm. Brad Stone, May 10 1 pm. Jhumpa Lahiri, May 12, 6 pm.
The Booksmith Wall + Response, April 30, 7 pm. The Bindery has moved to 1727 Haight Street in San Francisco.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. Imani Cezanne, April 29, 7 pm. zoom.
Kepler’s Books Stacey Lee with Stephanie Garber, May 4, 6pm.
Alter Theatre. Brer Peach, an audio play by Andrew Saito, Preview available now.
American Conservatory Theatre Act Out Loud, Virtual Play Reading Series: The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, April 26 – May 2. 2022 season starts January 21, 2022. Annual Gala: Communion by by Christopher Chen, featuring Stacey Ross, directed by Pam McKinnon, Saturday May 22, 2021, live on zoom; limited engagement, May 28 – June 27, 2021.
Aurora Theatre Streaming now: The Flats, written by Lauren Gunderson, Cleaven Smith and Jonathan Spector, with Lauren English, Anthony Fusco and Khary L. Moye, directed by Josh Costello, Aurora Connects conversations every other Thursday at 5 pm. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, adapted for audio, streams through May 21.
Berkeley Rep The Waves in Quarantine by Lisa Peterson, through May 28, 2021; 10-episode audio series: Place/Settings: Berkeley, all episodes available now. What’s in a Play, Mondays 6:30 & 8 pm. Zoom, Registration required.
Brava Theatre Center: Manifesto, a film by Rotimi Agbabiaka, streams April 29-May 3, 2021.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Upcoming events to be scheduled.
Central Works Audio plays: Bystanders by Patricia Milton, streaming now. The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau, streaming now. .
Cinnabar Theatre. Becoming Dr. Ruth, streaming May 14-23.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Upcoming events to be announced.
Curran Theater: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child set to resume November 28, 2021. Taylor Mac videos available on line.
Custom Made Theatre Undiscovered Works: Tiny Fires by Aimee Suzada, May 7, 7 pm.
42nd Street Moon. Jason Graae, Perfect Hermany, musical tribute to Jerry Herman, April 10 – May 2. Doris Bumpus, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, May 8-30. Don’t Touch That Dial, June 5-27. Third Tuesday, Talks Over the Moon, 8 pm: Every other Friday at 8 pm: Full Moon Fridays Cabaret. Sundays at 8 pm: Quiz Me Kate: Musical Theatre Trivia.
Magic Theatre. See website for plays in the upcoming season, dates to be announced.
Marin Theatre Company The Catastrophist by Lauren Gunderson, streaming through July 24, 2021. Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson, streaming through Soundcloud.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts See website for upcoming events.
New Conservatory Theatre Center TransNational Cabaret, starts May 10.
Pear Theater. Pear Slices streams April 30 – May 23.
Ray of Light: Carrie: The Musical, dates to be announced.
San Francisco Playhouse. Shoot Me When … by Ruben Grijalva, starts streaming May 1, 2021.
SFBATCO Twitch TV May 6, 6 pm.
Shotgun Players. Feel the Spirit by Noelle Vinas, a Zoom commission, on demand, extended to May 2, 2021.
Stagebridge. Finding Ourselves in America: Asian American Voices. May 20, 3 pm.
The Breath Project. Complete collection streaming on demand.
The Marsh: See calendar for listings.
Theatre Rhino Thursday performance conceived and performed by John Fisher on Facebook Live and Zoom at 8:30 pm: April 29: Battle of Ruhr Pocket. All previous weekly performances available on demand on the website. Gay As They Say by Mark Nadler, May 21-23, see website for times of the live performance.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Hershey Felder live from Florence: Anna and Sergei (Sergei Rachmaninoff), May 16, 2021. Streaming to follow. New Works Festival online: April 23-May 15, 2021.
National, Misc:
Chamber Music San Francisco: All five concerts available on demand through June 1, 2021.
Dance Mission Theatre. See website for listings
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: From past seasons, currently streaming: Manahatta; Snow in Midsummer. This Is Who I Am. Talking Back, a six part web series. On-demand audio recordings of early plays; videos of Indigenous Peoples Day 2020, etc.
Atlantic Theatre Company. See website for streaming programs.
Irish Repertory Theatre. Poetic Reflections: Words Upon the Window Pane, streaming through May 2.
Public Theatre, New York. Streaming now: Shadow/Land, audio play. Video: Under the Greenwood Tree.
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.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]