Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Robert Macfarlane, whose latest book is “Ghostways: Two Journeys in Unquiet Places,” written in collaboration with artist Stanley Donwood and writer Dan Richards, is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky.
This short book examines two strange areas in England, Orford Ness, a spit of sand in the southeast of England, not far from Cambridge, which was used as a weapons testing site in the Cold War, and the holloways of Dorset, strange paths beaten over centuries, and often covered over by trees, almost as caves.
In this interview, recorded December 8, 2020, he talks about the book, both places in England, and about the pandemic and climate change.
The author of several books, including “Underland,” “Mountains of the Mind” and “The Old Ways,” Robert Macfarlane teaches at Cambridge University.
An extended 40-minute version of this interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast.
Bookwaves
Miranda July, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, while on tour for The First Bad Man, recorded in November 2015.
Miranda July is a multi-talented artist, working in film, fiction, monologue, digital media presentations, and live performance art. In 2022, her films You, Me and Everyone We Know is available by subscription on AMC+ and can be rented from Apple TV, and The Future can be rented from Apple TV.
The First Bad Man remains her most recent book to date. In 2020, a film Kajillionaire, starring Debra Winger, Richard Jenkins, Gina Rodriguez and Evan Rachel Wood was written and directed by Miranda July and is currently streaming on HBO Max and can be rented via Apple TV.
From Miranda July’s webpage: Miranda’s collection of stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You, won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and has been published in twenty-three countries. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Harper’s, and The New Yorker; It Chooses You was her first book of non-fiction. She wrote, directed and starred in The Future and Me and You and Everyone We Know — winner of the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and a Special Jury Prize at Sundance. July’s participatory art works include the website Learning to Love You More (with artist Harrell Fletcher), Eleven Heavy Things (a sculpture garden created for the 2009 Venice Biennale), New Society (a performance), and Somebody (a messaging app.) Raised in Berkeley, California, July lives in Los Angeles.
Review: “Water by the Spoonful” at San Francisco Playhouse through April 23, 2022.
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Most in-person events still require proof of full vaccination for all audience members over 12 and masks. Many venues will require proof of boosters. Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination status requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. All times Pacific Standard Time.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival This year’s Festival dates: May 7-8, 2022,
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.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Alter Theatre. Upcoming: Snag by Tara Moses, filmed. Live Outdoors: Pure Native by Vickie Ramirez, summer 2022.
American Conservatory Theatre Fefu and her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes, at the Strand, now through May 1, The Lehman Trilogy postponed.
Aurora Theatre The Incrementalist by Cleavon Smith, opens April 15. Aurora Connects, conversations via YouTube, Fridays at 8 pm. A Year With Dawn: Monthly Reading Group via Zoom, free, see website to register. Wives by Jaclyn Backhaus, starts June 24, 2022.
Awesome Theatre Company. Coffee Lady by Bridgette Dutta Portman, Thursdays March 31-May 5, 9 pm, PianoFight. Now streaming: The Jersey Devil Play, on Vimeo, tickets required.
Berkeley Rep Octet, a chamber choir musical by Dave Malloy, April 20-May 29, Peet’s Theater.
Brava Theatre Center: La Dona y Sus Cuates, April 8, 8 pm. See website for other events.
BroadwaySF: Il Volo Sings Morricone and more, April 24, Orpheum. Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, April 30, Golden Gate. Cats. national tour, June 1 – 12, Golden Gate. Hadestown national tour, opens June 7, Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose: Rent 25th Anniversary Tour, April 8-10, 2022. TOOTSIE national tour, April 19-24. Season starts with Disney’s The Lion King, August 3-21.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Romeo y Juliet May 25 – June 19, 2022.
Central Works Escape From the Asylum by Patricia Milton, Mar 19–Apr 24, at the Berkeley City Club.
Cinnabar Theatre. Three Tall Women by Edward Albee. Begins April 8, 2022.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Crowns by Regina Taylor, April 15 – May 15, 2022.
Curran Theater: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing now.
Custom Made Theatre Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker, March 25- April 16.
42nd Street Moon. Fun Home, April 21 – May 8, 2022.
Golden Thread Drowning In Cairo by Ada, Ashraf Elsayigh, April 8 – May 1, 2022. Potrero Stage.
Landmark Musical Theater. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, March 11 – April 10.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage, April 1-16, Magic Theater, Fort Mason.
Magic Theatre. Monument, or Four Sisters (The Moth Play) by Sam Chanse, May 11 – May 29, 2022.
Marin Theatre Company Hotter Than Egypt by Yussef El Guindi, March 31 – April 24.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center PrEP Play, or Blue Parachute by Yilong Yiu, April 1 – May 8.
Oakland Theater Project. Endlings by Celine Song, in association with Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company, April 8 – May 1, at FLAX art & design, 1501 MLK, Oakland.
Pear Theater. In Theater: Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman.
PianoFight. Calendar of shows.
Ray of Light: Kinky Boots, September 8 – October 1, 2022.
San Francisco Playhouse. Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegria Hudes,
March 16 -April 23.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: August: Osage County, March 30 – April 24, 2022.
Shotgun Players. Passing Strange by Stew, March 5 – April 23.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Sense and Sensibility, a musical, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, streaming March 25 – April 17. Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson, Mountain View Center for the Arts, April 6 – May 1.
Word for Word. See webpage for WORD for WORDcast streaming availability.
Misc. Listings:
BAM/PFA: Current film series. Wayne Wang retrospective, with the director introducing the films, in theater, see schedule for details.
Berkeley Symphony: Chamber 4: 4 pm, April 10, Piedmont Center for the Arts.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, Feb. 13 – May 8, 2022.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings, January 16 – June 10, 2022.
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]