Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Shelley Singer (1939-2022), mystery author of six Jake Samson mysteries and four Barrett Lake mysteries, and former book reviewer on KPFA, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded on November 19, 1986 at her East Bay home.
Mystery and suspense novelist Shelley Singer died of heart failure on November 10, 2022 at the age of 83. The author of six mysteries, two science fiction novels, one mainstream novel and several short stories, she was a key writer in the Sisters in Crime movement of the nineties. She also taught fiction writing and served as a manuscript consultant.
Richard Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky interviewed Shelley Singer at her home on November 19, 1986. At the time of the interview, she’d published three Jake Samson mysteries with a fourth on the way, along with an early science fiction novel.
A few months after the interview, she joined the two Richards for a monthly series of book review programs. Her participation lasted two or three years before she moved north and after a time chose to forgo the long commute to Berkeley.
Warm and welcoming, but not suffering fools, Shelley was a joy to work with, and her reviews were well-thought out and incisive. But it was her friendship at the time that was most important.
Over the course of the next decades of her life, Shelly continued to write Jake Samson mysteries, moved over to a new amateur detective, Barrett Lake, and began a three-volume science fiction series, of which the first volume, “Torch Song” was published in 2014.
“Torch Song” and the Jake Samson mysteries are available through Amazon. This interview was digitized and edited in December 2022 and has not been heard in over thirty years. Complete interview.
Bookwaves
Philip Pullman, author of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, “The Golden Compass,” “The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass” is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. Recorded November 30, 2000.
Philip Pullman is the acclaimed author of a series of three tantasy novels, titled collectively, “His Dark Materials” (there’s also a novella, a short story and a graphic novel in the series). Originally marketed as young adult novels, these books take on Judeo-Christian notions of morality as well as the way belief systems are manipulated by organized religion — all in the guise of a coming of age fantasy taking place on a world like, and very unlike, our own.
A failed 2007 version of “The Golden Compass” opened in theaters, and was not followed by sequels. Currently HBO is running a series based on the trilogy.
In 2017, Philip Pullman began a prequel series, “The Book of Dust,” with “La Belle Sauvage,” and dealing with the events where Lyra, as a baby, is brought to Oxford. The second volume in that series, “The Secret Commonwealth,” was published in October, 2019.
This interview was conducted during Philip Pullman’s only author tour through the United States. The program has been remastered and reedited in 2019 by Richard Wolinsky.
(featured image, 2008, Anna via Flickr, Creative Commons)
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. All times Pacific Standard Time.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival Highlights from this year’s Festival, May 7-8, 2022 and upcoming calendar.
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
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). See website for past streams.
Alter Theatre. Upcoming: Snag by Tara Moses, Pueblo Revolt by Dillon Chitto
American Conservatory Theatre The Headlandsl February 9 – March 5 by Christopher Chen, Toni Rembe Theater.
Aurora Theatre Paradise Blue by Dominique Morisseau, Opens January 27, 2023, streaming February 21-26.
Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming.
Berkeley Rep Wuthering Heights, adapted and directed by Emma Rice, November 18 – January 1, Roda Theatre.
Boxcar Theatre. See website for events.
Brava Theatre Center: See website for events.
BroadwaySF: Frozen, through December 30, 2022, Orpheum Theater; Beetlejuice through December 31, 2022. Bill Maher, live on stage, March 12, 2023.
Broadway San Jose: Annie, January 10-15, 2023.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). 2023 Season to be announced.
Center Rep: Red Bike, by Carldad Svich, directed by Jeffrey Lo. February 4 – 25, 2023.
Central Works Mondragola by Gary Graves, March 18 – April 16, 2023.
Cinnabar Theatre. Daddy Long Legs, January 6 – 22, 2023.
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, February 3 – 36, 2023.
42nd Street Moon. Anything Goes, February 23 – March 12, Gateway Theatre.
Golden Thread See website for upcoming productions.
Landmark Musical Theater. See website for upcoming shows.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Next show to be announced.
Magic Theatre. The Travelers by Luis Alfaro, February 15 – March 5, 2023. See website for other theatre events at the Magic.
Marin Theatre Company Justice: A New Musical by Lauren Gunderson, February 16 – March 12, 2023.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Oy Vey in a Manger, by the Kinsey Sicks, December 7 – 31, 2022. Getting There, Jan. 20 – Feb. 26. Tick, Tick … Boom March 3 – April 1, 2023.
Oakland Theater Project. Book of Sand: A Fairy Tale by Lisa Ramirez, On Demand through January 3, 2026. Exodus to Eden by Michael Socrates Moran, in theater, February 3-26, 2023.
Pear Theater. In Repertory, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, a new physical adaptation, Dontrell Who Kissed The Sea by Nathan Alan Davis, February 3-26. 2023.
PianoFight. Calendar of shows.
PlayGround. See website for upcoming shows.
Presidio Theatre. Sleeping Beauty: Panto at the Presidio, December 1 – 30, 2022.
Ray of Light: See website for upcoming productions.
San Francisco Playhouse. As You Like It, a musical adaptation of the play by William Shakespeare, November 17, 2022 – January 14, 2023.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: Strange Courtesies by L. Peter Callender February 1 – 26, 2023.
Shotgun Players. Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy. November 5 – February 4, 2023.
South Bay Musical Theatre: The Spitfire Grill, January 28-February 18, 2023.
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. Little Shop of Horrors, November 30 – December 31, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto.
Word for Word. See schedule for live and streaming works.
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]