Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Walter Mosley in conversation with Richard Woinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded October 25, 1992 in the KPFA studios while on tour for the novel, “White Butterfly.”
Today, Walter Mosley is one of America’s leading authors. He is best known for his series of mystery novels featuring the characters of Easy Rawlins and Mouse, now numbering fifteen, seventeen novels in other series, sixteen other novels, a collection of short stories, six works of non-fiction, plus screenplays and teleplays.
But on October 25th, 1992, he was at the beginning of his career when Probabilities co-hosts Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky spoke with Walter Mosley in the KPFA studios about his latest Easy Rawlings novel, White Butterfly, his third book and the third in the series following Devil in a Blue Dress and A Red Death.
Black Betty would follow White Butterfly in 1994. The most recent Easy Rawlins novel is Blood Grove, published in 2021. Devil in a Blue Dress became a film released in 1995 using the screenplay discussed in the interview, directed by Carl Franklin and starring Denzel Washington. Mouse was played by Don Cheadle in a career breakout role. Thus far, that’s the only Easy Rawlins film. In 2022, Samuel L. Jackson starred in a TV miniseries titled The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray, based on Walter Mosley’s book, and primarily written by Walter Mosley. At present, an adaptation of his novel The Man in My Basement is in pre-production. The next Easy Rawlins novel, Farewell Amethystine will be published in June 2024.
This interview was digitized, remastered and edited on February 10, 2024 by Richard Wolinsky. It has not aired in thirty years. This is the first of five interviews, to date, with Walter Mosley. Complete Interview. front photo Larry D. Moore,CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Jack O’Brien, theatre director and author of Jack in the Box, or How to Goddamn Direct, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.
Jack O’Brien has won three Tony Awards and has been nominated seven times. The former artistic director of The Old Globe in San Diego, from 1981 to 2007, he’s one of the premier directors working in America today. Among his Broadway shows are The Full Monty, Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can and The Coast of Utopia. He directed the much lauded 2018 revival of Carousel on Broadway. Most recently, in 2021, he directed Hairspray in London.
The interview focuses on what a director does, along with his own history becoming a director, and anecdotes about his work. Complete Interview
Review of “My Home on the Moon” at San Francisco Playhouse through February 24, 2024.
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 Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival 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 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
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). See website for past streams.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
American Conservatory Theatre Big Data by Kate Attwell, February 15 – March 10, 2024, Toni Rembe Theater.
Aurora Theatre Manahatta by Mary Kathryn Nagle, February 9 – March 10. Streaming: March 5-10.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for upcoming productions.
Berkeley Rep Cult of Love by Leslye Headland, January 28 – March 3, Roda Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming productions.
Boxcar Theatre. See website for upcoming shows.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for current and upcoming productions.
BroadwaySF: MJ The Musical, January 30 – February 25, Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose: Chicago, February 23-25. Mean Girls, March 19-24.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). See website for events.
Center Rep: Mystic Pizza, a new musical. February 15-25.
Central Works Boss McGreedy written and directed by Gary Graves, March 2-13.
Cinnabar Theatre. Dream House by Eliana Pipes, February 9-25.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Upcoming season to be announced.
Curran Theater: See website for upcoming one-night only live events, including the Unscripted series with various celebrities.
Custom Made Theatre. In hibernation.
Cutting Ball Theatre. Variety Pack 2024. Staged readings, directors shorts, cabaret shows. February 1-18.
42nd Street Moon. Falsettos, February 29 – March 17, 2024.
Golden Thread Upcoming season to be announced.
Hillbarn Theatre: RENT, February 8 – 24.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. (NO MORE) adjustments: A Black Queer Woman Evolves in Real Time, written and performed by Champagne Hughes, May 1-5, 2024. Fort Mason.
Magic Theatre. Dirty White Teslas Make Me Sad by Ashley Smiley, February 28 – March 17.
Marin Theatre Company Bees & Honey by Guadalis Del Carmen, February 15 – March 10. Torch Song by Harvey Fierstein, May 9 – June 2, 2024.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Unpacking in P’Town by Jewelle Gomez, March 1 – 31. See website for theatre classes.
Oakland Theater Project. Cost of Living by Martyna Majek, March 1-24, 2024.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Pear Theater. For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday by Sarah Ruhl. February 9 – March 3, 2024.
Presidio Theatre. See website for schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, June 1 – 23, 2024. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein’s at the Nikko.
San Francisco Playhouse. My Home on the Moon by Minna Lee, January 25 – February 24.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. Sign My Name to Freedom: The Unheard Songs of Betty Reid Soskin, March 29 – April 13.
San Jose Stage Company: People Where They Are by Antony Clarvoe. January 31 – February 25, 2024.
Shotgun Players. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. March 15 – April 14. Website also lists one night only events at the Ashby Stage.
South Bay Musical Theatre: A Little Night Music, January 27 – February 17, 2024.
Stagebridge: Shady Manor, a musical play by Prescott Cole. June 14-16. 2501 Harrison St., Oakland.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Billy, written and directed by John Fisher, February 1-18, 2024. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Queen by Madhuri Shekar, March 8 -31, Lucie Stern Theatre.
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.
Misc. Listings:
BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season.
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.
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]