Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Wil Haygood, author of Colorization: One Hundred Years of Black Films in a White World, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
Colorization looks at the history of Hollywood from the perspective of the African American community, from protests over the showing of the racist silent film, “Birth of a Nation,” to the first great Black director, Oscar Micheaux, through the forties and the rise of black actors such as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge, to so-called Blaxploitation films and up to the present, all the while putting the films in context of the larger society and race in America.
In the interview, he discusses the origins of the book, the careers of some of the Black pioneers in Hollywood film, and the way television and streaming has changed the race equation in our culture.
Wil Haygood is a journalist who spent several years with the Washington Post before writing a series of biographies. He is also known for an essay in the Post which became the source for the successful film, Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
Artwaves
Bill English, Artistic Director of San Francisco Playhouse, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded via zencastr February 9, 2022.
Bill English is the director of SF Playhouse’s latest production, Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery, playing through March 5, 2022, as well as the company’s Artistic Director. In this interview he discusses, in depth, the themes and characters of the play, as well as some of the challenges in bringing this production to fruition. He also talks about upcoming shows in the SF Playhouse season, including Sondheim’s Follies, which closes the season and plays through the summer.
Complete Bay Area Theater podcast.
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Most in-person events require proof of full vaccination for all audience members over 12 and masks. Many venues will require proof of boosters starting February 1, 2022. Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. Other shows have already been cancelled (see below). 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 Bay Area Book Festival, 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. Danielle Evans, Feb. 20, 4 pm, Zoom. 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.
American Conservatory Theatre Fefu and her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes, at the Strand, March 24 – May 1, The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power, at the Geary, April 20 – May 22
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.
Awesome Theatre Company. On-line now: The Jersey Devil Play, on Vimeo.
Berkeley Rep Swept Away, Now playing, extended through March 13, 2022.
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. Hadestown national tour, opens June 7, Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose: Rent 25th Anniversary Tour, April 8-10, 2022. TOOTSIE national tour, April 19-24.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Romeo y Juliet May 25 – June 19, 2022. Direct Address series on Zoom: Friday Feb. 18, 5:30 pm: Sharazad Squad, story tellling as community building; register on-line.
Central Works Escape From the Asylum by Patricia Milton, Mar 19–Apr 17, at the Berkeley City Club.
Cinnabar Theatre. Amy and the Orphans by Lindsey Ferrentino through February 20. Streaming Feb. 18-20.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Anton in Show Business by Jane Martin, March 4-20, 2022.
Curran Theater: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing now.
Custom Made Theatre Zac & Siah, or Jesus in a Body Bag postponed.
42nd Street Moon. A Grand Night for Singing, March 10-27 Gateway Theater
Landmark Musical Theater. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, March 11 – April 10.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Upcoming schedule to be announced.
Magic Theatre. The Kind Ones by Miranda Rose Hall, through February 20. CAMPO SANTO presents Shelter by Bennet Fisher, February 25-26, 8 pm.
Marin Theatre Company Pass Over by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, extended to February 27, 2022.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center Dot by by Colman Domingo, March 4 – April 3. Getting There by Tipika Guha has been cancelled.
Oakland Theater Project. 2022 season starts with Shakespeare’s The Tempest, February 11 – March 6, 2022, at FLAX art & design, 1501 MLK, Oakland.
Pear Theater. In Theater: Sunset Baby by Dominique Morisseau through February 20.
PianoFight. Calendar of shows. Expansion to The Flight Deck in Oakland.
Ray of Light: Upcoming shows to be announced.
San Francisco Playhouse. Heroes of the Fourth Turning January 26 – March 5, in theater only.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: Strange Courtesies by L. Peter Callender, scheduled to open in January, has been rescheduled to spring, 2023. Coming next: August: Osage County, March 30 – April 24, 2022.
Shotgun Players. Babes in Ho-lland has been cancelled. Contact the ticket office for refunds. Passing Strange by Stew, March 5 – April 10.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino How Black Mothers Say i Love You by Trey Anthony, March 16-April 3, 2022, 4229 18th St., SF. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand; Saturday, February 12, 5 pm: Bedroom on Zoom or Facebook Live, live from New York. SHARK!, conceived and performed by John Fisher, live performance only, Sunday Feb. 27, 2 & 4 pm EST, 12 St. Marks Place, NYC.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Sense and Sensibility, a musical, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, March 9 – April 3, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, also available streaming.
Word for Word. See webpage for WORD for WORDcast streaming availability.
Misc. Listings:
BAM/PFA: Current film series. Coming in March: Wayne Wang retrospective, with the director introducing the films, in theater.
Berkeley Symphony: Reimagine, Second Symphonic Concert of the 50th Anniversary Season, Friday, March 25, 7:30, First Congregational Church of Berkeley
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]