Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Jane Smiley, whose latest novel is “A Dangerous Business,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
The author of seventeen adult fiction novels, two short story collections, five non-fiction works plus several young adult novels, Jane Smiley is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of “A Thousand Acres,” and more recently The Last Hundred Years Trilogy. She current teaches creative writing.
“A Dangerous Business” takes us to Monterey, California in the early 1850s as Eliza Ripple, newly widowed and still only eighteen, winds up at a house of prostitution in order to survive and have a life of her own. The book follows her as she meets a friend who works out of a similar house for women, and the two embark on the trail of a murderer of women. Recorded January 20, 2023.
Bookwaves
Fay Weldon (1931-2023) who died on January 4th, 2023 at the age of 91, published 31 novels during her lifetime, including The Life and Loves of a She Devil, one of four novels which later became films. She was also a playwright, short story writer, television writer and non-fiction author. Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky interviewed her in the KPFA studios in March 1990 while she was on tour for her now classic novel, The Cloning of Joanna May.
Fay Weldon’s career continued for the next thirty years after the interview with several novels, including a sequel to She-Devil, more plays, more short stories and several works of non-fiction. We had a second chance to interview Fay Weldon two years later while she was on tour for her novel, Life Force. That interview will air later this year.
This interview was digitized, remastered, and edited in February, 2023 by Richard Wolinsky. First time on the air in over thirty years. Complete 39-minute Interview.
Review of “Clyde’s” at Berkeley Rep Peets Theater through February 26, 2023.
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 last 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. Hanif Abudurraqib, February 23, 7 pm.
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. Pueblo Revolt by Dillon Chitto, February 2-12, ARC (Arts Research Center, UC Berkeley); February 15-26, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael.
American Conservatory Theatre The Headlandsl by Christopher Chen, Toni Rembe Theater.February 9 – March 5.
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 Clydes, by Lynn Nottage, January 20 – February 28, Peets Theatre.
Boxcar Theatre. Lady Gaga #ARTBIRTH with Gaga impersonator Athena Reich, Palace Theatre (home of Speakeasy), March 16-19, multiple shows daily.
Brava Theatre Center: See website for events.
BroadwaySF: Dear Evan Hanson, January 24 – February 19, Orpheum; Mean Girls, January 31 – February 26, Golden Gate. Bill Maher, live on stage, March 12, 2023.
Broadway San Jose: My Fair Lady, February 21 -26, 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. The Broadway Bash fund-raiser, February 25, Doubletree Rohnert Park.
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, postponed to a later date.
42nd Street Moon. Anything Goes, February 23 – March 12, Gateway Theatre.
Golden Thread What Do Women Say? Fighters for Freedom, International Womens Day, March 8, 2023, 7 pm Brava Theatre Center.
Landmark Musical Theater. Uncle Vanya, Feb. 16-18; Feb 23-25, 7 pm. Rocky Horror Picture Show with San Francisco’s Bawdy Caste, February 11, 10:30 pm (movie at midnight). Annie Warbucks, sequel to Annie, March 11 – April 9, 2023, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Next show to be announced.
Magic Theatre. The Travelers by Luis Alfaro, February 15 – March 5, 2023. See website for other 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) Getting There, Jan. 20 – Feb. 26. Tick, Tick … Boom postponed.
Oakland Theater Project. 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. Note: PianoFight in San Francisco and Oakland permanently close on March 18, 2023.
PlayGround. See website for upcoming shows.
Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions
Ray of Light: Spring Awakening In Concert, June 8-10, Victoria Theatre. Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical, September 8 – October 1, Victoria Theatre. The Rocky Horror Show, Oasis Nightclub, October 6 – 31. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein’s at the Nikko.
San Francisco Playhouse. Cashed Out by Claude Jackson, Jr., January 28 to February 25, 2023.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: Satchmo at the Waldorf by Terry Teachout, February 1 – 26, 2023.
Shotgun Players. Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy. Extended to February 25, 2023. Siren by Lisa Villamil, staged reading, on demand through February 15, 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 A Guide for the Homesick by Ken Urban, February 23 – March 19. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. See website for free staged readings.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. In Every Generation, by Ali Viterbi, January 18 – February 12, Mountain View Center for the Arts.
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]