Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Helen Benedict, co-author (with Eyad Awwadawnon) of “Map of Hope and Sorrow: Stories of Refugees Trapped in Greece,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
Helen Benedict is the author of seven novels, including “Wolf Season” and “Sand Queen,” and five books of non-fiction. Her latest book, “Map of Hope and Sorrow,” co-written by Eyad Awwadawnon, a Syrian refugee who was planning to get a law degree in Damascus, is partly an oral history of refugees coming to Greece after escaping from their home countries. Helen Benedict teaches journalism at Columbia University,.
In the interview, she discusses how she first came to meet Eyad, and then takes a look at the stories of the refugees in the book, focusing on stories that didn’t quite make it into the book, and then looks at the harsh terrain of life in the camps.
Complete Interview.
Bay Area Theatre 2023: Best of the Year
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 Just For Us, written and performed by Alex Edelman, January 9 – 24, Peets 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: See website for assorted upcoming events in 2024. Disney’s The Lion King, November 22 – December 30, Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose: Chicago, February 23-25. Mean Girls, March 19-24.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). See website for events.
Center Rep: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, directed by Jeffrey Lo. January 6-28.
Central Works Boss McGreedy written and directed by Gary Graves, March 2-13.
Cinnabar Theatre. The Last Five Years, January 5-21, 2024,
Club Fugazi. Josh Kornbluth’s Citizen Brain, Jan 10-14. Dear San Francisco returns February 9.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Upcoming season to be announced.
Curran Theater: See website for upcoming live events. Single night events in 2024 include Fran Lebowitz, Laurie Anderson, William H. Macy, John Cusack, Joe Jackson.
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.
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. Miriam and Esther go to the Diamond District by Andrea Gordon, Rainbow Zebra Productions, January 18-28, 2024.
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.
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. Guys and Dolls, November 16 – January 13.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: People Where They Are by Antony Clarvoe. January 31 – February 25, 2024..
Shotgun Players. Babes in Ho-lland by Deneen Reynolds Knott. January 15 – February 4.
South Bay Musical Theatre: A Little Night Music, January 27 – February 17, 2024.
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. How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson, January 17 – February 3, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
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]