Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Andrew Vachss (1942-December 27, 2021), author of several noir novels that focus on child abuse and child sexual abuse, in conversation for Probabilities with hosts Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded June 27, 1991 in the KPFA studios while he was on tour for his novel Sacrifice.
The nineteen eighties and nineties presented an explosion of noir and detective fiction, led by such stalwarts as Elmore Leonard, Robert B. Parker, Sue Grafton, James Ellroy, Sara Paretsky … the list goes on. Among those first rate practitioners, was Andrew Vachss, who died on December 27th, 2021 at the age of 79.
In Vachss’ early novels, which all featured a protagonist named Burke, he established not merely a unique character with a unique background and unusual associates, but a way to bring the public’s attention to child abuse, and particularly child sexual abuse.
He hit the pavement running with Flood in 1985 and followed that novel with Strega, Blue Belle, Hard Candy and Blossom, before Sacrifice and the book tour that led to this interview. This interview was digitized and edited on January 7th, 2022.
To date, none of Andrew Vacchs novels have hit film or television (though IMDDb does list a short film from 1995). At the time of his death, Andrew Vacches had written a total of eighteen Burke novels, culminating in Another Life in 2008, nine additional novels, five collections of short stories, nine more comics and graphic novels, along with three plays. A film from one of his Cross novels was in the conversation in recent years, but no new information is forthcoming. Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky would interview him once more, in 1995, while he was on tour for his novel, Footsteps of the Hawk.
Andrew Vachss Wikipedia page.
Complete 40-minute interview.
Bookwaves
Charles Yu, whose novel Interior Chinatown just won the 2020 National Book Award for fiction, is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky.
Interior Chinatown takes place in a meta-world in which Hollywood’s Chinese stereotypes are portrayed by Asian immigrants and second-generation Asian Americans in films and TV shows. The book uses tropes from screenplays as well as prose fiction to illuminate these tropes, switching between narrative, entertainment history, and polemic in a highly original way.
Charles Yu is the author of two previous short-story collections and one novel, has worked as an attorney, and also has worked in the writers’ room of several television shows, most notably during the first season of HBO’s Westworld.
Complete 35-minute Radio Wolinsky podcast.
Scroll down for links.
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 Valore Evans, Feb. 3, 7 pm; Esme Weijun Wang, March 10, 7 pm.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Alter Theatre. Upcoming: Snag by Tara Moses.
American Conservatory Theatre Freestyle Love Supreme at the Geary Theater through February 13, 2021.
Aurora Theatre This Much I Know postponed until September, 2022. Please contact the box office for refunds.
Awesome Theatre Company. On-line now: The Jersey Devil Play, on Vimeo.
Berkeley Rep Swept Away, January 9 – March 6, 2022.
Brava Theatre Center: See page for updated listings.
BroadwaySF: Touring companies: The Band’s Visit, January 11 – February 6, 2022, Golden Gate.
Broadway San Jose: Rent 25th Anniversary Tour, April 8-10, 2022.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Romeo y Juliet May 25 – June 19, 2022.
Central Works Audio plays: Bystanders by Patricia Milton, streaming now. The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau, streaming now. 2022 season to be announced.
Cinnabar Theatre. Amy and the Orphans begins February February 11.
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. Fun Home, February 3-22. 2022, Gateway Theater. Full Moon Friday cabaret, live & streaming, January 28, 8 pm: featuring Moon veterans, and local Bay Area artists Martín Rojas Dietrich and Noel Anthony Escobar,
Landmark Musical Theater. Upcoming schedule to be announced.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Upcoming schedule to be announced.
Magic Theatre. The Kind Ones by Miranda Rose Hall, February 2-20.
Marin Theatre Company Pass Over by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, January 27 – February 20.
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: Mountaintop by Katori Hall, January 21 – February 13, 2022.
PianoFight. Calendar of shows. Expansion to The Flight Deck in Oakland. SF Sketchfest, January 7-23.
Ray of Light: Upcoming shows to be announced.
San Francisco Playhouse. Twelfth Night, a musical adaptation. On Demand extended through January 29, 2022. Heroes of the Fourth Turning January 26 – March 5, in theater only.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. I, Too, Sing America on the main stage, January 28 – February 13.
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 Staged Reading: Kingdom by Michael Allen Harris, February 9, 7 pm, 4229 18th St., SF. Hold Me the Forgotten Way, now streaming. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand; Saturday, February 5, 5 pm: Fredi on Zoom or Facebook Live, live from New York.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Hershey Felder as Chopin, scheduled to open in January, has been postponed until August 17, 2022. 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.
Berkeley Symphony: Renew, first Symphonic Concert of the 50th Anniversary Season, Sunday Feb. 6, 4 pm. Zellerbach Hall.
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]