Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to on-line and streaming local theater & book events
Artwaves
Kate MacKay is the curator of a retrospective of the Four Seasons cycle of films by the great French New Wave director Eric Rohmer, streaming on the BAM/PFA website through July 28, 2021. She talks about the films and about Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive’s year during the Covid shutdown with host Richard Wolinsky.
Eric Rohmer (1920-2010) was one of the contributors of the magazine Cahiers du Cinema, along with Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard and was one of the founders of the French New Wave. His success came later than that of his colleagues, finally arriving in 1969 with My Night at Maud’s, and continued both commercially and artistically into the 21st Century.
The films streaming in this Tales of the Four Seasons cycle, A Tale of Springtime, A Winter’s Tale, A Tale of Summer and A Tale of Autumn were all filmed between 1990 and 1998 when Rohmer was into his seventies. Despite that, the films all feel like the work of a young independent film-maker, and not an old master. Eric Rohmer Wikipedia page.
Kate MacKay has been as Associate Curator of Film since 2016, and has programmed several film retrospectives over the course of her career in Berkeley and previously in Toronto.
This brilliant and incisive essay by Richard Brody from the New Yorker discusses the four films, and Rohmer.
Complete 41-minute Radio Wolinsky podcast.
Artwaves
Playwright and actress Jeanne Sakata in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
Jeanne Sakata is the author of the play “Hold These Truths” which is now playing in front of live audiences at San Francisco Playhouse through July 3, 2021, and streams June 12 – July 3, 2021 on the San Francisco Playhouse website.
Jeanne Sakata is an actress who has appeared on several TV shows and films, and on stage at both ACT and Berkeley Rep.
Hold These Truths is the true story following Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese-American student who fought internment to a relocation camp during World War II. This return to live theatre celebrates the human spirit as it chronicles Hirabayashi’s journey from college in Seattle all the way to the Supreme Court, and eventually to a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Directed by Jeffrey Lo, with Jomar Tagatac starring as Hirabayashi,
Hold These Truths made its world premiere in 2007 at East West Players in Los Angeles. In 2012, the solo play made its Off Broadway premiere at Epic Theatre Company and received a 2013 Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. Since its world premiere, it has gone on to play throughout the nation including theatres in Boston, Honolulu, Washington, D.C., Portland, TheatreWorks in Palo Alto in July, 2018, and many others.
Streaming Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Bay Area Book Festival Keenan Norris, June 15, 7 pm. Gina Frangello, June 24, 7 pm. Check website for streaming events from the 2021 Festival.
Books Inc. Cameron Lund with Katharine McGee, June 10, 5 pm. Justin Barker, June 24, 5 pm.
Book Passage. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the making of “In the Heights,” June 15, 5 pm. Ocean Vuong with Robert Jones Jr., June 17, 7:30 pm. Alka Joshi and Sujata Massey, June 20, 1 pm. Calendar for June.
The Booksmith The Bindery has moved to 1727 Haight Street in San Francisco. Calendar for June.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. Keenan Norris, June 10, 7 pm.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Alter Theatre. Brer Peach, an audio play by Andrew Saito, see website for details.
American Conservatory Theatre Animal Wisdom, a film produced by ACT and Woolly Mammoth, created by and starring Heather Christian, streams through June 27. Communion by by Christopher Chen, featuring Stacey Ross, directed by Pam McKinnon, streams through June 27. Tales of the City: the musical, recorded in 2011, streams June 21-27.
Aurora Theatre Aurora Connects conversations every other Thursday at 5 pm. Benefit readings to be announced.
Berkeley Rep The Waves in Quarantine by Lisa Peterson, extended through June 30, 2021; 10-episode audio series: Place/Settings: Berkeley, all episodes available now. What’s in a Play, Mondays 6:30 & 8 pm. Zoom, Registration required.
Brava Theatre Center: The Break-Up! A Latina Queer Torch Song, June 13, 2 pm, encore recorded performance. Son Jarocho Festival Encore Concert Performance, streaming through June 13. Pablo Menéndez & Mezcla, streaming through June 30. The Palacios Sisters, streaming through June 30. Who’s Your Mami Pride Edition, June 17, 7 pm.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Live at the Bruns: Chanticleer, June 14, concerts at 3 pm & 6:30 pm; Midsummer Thankfest, Sunday June 20, 3:30 – 7pm. Cal Shakes returns: The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare, adapted by Eric Ting & Philippa Kelly, September 1 – 26, 2021. On-line: Toshi Reagon on Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower,” June 22 & 25, 5:30 pm. Shakespeare in Depth with Philippa Kelly on Zoom. Check website for added shows at the Bruns over the summer.
Central Works Audio plays: Bystanders by Patricia Milton, streaming now. The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau, streaming now. .
Cinnabar Theatre. See website for upcoming programming.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre See website for upcoming programming.
Curran Theater: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child set to resume November 28, 2021. Taylor Mac videos available on line.
Custom Made Theatre See website for upcoming programming.
42nd Street Moon. Don’t Touch That Dial, streams through June 27. Third Tuesday, Talks Over the Moon, 8 pm: Every other Friday at 8 pm: Full Moon Fridays Cabaret. Sundays at 8 pm: Quiz Me Kate: Musical Theatre Trivia.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage, an audio play streaming through June 18.
Magic Theatre. The Broken Machine by Liz Duffy Adams, June 10, 6 pm.
Marin Theatre Company Brilliant Mind by Denmo Ibrahim, performance streams 7 pm each night, through June 13; closed Mondays. The Catastrophist by Lauren Gunderson, streaming through July 24, 2021. Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson, streaming through Soundcloud.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts See website for upcoming events.
New Conservatory Theatre Center TransNational Cabaret, streaming through June 30th.
Pear Theater. Late Wedding streams June 18 – July 18.
Ray of Light: Carrie: The Musical, dates to be announced.
San Francisco Playhouse. Live Theatre returns to the Playhouse, Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, June 8 – July 3. The Song of Summer by Lauren Yee, July 20 – August 14. Starting Here, Starting Now, the songs of Maltby and Shire. August 31 – October.2.
SFBATCO Live with Rod and Marce, every Thursday in May at 6 pm, Best of the series reruns. Just added: Live cabaret June 10 at Brava Theatre, 8 pm.
Shotgun Players. Let’s Talk About Theatre:June 10, 5 pm: playwright Diana Oh, director Mina Morita and Leigh Rondon Davis, zoom reservation required. June 24, 5 pm: The Cassandra Sessions co-creators Beth Wilmurt & Jack Rodriquez, with Patrick Dooley.
The Breath Project. Complete collection streaming on demand.
The Marsh: See calendar for listings.
Theatre Rhino Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available, March 2020 – May 2021. Pillow Talk by Kheven LaGrone, June 11-20, check listings for times.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Season 51 begins in October, 2021, dates to be announced.
National, Misc:
Chamber Music San Francisco: Live concerts return February, 2022.
Dance Mission Theatre. See website for listings
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: From past seasons, currently streaming: The Comedy of Errors, streaming June 1 – June 26. Live shows return on July 1 with Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer by Cheryl L. West. July 1 – October 9.
Atlantic Theatre Company. See website for digital programming.
Irish Repertory Theatre. The Indomitable Irishry, June 14, 2021.
Public Theatre, New York. Streaming now: Shadow/Land, audio play. Video: Under the Greenwood Tree. Also streaming: selected concerts from Joe’s Pub.
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.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]