Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Robert Anton Wilson (1932-2007), interviewed by Richard Wolinsky in February 1983, recorded in a car in the Santa Cruz mountains during a rainstorm. Digitized, remastered and edited in May, 2023.
Robert Anton Wilson had a remarkable career. Starting as a writer of comic science fiction based on historical stories of conspiracy, his work soon turned in the direction of physics, psychology, and futurism, and described himself as an agnostic mystic. In the religion or philosophy known as discordianism, he is considered both pope and saint.
A journalist in his early career, he co-edited the Playboy Magazine forum, and covered the work of both Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, later known as Ram Dass. Most of his best known works were written in the 1970s and 1980s, though he continued to write non-fiction into the 21st century. These include The Illuminati Trilogy, co-written with Robert Shea, The Schrodinger’s Cat and Cosmic Trigger trilogies, and Prometheus Rising. His early works were published by large commercial presses; his later by small presses. Most, of not all, of his books still remain in print. The three books mentioned toward the end of the interview were all published and are all available. Complete 32-minute interview.
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 twice in the KPFA studios. This second interview was recorded on January 21, 1992 while she was on tour for two novels, Darcy’s Utopia and Life Force
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.
This interview was digitized, remastered, and edited in June, 2023 by Richard Wolinsky. First time on the air in over thirty years. Complete 34-minute Interview.
First Fay Weldon interview, recorded March 1990 while she was on tour for The Cloning of Joanna May.
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 Lists of guests at the upcoming Book Festival, May 6-7, 2023, 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 Calendar. On-line events only.
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.
Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
American Conservatory Theatre The Wizard of Oz adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, based on the classic motion picture, June 1 – June 25.
Aurora Theatre Hurricane Diane by Madeleine George, June 16 – July 16. Streaming July 12 -16.
Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming.
Berkeley Rep Let The Right One In, a stage adaptation by Jack Thorne. Through June 25, 2023 at the Roda Theatre.
Boxcar Theatre. See website for calendar listings.
Brava Theatre Center: See website for events.
BroadwaySF: The Book of Mormon, May 23 – June 13, Orpheum. Into the Woods, June 20–15, Curran. Les Miserables, July 6 – 23, Orpheum. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, August 1-27, 2023, Golden Gate.
Broadway San Jose: Beetlejuice, August 1 – 6.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). No 2023 season scheduled. See website for events calendar.
Center Rep: In The Heights, May 27 – June 24.
Central Works The Dignity Circle a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich June 24 – July 23.
Cinnabar Theatre. Tosca, June 9 – 25.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre 2023-2024 season: Sondheim on Sondheim; Tintypes.
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 in 2023.
Cutting Ball Theatre. 2023/24 season announcement, June 11, 4 pm.
42nd Street Moon. She Loves Me, June 8 – June 24, Gateway Theatre.
Golden Thread See website for ongoing special events.
Landmark Musical Theater. My Unauthorized Hallmark Movie Musical, June 17, 4 pm, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In The Evening By The Moonlight by Traci Tolmaire, co-created and directed by Margo Hall, June 15 – July 2, Young Performers Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco.
Magic Theatre. Josephine’s Feast, August 2 – 20. See website for other events at the Magic.
Marin Theatre Company Odyssey written and directed by Lisa Peterson, August 31 – September 24.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) The Confession of Lily Dare by Charles Busch, May 12 – June 11. Drag Queen Storytime Gone Wild starring the Kinsey Sicks, July 5 -16/
Oakland Theater Project. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, May 26 – June 18.
Pear Theater. Falsettos, June 30 – July 23.
PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023.
Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions
Ray of Light: Spring Awakening, 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. Chinglish by David Henry Hwang, May 4 – June 10, 2023. A Chorus Line starts June 22, 2023.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: 40th Anniversary Celebration, June 26, 2023.
Shotgun Players. Yerma based on the play by Federico Garcia Lorca. Through June 18.
South Bay Musical Theatre: Rent, September 30 – October 21.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Gumiho, staged reading June 13. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, June 7 – July 2, 2023, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
Word for Word. See schedule for one-night readings and streaming performances.
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]