Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to on-line and streaming local theater & book events
Bookwaves
Jane Smiley, whose latest novel is “Perestroika in Paris,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
The author of sixteen 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.
“Perestroika in Paris” is a departure from her other works. Clearly an adult novel, it focuses on several animals on the loose in Paris in 2008, including a horse named Perestroika (Paras), based in part on Jane Smiley’s own horse of the same name, a dog named Frida (based in part on Jane Smiley’s own German short-haired pointer) and an array of other creatures, all of whom communicate with one another, and create a bond with a young orphan named Etienne, who lives with his elderly grandmother near the Eiffel Tower.
As Jane points out in the interview, in an era when we are overwhelmed with angst in politics and during the pandemic, a book that takes us far away can often seem like a necessary relief.
Extended 39-minute Radio Wolinsky podcast.
Bookwaves
Jeanette Winterson discusses her latest novel, “Frankissstein: A Love Story” which concerns Mary Shelley, modern A.I., Alcor life extension and gender issues. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Jeanette Winterson is the author of several novels, including Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, and the memoir, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? This interview was recorded in December, 2019.
:The complete 43-minute interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast.
Announcement Links
Bay Area Book Festival Following the Joy with LaRayia Gaston, Tuesday March 16, 7 pm; May 1-9: Virtual Festival; Kazuo Ishiguro, Sunday May 2, 2 pm.
Books Inc Kazuo Ishiguro, Sunday March 14, 1 pm; Sara Desai, Tuesday March 16, 5 pm; Jenny Offill, Thursday March 18, 6 pm.
Book Passage. Kazuo Ishiguro with Pico Iyer, March 14, 1 pm. Julia Turshen, March 14, 4 pm. Orville Schell, March 20, 4 pm. Jacqueline Winspear, March 23, 6 pm.
The Booksmith Arisa White, March 11, 6 pm; Babylon Salon, March 13, 5 pm. Naima Costa with Carolina de Robertis, March 16, 6 pm.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. Book Club, March 14, zoom 4 pm; Laila Lalami, March 18, 7 pm.
Kepler’s Books Donna Leon, March 16, 6 pm; Walter Isaacson, March 18, 6 pm.
American Conservatory Theatre Act Out Loud, Virtual Play Reading Series: Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress, March 29 – April 4; Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw, April 12-16, The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, April 26 – May 2.
Aurora Theatre Streaming now: The Flats, written by Lauren Gunderson, Cleaven Smith and Jonathan Spector, with Lauren English, Anthony Fusco and Khary L. Moye, directed by Josh Costello, Aurora Connects conversations every Friday, 4 pm. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, adapted for audio, starts on April 9th.
Berkeley Rep 10-episode audio series: Place/Settings: Berkeley, all episodes available now. What’s in a Play, Mondays 6:30 & 8 pm. Zoom, Registration required. June, 2021: Swept Away, a new musical.
Brava Theatre Center: Canta Brava: Celebrating Women in History, performance series, nightly, March 8-19, 7 pm.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Lights Up Fundraiser, March March 26, 5:30 pm. Truth and Meaning at Play, Finn Lefever, April 2, 5:30 pm.
Central Works Audio plays: Bystanders by Patricia Milton, streaming now. The Human Ounce by Nicole Parizeau, streaming now. .
Cinnabar Theatre. Broadway Bash annual fund-raiser, March 13, 7 pm. Mac Beth, an update of Shakespeare’s play, adapted by Erica Schmidt, starts April 16.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre American Hero by Bess Wahl, March 15, 7 pm, zoom. Kitchen Table ConversationsL Director Alex Perez, March 16, 7 pm.
Curran Theater: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child set to resume May 30, 2021.
Custom Made Theatre Undiscovered Works: The Re-education of Fernando Morales by Justin P. Lopez, April 2, 7 pm.
42nd Street Moon. You Can’t Stop the Beat, virtual gala, rebroadcast streaming. 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.
Magic Theatre. Upcoming schedule to be announced.
Marin Theatre Company The Catastrophist by Lauren Gunderson, streaming through July 24, 2021.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Afro-Latino Drumming for kids, Mondays 4:30 pm; Youth Theatre Workshop, Thursdays, 4 pm.
New Conservatory Theatre Center Interlude by Harrison David Rivers streams March 1 – 24.
Pear Theater. Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas, streams March 12-April 11.
Ray of Light: See website for listings.
Remote Theater. The Art of Sacrifice by Anthony Clarvoe. With Lauren English & Susi Damilano. Music by Paul Dresher. Streaming March 18-25.
San Francisco Playhouse. (Heiroglyph) by Erika Dickerson-Despenza, directed by Margo Hall, filmed onstage at SF Playhouse. Starts streaming March 13.
SFBATCO Live with Rod and Marce on Twitch TV, every Thursday at 6 pm. Hella Theatre March 11, 6 pm: Asian Representation in American Theatre.
Shotgun Players. Every Time I Feel the Spirit by Noelle Vinas, a Zoom commission, begins April 2, 2021.
The Breath Project. Complete collection streaming on demand.
The Marsh: See calendar for listings.
Theatre Rhino Thursday performance conceived and performed by John Fisher on Facebook Live and Zoom at 8 pm Thursdays: March 11: Jenny.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Hershey Felder live from Florence: Puccini, March 14, 5 pm; Anna and Sergei (Sergei Rachmaninoff), May 16, 2021.
National, Misc:
Chamber Music San Francisco: Five Concerts: February 13, March 6, March 20, April 10, April 24, all 7 pm.
Dance Mission Theatre. Harriet’s Gun: Shapeshifting Toward a Radically Imagined Black Future. Program A: March 5. 5 pm; Program B: March 13, 5 pm.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Streaming now: Talking Back, a six part web series. On-demand audio recordings of early plays; videos of Indigenous Peoples Day 2020, etc.
Atlantic Theatre Company. See website for listings.
Irish Repertory Theatre. Home Winter Festival, See website for date and times (shows stream on different days and specific times). Free, with reservations: Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel; Yes, Reflections on Molly Bloom based on Ulysses by James Joyce; The Weir by Conor McPherson; Love, Noel; Belfast Blues by Geraldine Hughes; Give Me Your Hand: A Stroll Through England’s National Gallery; A Touch of the Poet by Eugene O’Neill; On Beckett with Bill Irwin; Meet Me in St. Louis. Through March 7 (check website for extensions).
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.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]