Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
Today’s program is devoted to the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Named after the noted playwright (A Raisin in the Sun), the company was formed in 1981 by Stanley E. Williams and Quentin Easter, the Lorraine Hansberry had established itself as the premier African American theatre company in the Bay Area within a few short years, and over the next decades produced and premiered several plays by major black playwrights. Both founders died of cancer in 2010, and Steven Anthony Jones served as Artistic Director until 2017 and was followed by two interim directors, until 2020, when noted Bay Area actor Margo Hall became the new artistic director.The first live production since the pandemic, Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage, plays April 1 – 16 at the Magic Theatre in Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.
Margo Hall, Artistic Director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre and noted Bay Area actor, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
Margo Hall has established herself as one of the premiere actors on Bay Area stages, having performed at Marin Theatre Company, Cal Shakes, Shotgun Players, ACT and elsewhere. A playwright whose work appeared at Berkeley Rep, she has also directed several plays around the area, and currently teaches at both UC Berkeley and Chabot College. She is also a featured performer in the TV series Blindspotting, on STARZ and in the original Blindspotting film. Complete 36-minute interview.
Jan Hunter, director of “Intimate Apparel” by Lynn Nottage, produced by the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at the Magic Theatre in Fort Mason, April 1 – 16, 2022, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.
“Intimate Apparel” tells the story of a young black seamstress and her struggles in 1905 New York, her relationships and the way she deals with adversity. In 2004, “Intimate Apparel” won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Play and was one of the highlights of that year’s off-Broadway season.
Jan Hunter has been an actor and director in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas, and spent thirty years as the Director of the Performing Arts Academy at Skyline High School in Oakland. Most recently she performed in the cast of Interlude at New Conservaatory Theatre in San Francisco.
Complete Jan Hunter interview.
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Most in-person events still require proof of full vaccination for all audience members over 12 and masks. Many venues will require proof of boosters. Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. 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 This year’s Festival dates: 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. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Alter Theatre. Upcoming: Snag by Tara Moses, filmed. Live Outdoors: Pure Native by Vickie Ramirez, summer 2022.
American Conservatory Theatre Fefu and her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes, at the Strand, now through May 1, The Lehman Trilogy postponed.
Aurora Theatre The Incrementalist by Cleavon Smith, opens April 15. Aurora Connects, conversations via YouTube, Fridays at 8 pm. A Year With Dawn: Monthly Reading Group via Zoom, free, see website to register. Wives by Jaclyn Backhaus, starts June 24, 2022.
Awesome Theatre Company. Coffee Lady by Bridgette Dutta Portman, Thursdays March 31-May 5, 9 pm, PianoFight. Now streaming: The Jersey Devil Play, on Vimeo, tickets required.
Berkeley Rep Octet, a chamber choir musical by Dave Malloy, April 20-May 29, Peet’s Theater.
Brava Theatre Center: La Dona y Sus Cuates, April 8, 8 pm. See website for other events.
BroadwaySF: Il Volo Sings Morricone and more, April 24, Orpheum. Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, April 30, Golden Gate. Cats. national tour, June 1 – 12, Golden Gate. Hadestown national tour, opens June 7, Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose: Rent 25th Anniversary Tour, April 8-10, 2022. TOOTSIE national tour, April 19-24. Season starts with Disney’s The Lion King, August 3-21.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Romeo y Juliet May 25 – June 19, 2022.
Central Works Escape From the Asylum by Patricia Milton, Mar 19–Apr 17, at the Berkeley City Club.
Cinnabar Theatre. Three Tall Women by Edward Albee. Begins April 8, 2022.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Crowns by Regina Taylor, April 15 – May 15, 2022.
Curran Theater: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing now.
Custom Made Theatre Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker, March 25- April 16.
42nd Street Moon. Fun Home, April 21 – May 8, 2022.
Golden Thread Drowning In Cairo by Ada, Ashraf Elsayigh, April 8 – May 1, 2022. Potrero Stage.
Landmark Musical Theater. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, March 11 – April 10.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage, April 1-16, Magic Theater, Fort Mason.
Magic Theatre. Monument, or Four Sisters (The Moth Play) by Sam Chanse, May 11 – May 29, 2022.
Marin Theatre Company Hotter Than Egypt by Yussef El Guindi, March 31 – April 24.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center Dot by by Colman Domingo, March 4 – April 3. PrEP Play, or Blue Parachute by Yilong Yiu, April 1 – May 8.
Oakland Theater Project. Endlings by Celine Song, in association with Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company, April 8 – May 1, at FLAX art & design, 1501 MLK, Oakland.
Pear Theater. In Theater: Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman.
PianoFight. Calendar of shows.
Ray of Light: Kinky Boots, September 8 – October 1, 2022.
San Francisco Playhouse. Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegria Hudes,
March 16 -April 23.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: August: Osage County, March 30 – April 24, 2022.
Shotgun Players. Passing Strange by Stew, March 5 – April 23.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino How Black Mothers Say i Love You by Trey Anthony, March 16-April 3, 2022, 4229 18th St., SF. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Sense and Sensibility, a musical, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, March 9 – April 3, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, also available streaming March 25 – April 17.
Word for Word. See webpage for WORD for WORDcast streaming availability.
Misc. Listings:
BAM/PFA: Current film series. Wayne Wang retrospective, with the director introducing the films, in theater, see schedule for details.
Berkeley Symphony: Chamber 4: 4 pm, April 10, Piedmont Center for the Arts.
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]