Bookwaves/Artwaves

Bookwaves/Artwaves – May 5, 2022: Don Winslow – David Thomson

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.

Links to assorted local theater & book venues

 

Bookwaves

Don Winslow, author of “City on Fire,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded at Book Passage bookstore in Corte Madera on April 27, 2022.

Don Winslow is the author of 21 novels, many of which focus on crime and the criminal underworld, including The Cartel, The Force, Savages (which became an Oliver Stone film), and The Border. His latest novel, “City on Fire,” tells the story of a mob war in the 1980s in Rhode Island using as a template the story of the Trojan War, The Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid and other works. This is the first of a trilogy, already completed, that marks the end of Don Winslow’s career as a novelist.

Don Winslow also produces political videos aimed at saving the American democracy from insurrectionists and fascists, and is a vital force on Twitter. Photos: Richard Wolinsky.
Complete Interview.

 

Bookwaves

Film critic and historian David Thomson discusses his latest book, “A Light in the Dark: A History of Movie Directors” with host Richard Wolinsky.

David Thomson is the author of The Biographical Dictionary of Film, How to Watch a Movie, The Big Screen: The Story of the Movies, Have You Seen… and several other books examining film and the people who make movies.

This book discusses directors and their role in the making of films. In the interview, he talks about reassessment of films and directors, directors Fritz Lang, D.W. Griffith and Alfred Hitchcock, and changes in how we watch films in the past several years, focusing on how our lives have changed during the pandemic.

The complete 50-minute interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast.

 

Review: “Octet” at Berkeley Rep Peets Theater through May 29, 2022.

 

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, on demand through May 8, 2022. Love Is In The Air, Young Conservatory Cabaret Ensemble, May 5-14, 2022, Geary Theater. High school productions at the Geary: see ACT website for listings in May.
Aurora Theatre The Incrementalist by Cleavon Smith, through May 15, streaming May 10-15.  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, Peets Theater.
Brava Theatre Center: See website for events.
BroadwaySF: Cats. national tour, June 1 – 12, Golden Gate. Hadestown national tour, opens June 7, Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose:  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 Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia, June 25 – July 24, 2022.
Cinnabar Theatre. La Traviata, begins June 10, 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 Blood at the Root by Dominique Morisseau, May 13 – June 5, 2022.
42nd Street Moon. Fun Home, April 21 – May 8, 2022.
Golden Thread  The Language of Wild Berries by Nagmeh Samini, October 14 – November 6, 2022. Potrero Stage.
Landmark Musical Theater. RENT, coming summer 2022.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage, April 1-16, Magic Theater, Fort Mason, closed.
Magic Theatre. Monument, or Four Sisters (The Moth Play) by Sam Chanse, May 11 – May 29, 2022.
Marin Theatre Company The Sound Inside by Adam Rapp, May 26 – June 19, 2022.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center 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: Pear Slices,  May 5-29; The Piano Teacher, June 22 – July 16.
PianoFight. Calendar of shows.
Ray of Light: Kinky Boots, September 8 – October 1, 2022.
San Francisco PlayhouseThe Paper Dreams of Harry Chin by Jessica Huang, May 4 – June 18, 2022.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: The Tooth of Crime by Sam Shepard, June 1 – 26, 2022.
Shotgun Players. A Small Fire by Adam Bock, May 14 – June 12, 2022.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Harts’ Desire by Mark Nadler, May 12 -15, Gateway Theater. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.Ragtime, the musical. June 1 – June 26, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
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: See website for listings.
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]