Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Bookwaves
Tim O’Brien, whose latest novel, a contemporary satire, is “America Fantastica,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded at Book Passage on November 6, 2023.
The author of ten previous novels, winner of the National Book Award in 1978 for Going After Cacciato, and acclaimed for his linked collection of stories about the Vietnam War, The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien took a 20-year break from writing to help raise his late-in-life children. He returned with a non-fiction book about those years, Dad’s Maybe Years, and has now come out with a satirical novel, America Fantastica.
This new book, written before and during the Covid pandemic, focuses on the nature of lying, and how America has fallen into a pandemic of lying. A satire set in California, Texas and Minnesota, and focuses on a former journalist who made a career of lying, and on other assorted liars.
In the interview, Tim O’Brien discusses this new book, and also discusses his feelings about war, about Vietnam, and about being a writer. Complete Interview.
Review of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage through December 30, 2023.
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 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 Event Calendar.
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 A Christmas Carol, December 6 -24, Toni Rembe Theater.
Aurora Theatre 1984 by George Orwell, adapted by Michael Gene Sullivan, In Theater, November 10 – December 10, Streaming, December 5-10. Felonious Mixtape runs Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and Dec. 7-9.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for upcoming productions.
Berkeley Rep Bulrusher by Eisa Davis, October 27 – December 3, 2023, Peets Theatre. Harry Clarke by David Cale, featuring Billy Crudup, Roda Theatre, November 15 – December 23, 2023.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming productions.
Boxcar Theatre. See website for upcoming shows.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for current and upcoming productions.
BroadwaySF: See website for assorted upcoming events in 2023. Disney’s The Lion King, November 22 – December 30, Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, November 28 – December 3.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). See website for events.
Center Rep: The Legend of Georgia McBride by Matthew Lopez, November 4 -26, Lesher Center for the Arts.
Central Works The Engine of Our Disruption by Patricia Milton, October 14 – November 19. Extended.
Cinnabar Theatre. The Addams Family, November 17-December 2. The Last Five Years, January 5-21, 2024,
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco. Open-ended run.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre ;Home for the Holidays, Dec. 8-10; 15-17. Fundraiser with Lamont Ridgell and Anita Veramontes.
Curran Theater: See website for upcoming live events and streaming choices.
Custom Made Theatre. Upcoming shows to be announced.
Cutting Ball Theatre. Rossum’s Universal Robots by Karel Capek, adapted by Chris Steele, October 20 – November 19, extended, Cutting Ball Theatre, 277 Taylor St., SF
42nd Street Moon. Mame, November 2 -19, 2023.
Golden Thread Upcoming season to be announced.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Soulful Christmas, December 14-17, Magic Theatre.
Magic Theatre. See website for events at the Magic. Saint John Coltrane Church service, Sundays 11 am. Mother/Tongues, based on Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin’s experimental play, Tongues. November 18, one night only.
Marin Theatre Company Dragon Lady written and performed by Sara Porkalob, November 24-December 17.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) we are continuous by by Harrison David Rivers, October 20 – November 26. Ruthless, December 1 – January 7.
Oakland Theater Project. See website for upcoming events.
Pear Theater. In Repertory, November 17 – December 10: District Merchants by Aaron Posner; William Shakespeare’s The Land of the Dead by John Heimbuch.
PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023.
Presidio Theatre. See website for schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, June 1 – 23, 2024. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein’s at the Nikko.
San Francisco Playhouse. Guys and Dolls, November 16 – January 13.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: The Play That Goes Wrong. November 15 – December 10.
Shotgun Players. Hedwig and the Angry Inch. October 28 – December 30.
South Bay Musical Theatre: A Little Night Music, January 27 – February 17, 2024.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Group Therapy by Tanika Baptiste, November 9 – December 3, Thursday thru Sunday. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, November 29 – December 24, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto.
Word for Word. Big Bang, A Celestial Celebration, November 16 benefit for Z Space and Word for Word, 6 pm – 11 pm.
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]
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