Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Masters of Horror and Suspense
Peter Straub (1993-2022), in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded April 4, 1993 while on tour for his novel, “The Throat,” third in a thematic trilogy that included “Koko” and “Mystery.”
Peter Straub, who died on September 4th, 2022 at the age of 79, was a master of horror and supernatural fiction whose work erased any distinction between genre and the literary world. Among his best known novels were Ghost Story, Shadowland, Floating Dragon, The Hellfire Club, and his collaboration with Stephen King, The Talisman. He was also a poet and short fiction author.
Three years after the interview, Peter Straub’s novel The Hellfire Club was published to great acclaim, followed in 2001, with Black House, a sequel to The Talisman, written with Stephen King, and four later novels, the last one, A Dark Matter, published in 2010. A third book in The Talisman series was announced, but never written. A television series based on The Talisman for Netflix and created by The Duffer Brothers of Stranger Things fame, was announced in 2021 and is apparently still on track. Complete 39-minute interview.
Digitized, remastered and edited by Richard Wolinsky in September, 2022. This interview has not seen the light of day in nearly thirty years.
Stephen King, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Lawrence Davidson, while on tour for The Dead Zone, recorded September 8, 1979 at Dark Carnival Bookstore in Berkeley.
At the time of this recording, Stephen King had only written a handful of books — Carrie, Salem’s Lot, The Shining and the Stand preceding The Dead Zone. There were also two novels under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, which was still a secret at the time.
Since then, Stephen King has become a literary institution with over 300 credits for television and film adaptations at IMDb. He also has 64 novels, 11 collections of stories, and 5 non-fiction books.
This interview was transcribed and can be found in both Feast of Fear: Conversations with Stephen King, edited by Tim Underwood and Chuck Miller, and Stephen King and Clive Barker: Macabre II, edited by James Van Hise.
Photo: Stephen King during the era of the interview. Photo by Marty Reichenthal/AP/Shutterstock. Complete Interview
Review: “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” at BroadwaySF’s Orpheum Theater through November 6, 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 Highlights from this year’s Festival, 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
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). See website for past streams.
Alter Theatre. Upcoming: Snag by Tara Moses, filmed.
American Conservatory Theatre Passengers by Shana Carroll, September 15 – October 9, 2022, Geary Theater.
Aurora Theatre This Much I Know by Jonathan Spector, Sept 2 – Oct. 2, 2022.
Awesome Theatre Company. Now streaming on the website: The Jersey Devil Play, Holy Sh*t That Was Scary: The Cloud; and previous productions.
Berkeley Rep Goddess, conceived by Saheem Ali, August 14 – October 1, 2022. Roda Theatre. The Ripple, The Wave That Carried Me Home by Christina Anderson, September 9 – October 16, 2022, Peets Theatre.
Boxcar Theatre. Nude Noir, Palace Theatre (home of Speakeasy) Oct. 14-15. See website for other listings.
Brava Theatre Center: See website for events.
BroadwaySF: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, through November 6, 2022, Orpheum. To Kill A Mockingbird, through October 9, 2022, Golden Gate. Hadestown returns September 12-17, 2023 at the Orpheum.
Broadway San Jose: Cats, September 20-25. The Book of Mormon, Nov. 22-27, 2022
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes) Lear by Marcus Gardley, September 7 – October 2, 2022.
Center Rep: Always Patsy Cline by Ted Swindley, Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, September 9 – 25, 2022.
Central Works The Museum Annex by Mildred Inez Lewis, Oct. 15 – Nov. 13, 2022.
Cinnabar Theatre. Misery, based on the novel by Stephen King, October 14-30, 2022.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Camelot, small cast version, September 9 – October 9.
Curran Theater: An Evening with Nigella Lawson, November 14, 2022.
Custom Made Theatre. Zac and Siah, or Jesus in a Body Bag by Jeffrey Lo, Sept 23 – Oct. 16, 2022. Phoenix Theatrre, 414 Mason St., San Francisco.
42nd Street Moon. Cate Hayman, live at the Gateway, Sept. 30, 7:30 pm.
Golden Thread The Language of Wild Berries by Nagmeh Samini, October 14 – November 6, 2022. Potrero Stage.
Landmark Musical Theater. The Addams Family, October 22 – November 20, 2022.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming shows.
Magic Theatre. Campo Santo presents Otto Frank, written and performed by Roger Guenver Smith, return engagement, September 29 – October 1. See website for other events and performances.
Marin Theatre Company Dunsinane by David Greig, September 22 – October 16.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Aunt Jack by Nora Brigid Monahan, September 16 – October 16, 2022.
Oakland Theater Project. The Crucible by Arthur Miller, September 2-25, 2022.
Pear Theater. In Theater: Bull in a China Shop/Collective Rage, in repertory, September 9 to October 2, 2022.
PianoFight. Calendar of shows.
PlayGround. Breed or Bust by Joyful Raven, Potretro Stage, show runs September 9 – 24, 2022.
Presidio Theatre. New live performance/theatre venue kicks off in September. See website for calendar details.
Ray of Light: Kinky Boots, September 21 – October 8, 2022. Sept. 14-19 shows cancelled.
San Francisco Playhouse. Indecent by Paula Vogel, September 22 – November 5, 2022.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: The Play That Goes Wrong, Sept. 21 – October 16, 2022.
Shotgun Players. Man of God by Anna Ouyang Moench, September 3 – October 2, 2022.
South Bay Musical Theatre: Stephen Sondheim’s Company, September 24 – October 15, 2022.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Bad Hombres by Guillermo Reyes, October 6-30. 2022, 4229 18th SF in the Castro. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. New live performances by John Fisher every Thursday at Theatre Rhino, September 15, 8:00 pm: Spencer.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Little Shop of Horrors, November 30 – December 24, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto.
Word for Word. Live reading: Two stories by Haruki Murakami, October 3, 7 pm. Z Below.
Misc. Listings:
BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season, starting February.
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.
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]