KPFA - Bookwaves/Artwaves

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues Theatre Director Carey Perloff Carey Perloff, author of “Pinter and Stoppard: A Director’s View,” discusses her direction of plays by both master playwrights with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded October 14, 2026. The former Artistic Director of A.C.T. from 1992 until 2018 and a playwright in her own right, Carey Perloff discusses her current direction of plays by Harold Pinter and Tom Stoppard. “Betrayal” by Harold Pinter (1930-2008), which Carey is now directing, plays at Marin Theatre October 22 – November 15, 2026. “Leopoldstadt,” the final play by Tom Stoppard (1937-2025) will be directed by Carey at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, and plays in 2027 from June 4th through July 11th. Her earlier production of “Leopoldstadt” played at The Writers Theatre near Chicago from June through August, 2026. Carey’s relationship with both playwrights goes back several years. While with New York’s Classic Stage Company, she directed both ‘The Birthday Party” and the American premiere of Pinter’s “Mountain Language,” and worked closely with the playwright both times. Her personal friendship with Tom Stoppard led to the direction of several plays at A.C.T., most notably his masterpiece, “Arcadia,” as well as working with Stoppard on a revised version of “Leopoldstadt” shortly before his death. In this interview, she discusses her approach to both playwrights, and the role of language in their work, as well as her personal history with both. Her book, “Pinter and Stoppard: A Director’s View” was published by Bloomsbury in 2022. Ann Beattie, award winning novelist and short story writer, author of “Chilly Scenes of Winter” and other novels, and several collections of short stories, discusses the relationship of literature to film and theatre, and other issues in this previously unaired archive interview, recorded March 4, 2011, while she was on tour for her collection, The New Yorker Stories. Review of “Every Saturday Night”, an SFBATCO production at ACT Strand Theatre through November 1, 2026. The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – October 22, 2026: Carey Perloff: Directing Pinter and Stoppard appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues Documentary Filmmaker Maureen Gosling Maureen Gosling, director of the films ‘The Nine Lives of Barbara Dane” and co-director, with Chris Simon, of “This Ain’t No Mouse Music: about the late KPFA host Chris Strachwitz, is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky, recorded October 12, 2026. Maureen Gosling spent twenty years working with award-winning documentarian Les Blank for his many films, including the noted film about the making of “Fitzcarraldo” titled “Burden of Dreams.” Her film about singer activist Barbara Dane, “The Nine Lives of Barbara Dane” was released in 2023, and is now making its commercial theatre debut in various cities around the States. It will be at the Roxie in San Francisco on Sunday October 18th at 3:15 pm, with the audience moving afterward to the Chapel, down the street, for a music festival. Barbara Dane (1927-2024) was a jazz, blues and folk singer, and strong political activist for several decades. In this interview, Maureen Gosling discusses her work with Les Blank and the making of “Burden of Dreams,” the story behind “This Ain’t No Mouse Music” and “Nine Lives…” and talks about the relationship of music, film and politics. Review of “The Fall Show”, at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage through November 1, 2026. The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – October 15, 2026: Maureen Gosling, “The Nine Lives of Barbara Dane” appeared first on KPFA.

George Saunders, whose latest novel is Vigil, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. George Saunders is the highly acclaimed author of several short story collections, including “Tenth of December,” and “CivilWarLand in Bad Decline,” and others, along with political commentary that has appeared in The New Yorker and other magazines. He won the 2017 Booker Prize for his earlier novel, “Lincoln in the Bardo.” This latest novel, Vigil, takes place in the in-between time before death, when an elderly oil oligarch lies dying, and an angel of mercy, a ghost, named Jill, is on hand to comfort him. The question at hand concerns forgiveness, accountability, grace and several other issues that become involved when someone whose actions were deleterious to humankind and the planet is forced to examine their actions on earth. Justification, remorse, sin? What does it mean, and how do we, the living, deal with these issues when there are so many bad actors doing damage these days on the world and national stages. Recorded by computer on April 15, 2026. The post Encore: George Saunders, “Vigil,” 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues The Quirky Science World of Mary Roach The author of several non-fiction works that examine specific areas of life that are rarely covered elsewhere, Mary Roach brings a sharp eye and excellent research skills to explain how things work, how they don’t work, and the various things that happen in between. The author of eight books, she has appeared on Bookwaves and Bookwaves/Artwaves four times, with a fifth to air in October, 2026. These are two earlier interviews. Part One: Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. What’s life like for astronauts? What is it like to be in Zero-G, or to find yourself doing a space walk? What kind of food do they eat, and what are astronauts and technicians really like? In this interview recorded in the KPFA studios on August 24, 2010, she discusses all these topics, as well as a look back to her earlier book, Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife. This interview has not aired in over fifteen years. Part Two: Fuzz: When Nature Breaks The Law. “Fuzz” deals with such issues as animals killing humans, pests in the fields, attempts to control invasive species, animal burglaries (watch out, Yogi Bear!) and even birds destroying flowers in the Vatican. In this interview, she discusses many of these issues, plus adds some information that never found its way into her book. Recorded by computer September 16, 2021. An interview recorded September 15, 2026 about Mary Roach’s latest book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy will air in October, 2026 Review of “The Cook”, at Berkeley Rep Peets Theatre through October 11, 2026. Review of “African Stew” presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, at The Magic Theatre through September 27, 2026. The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – September 17, 2026: Mary Roach, America’s Funniest Science Author, Part One appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues Kate Christensen: Novelist, Essayist, “Good Company,” 2026 Kate Christensen, whose latest novel is titled “Good Company,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. Kate Christensen is the author of ten novels, including “The Great Man,” which won the PEN/Faulker Award for fiction, Trouble, and Welcom Home, Stranger. She’s also written two memoirs along with essays published in a wide variety of publications and anthologies. She has also written a mystery under a pseudonym.. A graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, her books focus on contemporary issues such as homophobia, climate change, and specifically in “Good Company,” on misogyny. In thjis interview, she focuses on her writing process, on political issues that find their way into the novel, and on specifics inside the novel. Kate Crhistensen was interviewed on “Bookwaves” in 2009 and this interview picks up where that one left off. This interview was recorded in August, 2026. Review of “The White Chip”, at Marin Theatre through September 20, 2026. The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – Sept. 10, 2026: Kate Christensen, Novelist, Essayist, Memoirist, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.