Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Malcolm Margolin (1940-2025): Legendary Berkeley Publisher
Malcolm Margolin (1940-2025), the long-time publisher of Heyday Books in Berkeley, who died on August 20, 2025 at the age of 84, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky in the KPFA Studios on November 21, 2014.
Malcolm Margolin founded Heyday Books, the renownedy non-profit publishing house located in Berkeley, in 1974 and stayed until he retired in 2015. He was the author and editor of several books, most notably The Ohlone Way: Indian Life in the San Francisco – Monterey Bay Area, along with magazines and other periodicals. This interview was recorded November 21, 2014 upon the publication of his memoir/history, The Heyday of Malcolm Margolin: The Damned Good Times of a Fiercely Independent Publisher.
Malcolm Margolin retired in 2015 but continued to work until his death. His final book, Deep Hanging Out: Wanderings and Wonderment in Native California. was published by Heyday in 2021.
Azar Nafisi: Best-selling Author of “Reading Lolita in Tehran”
Azar Nafisi,author of the best-selling memoir, “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios on January 12, 2009 while on tour for the memoir, “Things I’ve Been Silent About.”
Azar Nafisi burst on the literary scene in 2003 with her memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran in 2003, which remained on the New York Times best seller list for 117 weeks. Born in Tehran, Iran, she came to the United States in 1997 and became an American citizen in 2008. A professor of literature, she’d previously written a critical study of the works of Vladimir Nabokov.
There would be a second interview with Azar Nafisi in 2015 for her book about the importance of literature, The Republic of the Imagination.
Azar Nafisi Wikipedia page
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 mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025.
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.
BookShop West Portal. 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
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, Magic Theatre, Fort Mason.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre Judy Garland, We Need A Little Christmas with Debbie Wileman, Strand, Dec. 6-7. Rudolph & Scrooge, A YC Double Feature, December 18-20, Strand. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Jan. 21 – Feb. 1, 2026, Toni Rembe (Geary). Paranormal Activity, Feb. 19 – March 15, Toni Rembe.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
Berkeley Playhouse. Annie. November 7- December 21. Once, February 20 – March 22.
Berkeley Rep. The Hills of California .by Jez Butterworth, Oct. 31 – Dec. 7, Roda Theatre. Mother of Exiles by Jessica Huang, World Premiere, Nov. 14 – Dec. 21, Peets Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming productions.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings.
BroadwaySF: The Golden Girls Live, December 4-21, Curran. Moulin Rouge! The Musical, December 16-28, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters.
Broadway San Jose: Kinky Boots, Nov. 28-30. See website for other events.
Center REP: A Christmas Carol, Dec. 10 – 21..
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works See website for information on the 2026 season.
Cinnabar Theatre. Holiday Songbook, Dec. 19-21. My Fair Lady, January 23 – February 8, 2026.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Ebenezer Scrooge, an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Joel Roster, December 6 – 21. . See website for other events.
Golden Thread See website for upcoming productions.
Hillbarn Theatre: Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, December 4 – 28.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Soulful Christmas, December 19-21, Magic Theatre.
Los Altos Stage Company. A Christmas Carol, November 28 – December 21..
Lower Bottom Playaz August Wilson’s King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland.
Magic Theatre. Actors Reading Collective: Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, See website for other events and productions.
Marin Shakespeare Company: See website for events and productions.
Marin Theatre: The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell, Aaron Posner and Erin Weaver, Dec. 13 – 23. .The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov Jan . 29 – Feb. 22, 2026.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Ruthless, Dec. 5 – January 11, 2026.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. Cabaret, November 21 – December 14.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. Ada & The Engine by Lauren Gunderson, November 21 – December 7. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. See website for upcoming productions.
Presidio Theatre. Peter Pan Panto, Nov. 29 – Dec. 28. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: Mean Girls. May 2026.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. Into the Woods. November 30 – January 17, 2026.
SFBATCO. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season
Shotgun Players. Sunday in the Park with George, November 15 – December 30.
South Bay Musical Theatre: Let It Snow: A Broadway Holiday Celebration, December 20-21, Little Women, The Broadway Musical, January 24 – February 14, 2026.
SPARC: See website for upcoming events.
Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Lunatico See website for upcoming productions..
Theatre Rhino Pirates! by John Fisher, December 4 – 13. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Georgiana & Kitty, Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Dec. 3 – 28, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto.
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.
Misc. Listings:
BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Fort Mason Center. Events calendar.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances.
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 Richard@kpfa.org
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The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – November 27, 2025: Malcolm Margolin – Azar Nafisi appeared first on KPFA.
