Bookwaves/Artwaves – April 25, 2024: Trina Robbins – Robert MacNeil

KPFA - Bookwaves/Artwaves

​Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.

Links to assorted local theater & book venues

Trina Robbins (1938-2024) who died following a stroke on April 10, 2024, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded at her home in San Francisco on February 6, 2018.

Trina Robbins was a legend in comic book circles, an artist at a time when hardly any women drew comics. In this interview, she discusses her 2017 memoir, “Last Girl Standing,” which deals with her life as an artist, author, and clothing designer. She was the first woman to edit a comic book created by women, “It Ain’t Me Babe,” the first woman to draw “Wonder Woman,” and the single most influential historian chronicling the women who created comics and cartoons.

In this interview, she also talks about her other recent books including a history of women drawing comics during World War II, a graphic novel version of a short story collection originally written by her father in Yiddish, and a graphic novel based on a work by British author Sax Rohmer. Trina Robbins was clothing designer for Los Angeles rock and roll bands in the 1960s and for the Warhol factory in New York. She also was a regular contributor to “Wimmens Comix,” a series of comic books created by women from the 1970s through 1990s. Photo: Richard Wolinsky. Complete Interview.

Robert MacNeil (1931-2024), who died at the age of 93 on April 12, 2003, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios while on tour for the memoir, Looking for My Country.

Robert MacNeil spent several years as a correspondent and news anchor for NBC, the BBC, and PBS before becoming the co-host of the PBS evening news show, originally the Robert MacNeil Report, and later the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour from 1975 to 1995. Since that time, he wrote novels and plays as well as continuing to work in television.

In this interview he talks about his feelings about the United States from the vantage point of being born in Canada as well as his views on meeting various American presidents.

Robert MacNeil 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 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 Family Day, May 4th, events around Berkeley. 2025 Festival: June 1-2, guests include Joan Baez, Naomi Klein, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Jonathan Lethem.
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). The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Steven Adly Guirgis, May 4, 7 pm, Marin Shakespeare Company, San Rafael.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
American Conservatory Theatre Kristina Wong Sweatshop Overlord, March 30 – May 5, 2024, Strand Theater. A Strange Loop, April 18 – May 12, Toni Rembe Theater.
Aurora Theatre Blue Door by Tanya Barfield, April 19 – May 19. Streaming: March 14-19.
Awesome Theatre Company. Awesome High: A Sketch Comedy Play, directed by Nikki Menez, April 12-27, Eclectic Box, 446 Valencia, SF.
Berkeley Rep Galileo, World Premiere Musical, book by Danny Strong, with Raul Esparza, May 5 – June 10, Roda Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming schedule.
Boxcar Theatre. See website for upcoming shows.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for current and upcoming productions.
BroadwaySF: Funny Girl, April 30 – May 26, Orpheum. See website for special events at the Orpheum, Curran and Golden Gate.
Broadway San Jose: Peter Pan, June 25-30.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). Terrapin Roadshow, June 1-2; As You Like it, September 12 – 29.
Center Rep: Cabaret, May 26 – June 23, Lesher Center for the Arts.
Central Works Accused by Patricia Milton, July 13 – August 11.
Cinnabar Theatre. Shipwrecked! April 12 – 28.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre In Repertory: Hamlet and Rosencranz and Gildenstern Are Dead, September 7 – 22.
Curran Theater: See website for upcoming one-night only live events, including the Unscripted series with various celebrities.
Custom Made Theatre. In hibernation.
Cutting Ball Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
42^nd Street Moon. Forever Plaid, April 18 – May 5, 2024.
Golden Thread Returning to Haifa by Ghassan Kanafani, April 12 – May 4, Potrero Stage.
Hillbarn Theatre: Something Rotten, April 25 – May 12.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. (NO MORE) adjustments: A Black Queer Woman Evolves in Real Time, written and performed by Champagne Hughes, May 1-5, 2024. Fort Mason.
Magic Theatre. Riding the Currents of the Wilding Wind by Martha Gonzalez and Virginia Grise, April 18-21. Garuda’s Wing by Naomi Iizuka, June 5-23.
Marin Theatre Company Torch Song by Harvey Fierstein, May 9 – June 2, 2024.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) The Tutor by Torange Yeghiazarian, April 5 – May 12. The Giver, adapted by Eric Coble from the Newbery Award-winning book by Lois Lowry, April 26 – May 5.
Oakland Theater Project. Red, Red, Red by Amilio Garcia, conceived by Lisa Ramirez, World Premiere, April 26 – May 19.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Pear Theater. In Repertory: The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh; Love Letters by A.R. Gurney. April 19 – May 20.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete 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. The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, May 2 – June 15.
SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: Hangmen by Martin McDonagh. Regional premiere. April 3 – 28.
Shotgun Players. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. March 15 – April 27. Website also lists one night only events at the Ashby Stage.
South Bay Musical Theatre: Mary Poppins, the Broadway Musical, May 18 – June 8. Saratoga Civic Theater.
Stagebridge: Shady Manor, a musical play by Prescott Cole. June 14-16. 2501 Harrison St., Oakland.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Rhino Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Tiger Style by Mike Lew, April 6-28, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts..
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.

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 [e-mail]

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