Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 6, 2024: Maureen Gosling, The Films of Les Blank; Paul Auster Part Two

KPFA - Bookwaves/Artwaves

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

Links to assorted local theater & book venues

Maureen Gosling, filmmaker and film editor, discusses the films of noted documentary director Les Blank (1935-2013), which whom she collaborated for several years, along with her own career, in this interview with host Richard Wolinsky. A Retrospective of the films of Les Blank can be seen at Pacific Film Archive June 7 to July 27, 2024.

Les Blank is best known for “Burden of Dreams,” an award winning documentary detailing the efforts of German director Werner Herzog in making his film “Fitzcarraldo” in the Peruvian jungle. Les Blank’s work, though, focuses on the music and culture of the New Orleans and Louisiana, and the American South, with forays into the lives of several musicians, including rock legend Leon Russell.

Maureen Gosling worked as a sound recordist and editor (and co-filmmaker) on several of Les Blank’s films. Among her own films are There Ain’t No Mouse Music: The Story of Chris Strachwitz and Arhoolie Records and The Nine Lives of Barbara Dane.

Complete 45-minute Interview.

Paul Auster (1947-2024), in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded October 2, 2002 while on tour for his novel “The Book of Illusions.” Second of two parts. This segment of the interview has never aired.

Paul Auster, who died on April 30th, 2024 was a world-renowned novelist, memoirist, and film-maker whose works were translated into forty languages.

His career as a writer began with a well-received memoir, The invention of Solitude in 1982, and took off in 1987 with the publication of three connected novellas titled The New York Trilogy. His fame and success grew over the following years. He moved into film-making with the screenplays for two movies directed by Wayne Wang, Smoke and Blue in the Face, and then wrote and directed his own film, Lulu on the Bridge.
Complete 48-minute Interview.

Review of “The Lehman Trilogy” at ACT Toni Rembe Theatre through June 23, 2024.

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 See website for highlights from the 10th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, June 1-2, 2024.
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
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). Upcoming readings to be announced.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
American Conservatory Theatre The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini . Adapted by Ben Power, directed by Sam Mandes, May 25-June 23, Toni Rembe Theater.
Aurora Theatre The Lifespan of a Fact by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, June 21-July 21. Streaming: July 16-21.
Awesome Theatre Company. Por La Noche (By Night), October 11 – 26, 2924. See website for information.
Berkeley Rep Galileo, World Premiere Musical, book by Danny Strong, with Raul Esparza, extended to June 23, Roda Theatre. Mother Road by Octavio Solis, June 14-July 21, Peets Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming shows.
Boxcar Theatre. The Speakeasy. Must close June 29, 2024
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for current and upcoming productions.
BroadwaySF: Company, June 5-29, Orpheum. Mrs. Doubtfire, July 2-28. Girl from the North Country, July 30-Aug 18, Golden Gate. See website for events at the Orpheum, Curran and Golden Gate.
Broadway San Jose: Peter Pan, June 25-30.
California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). 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. La Boheme June 21 – July 5.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre In Repertory: Hamlet and Rosencranz and Gildenstern Are Dead, September 7 – 22.
Curran Theater: Sesame Street Live, Say Hello, June 7-8; The Cher Show, June 19-23.
Custom Made Theatre. In hibernation.
Cutting Ball Theatre. See website for upcoming shows.
42^nd Street Moon. Bright Star postponed.
Golden Thread Conversations with Artists via Zoom and Howlround TV, through June 13, 2024.
Hillbarn Theatre: Always…Patsy Cline, August 22 – September 15.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
Lower Bottom Playaz Pac and Biggie Are Dead by Biko Eisen-Martin, June 6 – 30, 2024, BAM House, Oakland.
Magic Theatre. Garuda’s Wing by Naomi Iizuka, June 5-23.
Marin Theatre Company Yaga by by Kurt Sondler, October 10 – November 3, 2024.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) tick..tick..BOOM by Jonathan Larson, through June 16, 2024. Ride the Cyclone by Jacob Richmond & Brooke Maxwell, September 20 – October 20.
Oakland Theater Project. Ghost of King Created by and featuring Michael Wayne Turner III June 6-23, 2024.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Pear Theater. Chaplin and Keaton on the Set of Limelight by Greg Lam, June 28 – July 21, 2024.
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 I, Too, Sing America, Grace Cathedral, June 13-15. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. June 5 – 30.
Shotgun Players. Best Available by Jonathan Spector. May 18 – June 16. 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 Lunatico The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson, through June 9, 2024. LaVal’s Subterranean Theater, Berkeley.
Theatre Rhino Four Play by Jake Brunger, June 13 – July 7, 2024. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Being Alive: A Sondheim Celebration June 5-20, 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]

The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 6, 2024: Maureen Gosling, The Films of Les Blank; Paul Auster Part Two appeared first on KPFA.