Bill English, Artistic Director of San Francisco Playhouse [1], in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded via zencastr February 9, 2022. Bill English is the director of SF Playhouse's latest production, Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery, playing through March 5, 2022, as well as the company's Artistic Director. In this interview he discusses, in depth, the themes and characters of the play, as well as some of the challenges in bringing this production to fruition. He also talks about upcoming shows in the SF Playhouse season.   [1] https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/

KPFA - Bay Area Theater

Interview: Bill English, Artistic Director, San Francisco Playhouse, 2022

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "Heroes of the Fourth Turning" by Will Arbery, directed by Bill English, at San Francisco Playhouse [1] through March 5, 2022. [1] https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/

Review: “Heroes of the Fourth Turning” at San Francisco Playhouse

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "Swept Away" at Berkeley Rep's Peets Theater through March 6, 2022.

Review: “Swept Away” at Berkeley Rep’s Peets Theater

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the national tour company of "Freestyle Love Supreme" at ACT's Geary Theater through February 13, 2022.

Review: “Freestyle Love Supreme” at ACT Geary Theater

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "The Woman in Black," adapted from the novel by Susan Hill, written by Stephen Mallatratt and directed by Robin Herford at ACT Strand Theater [1] through January 16, 2022. [1] https://www.act-sf.org/whats-on/limited-engagements/the-woman-in-black/

Review: “The Woman in Black” at ACT Strand

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley" by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, at Marin Theatre Company [1] through December 19, 2021.     [1] https://www.marintheatre.org/productions/georgiana-and-kitty-christmas-at-pemberley

Review: “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley,” at Marin Theatre Company

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "Wintertime" by Charles L. Mee, directed by Les Waters, at Berkeley Rep [1]'s Roda Theater through December 19, 2021. [1] https://www.berkeleyrep.org/shows/wintertime/

Review: “Wintertime” by Charles L. Mee, at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theater

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "My Fair Lady," the Lincoln Center revival production, at BroadwaySF [1] 's Orpheum Theater through November 28, 2021.   Photo: BroadwaySF [1] https://broadwaysf.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=C715B7EB-EF04-47CE-A998-B8CC202DE60F

Review: “My Fair Lady,” Lincoln Center Revival, at the Orpheum

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "The Great Khan" at San Francisco Playhouse [1] through November 13, 2021, live on stage and on video by demand.   [1] https://www.sfplayhouse.org/sfph/2021-2022-season/the-great-khan/

Review: “The Great Khan,” at San Francisco Playhouse

Michael Gene Sullivan, whose play "The Great Khan" runs live and streaming at San Francisco Playhouse through November 13th, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. A principal member of the San Francisco Mime Troupe since 1988, and currently the Playwright in Residence ("The Great Khan" is co-produced with the Mime Troupe), Michael Gene Sullivan has also been an actor and director, both with the Mime Troupe and in several companies around the Bay Area, including Berkeley Rep, A.C.T., TheatreWorks and San Francisco Playhouse. As he explains in the interview, he uses his playwrighting to further the cause of social activism, and focuses attention particularly on race and on the narratives we learn, and the narratives we can unlearn.

Interview: Michael Gene Sullivan, playwright, “The Great Khan” at San Francisco Playhouse

Tim Bond, Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, [1] in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. Shortly after Tim Bond was hired and began working with Robert Kelley, who founded TheatreWorks in 1970 and spent the next fifty years as Artistic Director, the pandemic hit, and the company had to shut down its season. Formerly the Associate Artistic Director at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Producing Director at Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University Department of Drama, and Professor at the University of Washington School of Drama, Tim Bond has spent a distinguished career as a director in several different venues. In this interview recorded on October 19, 2021, he talks about his career, about taking TheatreWorks through the pandemic shutdown, the rise of streaming, and the effects of the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, as well as gives a rundown of the upcoming slate of plays for the 2021 season. Lizard Boy, a new musical, plays at Mountainview Center for the Arts through October 31. Streaming On Demand through November 7, 2021. Link for more information. [2] [1] https://www.theatreworks.org/ [2] https://www.theatreworks.org/season51/lizard-boy/

Interview: Tim Bond, Artistic Director, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, 2021

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "The Claim" by Tim Cowbury, directed by Rebecca Novick, at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage through November 7, 2021. Shotgun Players website [1] [1] https://shotgunplayers.org/Online/default.asp

Review: “The Claim” at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage

KPFA theatre critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "Jesus Christ Superstar," the 50th Anniversary touring production, which runs through November 7th at the Golden Gate Theater. BroadwaySF website [1] [1] https://broadwaysf.com/Online/default.asp

Review: “Jesus Christ Superstar” 50th Anniversary Tour, at the Golden Gate

KPFA theater critic Richard Wolinsky reviews "The Winter's Tale" by William Shakespeare, directed by Eric Ting, at Cal Shakes (California Shakespeare Theater) extended through October 2, 2021.

Review: The Winter’s Tale, at Cal Shakes

Eric Ting, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes), in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded August 31, 2021 via zencastr. This interview is part of a series of discussions with artistic directors and their staff about how various theatre companies dealt with the Covid shutdown and its continuing aftermath. Cal Shakes is slightly different from other companies in that it has an outdoor venue, the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda, California, and only operates during the summer months. Here, Eric Ting discusses the time of the shutdown, in March 2020; the effect of the murder of George Floyd on Cal Shakes' on-line programming, how the company survived during the many months after the shutdown, and its continuing coordination with the community it serves. The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare, adapted by Eric Ting and Philippa Kelly, plays at the Bruns in Orinda through October 2, 2021. Cal Shakes website [1] [1] https://calshakes.org/

Interview: Eric Ting, Artistic Director, Cal Shakes, 2021

A podcast of theater reviews by Richard Wolinsky that air on KPFA’s Up Front, Arts-Waves and Talkies programs, plus additional unaired reviews by Richard Wolinsky and C.S. Soong. Also: interviews with Bay Area artistic directors, as well as performers, playwrights, directors and others in the local theatrical industry. Review air dates can be found: http://bookwaves.homestead.com/Theatre_Reviews.html

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KPFA - Bay Area Theater

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