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June 26, 2025: Pride Month: Biographer David Leavitt & Playwright Terrence McNally
Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
PRIDE MONTH INTERVIEWS
David Leavitt, on the life and death of Alan Turing
David Leavitt, acclaimed gay novelist, essayist, biographer and short story writer, discusses his book The Man Who Knew Too Much: Alan Turing and the Invention of the Computer, recorded in the KPFA studios November 28, 2005.
David Leavitt has written ten novels, including The Lost Language of Cranes, Why England Sleeps and The Page Turner, four collections of short stories, and two non-fiction works. He’s also served as editor for several anthologies. His next novel, Bright Monday, will be published in 2026. His novels frequently, though not always, deal with issues in the gay community.
Alan Turing was one of the twentieth century’s greatest mathematicians. Along with leading the team that created the enigma machine, which broke German codes, his later work on the nascent world of computers has never been fully recognized.
Terrence McNally (1938-2020), Noted American Playwright
Terrence McNally (1938-2020), four time Tony Award winner, who frequently focused on the gay experience in his work. in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded at New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco, March 18, 2004.
Terrence McNally, who died of complications from COVID on March 24, 2020 at the age of 81, was a giant of the American theatre. He received tony awards for his plays Love Valour Compassion and Master Class, and for best book for a musical for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. His plays, musicals and operas have been performed around the world. Among his other plays were Lisbon Traviata, Lips Together Teeth Apart, The Ritz, and Frankie and Johnnie in the Claire de Lune.
His plays, rich with humor and deft characterization, also were political in nature, and he never shied away and he was always willing to take a stand especially in the area of gay rights and the necessity for community. Complete Interview.
Review of “Co-Founders,” a new hip hop musical at ACT Strand Theatre through July 6, 2025.
Review of “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” a new musical at TheatreWorks Mountain view Center for the Performing Arts through July 13, 2025.
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. Summers at John Hinkel Park: Cymbeline opens July 4; The Taming of the Shrew opens August 16. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). All readings at 7 pm: The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath, July 7 Z Below; July 13 Aurora; Appropriate by Brandon Jacob Jenkins, July 20 Aurora, July 21 Z Below. The Best We Could by Emily Feldman, July 27 Aurora, July 28 Z Below; Recipe by Michael Gene Sullivan, August 4 Aurora; August 5 The Magic.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Afro-Solo Theatre Company.See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre Co-Founders. a world premiere hip-hop musical May 29 – July 6, Strand. Young Conservatory: Hadestown, Teen Edition, August 8-17, Strand. Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, Sept 18 – Oct 19, Toni Rembe Theatre.
Aurora Theatre The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe by Jane Wagner, with Marga Gomez, July 12 – August 10.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
Berkeley Rep. The Reservoir .by Jake Brasch, Sept. 5 – Oct 12, Peets Theatre. See website for summer events.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming events and productions.
Boxcar Theatre. The Illusionist with Kevin Blake, live at the Palace Theatre.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. The Heat Will Kill Everything written and performed by Keith Josef Adkins, July 17-19.
BroadwaySF: & Juliet, July 1-27, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters.
Broadway San Jose: Moulin Rouge!, The Musical. July 8-13. See website for other events.
Center Rep: Happy Pleasant Valley, June 1- 29. Lesher Center.
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works The Last Goat by Gary Graves, June 28 – July 27.
Cinnabar Theatre. Bright Star, June 13-29, Sonoma State.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Pippin, August 30 – Sept. 14. See website for other events.
Golden Thread The Return by Hanna Eady and Edward Mast, August 7 – 24, The Garret at ACT’s Toni Rembe Theatre.
Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for specific workshops and events.
Los Altos Stage Company. Guys & Dolls, July 18 – 27, Los Altos Youth Theatre.
Lower Bottom Playaz August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, August 8 -31. August Wilson’s King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland.
Magic Theatre. Aztlan by Luis Alfaro, World Premiere, June 25 – July 13. See website for additional events.
Marin Shakespeare Company: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, June 13 – July 13, Forest Meadows Amphitheatre. See website for other events.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Ride the Cyclone, the musical, July 11 – August 15.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. Les Blancs (The Whites) by Lorraine Hansberry, July 11 – 27.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. Constellations by Nick Payne, June 27 – July 20. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. See web page for information on upcoming shows.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: 9 to 5, the Musical. September 2025.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. My Fair Lady, July 13 – Sept. 13.
SFBATCO. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. The Day The Sky Turned Orange by Julius Ernesto, Sept 5 – Oct. 5, Z Space.
San Jose Stage Company: Sweet Charity, June 4 – 29..
Shotgun Players. The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest, July 12 – August 10.
South Bay Musical Theatre: The Sound of Music, September 27 – October 18.
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 events and producctions.
Theatre Rhino Doodler by John Fisher, May 31 – July 6, The Marsh, San Francisco. The Laramie Project, June 19-29.. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean, A New Musical, June 18 – July 13. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
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 [email protected]
.
.
The post June 26, 2025: Pride Month: Biographer David Leavitt & Playwright Terrence McNally appeared first on KPFA.
View all episodes
By KPFA
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Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
PRIDE MONTH INTERVIEWS
David Leavitt, on the life and death of Alan Turing
David Leavitt, acclaimed gay novelist, essayist, biographer and short story writer, discusses his book The Man Who Knew Too Much: Alan Turing and the Invention of the Computer, recorded in the KPFA studios November 28, 2005.
David Leavitt has written ten novels, including The Lost Language of Cranes, Why England Sleeps and The Page Turner, four collections of short stories, and two non-fiction works. He’s also served as editor for several anthologies. His next novel, Bright Monday, will be published in 2026. His novels frequently, though not always, deal with issues in the gay community.
Alan Turing was one of the twentieth century’s greatest mathematicians. Along with leading the team that created the enigma machine, which broke German codes, his later work on the nascent world of computers has never been fully recognized.
Terrence McNally (1938-2020), Noted American Playwright
Terrence McNally (1938-2020), four time Tony Award winner, who frequently focused on the gay experience in his work. in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded at New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco, March 18, 2004.
Terrence McNally, who died of complications from COVID on March 24, 2020 at the age of 81, was a giant of the American theatre. He received tony awards for his plays Love Valour Compassion and Master Class, and for best book for a musical for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. His plays, musicals and operas have been performed around the world. Among his other plays were Lisbon Traviata, Lips Together Teeth Apart, The Ritz, and Frankie and Johnnie in the Claire de Lune.
His plays, rich with humor and deft characterization, also were political in nature, and he never shied away and he was always willing to take a stand especially in the area of gay rights and the necessity for community. Complete Interview.
Review of “Co-Founders,” a new hip hop musical at ACT Strand Theatre through July 6, 2025.
Review of “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” a new musical at TheatreWorks Mountain view Center for the Performing Arts through July 13, 2025.
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. Summers at John Hinkel Park: Cymbeline opens July 4; The Taming of the Shrew opens August 16. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). All readings at 7 pm: The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath, July 7 Z Below; July 13 Aurora; Appropriate by Brandon Jacob Jenkins, July 20 Aurora, July 21 Z Below. The Best We Could by Emily Feldman, July 27 Aurora, July 28 Z Below; Recipe by Michael Gene Sullivan, August 4 Aurora; August 5 The Magic.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Afro-Solo Theatre Company.See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre Co-Founders. a world premiere hip-hop musical May 29 – July 6, Strand. Young Conservatory: Hadestown, Teen Edition, August 8-17, Strand. Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, Sept 18 – Oct 19, Toni Rembe Theatre.
Aurora Theatre The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe by Jane Wagner, with Marga Gomez, July 12 – August 10.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
Berkeley Rep. The Reservoir .by Jake Brasch, Sept. 5 – Oct 12, Peets Theatre. See website for summer events.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming events and productions.
Boxcar Theatre. The Illusionist with Kevin Blake, live at the Palace Theatre.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. The Heat Will Kill Everything written and performed by Keith Josef Adkins, July 17-19.
BroadwaySF: & Juliet, July 1-27, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters.
Broadway San Jose: Moulin Rouge!, The Musical. July 8-13. See website for other events.
Center Rep: Happy Pleasant Valley, June 1- 29. Lesher Center.
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works The Last Goat by Gary Graves, June 28 – July 27.
Cinnabar Theatre. Bright Star, June 13-29, Sonoma State.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Pippin, August 30 – Sept. 14. See website for other events.
Golden Thread The Return by Hanna Eady and Edward Mast, August 7 – 24, The Garret at ACT’s Toni Rembe Theatre.
Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for specific workshops and events.
Los Altos Stage Company. Guys & Dolls, July 18 – 27, Los Altos Youth Theatre.
Lower Bottom Playaz August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, August 8 -31. August Wilson’s King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland.
Magic Theatre. Aztlan by Luis Alfaro, World Premiere, June 25 – July 13. See website for additional events.
Marin Shakespeare Company: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, June 13 – July 13, Forest Meadows Amphitheatre. See website for other events.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Ride the Cyclone, the musical, July 11 – August 15.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. Les Blancs (The Whites) by Lorraine Hansberry, July 11 – 27.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. Constellations by Nick Payne, June 27 – July 20. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. See web page for information on upcoming shows.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: 9 to 5, the Musical. September 2025.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. My Fair Lady, July 13 – Sept. 13.
SFBATCO. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. The Day The Sky Turned Orange by Julius Ernesto, Sept 5 – Oct. 5, Z Space.
San Jose Stage Company: Sweet Charity, June 4 – 29..
Shotgun Players. The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest, July 12 – August 10.
South Bay Musical Theatre: The Sound of Music, September 27 – October 18.
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 events and producctions.
Theatre Rhino Doodler by John Fisher, May 31 – July 6, The Marsh, San Francisco. The Laramie Project, June 19-29.. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean, A New Musical, June 18 – July 13. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
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 [email protected]
.
.
The post June 26, 2025: Pride Month: Biographer David Leavitt & Playwright Terrence McNally appeared first on KPFA.
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