October 10, 2024: Tim O’Brien, Author of “America Fantastica” and Chronicler of the Vietnam War

KPFA - Bookwaves/Artwaves

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.

Links to assorted local theater & book venues

Tim O’Brien

Tim O’Brien, whose latest novel, a contemporary satire, is “America Fantastica,” just out this month in trade paperback, in coversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded at Book Passage on November 6, 2023.

The author of ten previous novels, winner of the National Book Award in 1978 for Going After Cacciato, and acclaimed for his linked collection of stories about the Vietnam War, The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien took a 20-year break from writing to help raise his late-in-life children. He returned with a non-fiction book about those years, Dad’s Maybe Years, and has now come out with a satirical novel, America Fantastica.

This new book, written before and during the Covid pandemic, focuses on the nature of lying, and how America has fallen into a pandemic of lying. A satire set in California, Texas and Minnesota, and focuses on a former journalist who made a career of lying, and on other assorted liars.

In the interview, Tim O’Brien discusses this new book, and also discusses his feelings about war, about Vietnam, and about being a writer. Complete Interview

Review of “Choir Boy” at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage, extended to October 26, 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
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for specific days and times, and for staged readings at LaVal’s Subterranean Theater.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). See website for upcoming readings.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
American Conservatory Theatre A Whynot Christmas Carol, November 26-December 24, Toni Rembe Theatre.
Aurora Theatre Fallen Angels by Noel Coward, October 19 – November 17.
Awesome Theatre Company. Por La Noche (By Night), October 11 – 26, 2024. See website for information.
Berkeley Rep. Mexodus, September 13 – October 20, Peets Theatre. The Matchbox Magic Flute, October 18 – December 9, Roda Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming shows.
Boxcar Theatre. Nightmare House on Franklin Street, October 18 – November 1. New Years Eve at the Speakeasy, Jan. 1, 2025. Magic Man, Jan 3 – June 2, Palace Theatre.
Brava Theatre Center: New Roots Theatre Festival, November 14-17. See calendar for current and upcoming productions.
BroadwaySF: Wicked, August 28 – October 13, Orpheum. See website for events at the Orpheum, Curran and Golden Gate. Peter Pan, October 29 – November 3, Golden Gate. Kimberley Akimbo, November 6 – December 1, Golden Gate. See website for special events.
Broadway San Jose: Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse in Concert, October 9-10. 2024. Clue, October 29 – November 3, 2024.
California Shakespeare Theatre Upcoming season to be announced.
Center Rep: Dragon Lady, written and performed by Sara Porkalob, October 27 – November 24.
Central Works The Contest by Gary Graves, Oct. 19 – Nov. 17.
Cinnabar Theatre. Gutenberg! The Musical January 17-26, 2025, Warren Theatre, Sonoma State University.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre A Charlie Brown Christmas, Nov. 23 – Dec. 15.
Curran Theater: See website for special events..
Custom Made Theatre. In hibernation.
Cutting Ball Theatre. See website for information and notice of a final production.
42^nd Street Moon. See website for upcoming productions.
Golden Thread See website for events.
Hillbarn Theatre: Wait Until Dark, October 17 – November 3.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions
Lower Bottom Playaz See website for upcoming productions.
Magic Theatre. Tigerbear Productions presents Ghost Rave. October 17-27.. See website for other events.
Marin Theatre Company Yaga by by Kat Sandler, October 10 – November 3, 2024.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Ride the Cyclone by Jacob Richmond & Brooke Maxwell, September 20 – October 27 (extended). The Gulf, An Elegy by Audrey Cefaly, October 18 – November 24. My Brother’s Gift, based on the writings of Eva Geiringer Schloss and the poetry and paintings of Heinz Geiringer, every Sunday in October at 1 pm.
Oakland Theater Project. Angels in America, Parts I & II, September 27 – October 26, Marin Shakespeare Company, San Rafael.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Pear Theater. Once On This Island, September 13 – October 13, 2024.
Playful People Productions. Everybody’s Talking about Jamie, October 26-November 3, Hoover Theatre. San Jose.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: The Rocky Horror Show, October 10-31, Oasis Nightclub. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein’s at the Nikko.
San Francisco Playhouse. The Play That Goes Wrong, September 21 – November 9.
SFBATCO. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: See website for upcoming schedule.
Shotgun Players. Choir Boy by Tarrell Alvin McCraney. September 24 – October 26 (extended).
South Bay Musical Theatre: No, No Nanette, Sept 28 – Oct. 19. Saratoga Civic Theater.
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 Cabaret, November 21 – December 15. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. King James by Rajiv Joseph, October 9 – November 3, 2024.
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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