June 5, 2025: Joseph Heller: The Man Who Gave Us “Catch-22”

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.

Links to assorted local theater & book venues

 

Joseph Heller (1923-1999)

Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22 and its sequel, Closing Time, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded in San Francisco on October 17, 1994.

Since its original publication in 1961, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller has become a classic of anti-war literature, gaining fame during the Vietnam era for its dark and satirical look at American military life. Filmed to middling results by Mike Nichols in 1970, a new miniseries on Hulu has brought the novel back into the spotlight, where its focus on circular reasoning and insanity seems a propos to life during the current American regime. Catch-22 was Joseph Heller’s first novel. In the 1970s he wrote the novels Something Happened and Good as Gold, and in the 1980s God Knows and Picture This, and the non-fiction No Laughing Matter about his struggle with Guillan-Barre Syndrome

In 1994, Joseph Heller came out with a sequel to Catch-22, titled Closing Time, which deals with what happened to Yossarian and other characters after the end of World War II. This interview was recorded during that book tour and deals with both books, as well as other aspects of his career, along with comparisons to the works of Kurt Vonnegut.

Despite respectful reviews and a good reputation, Closing Time is mostly forgotten today, though it is easily available on-line in both paper and e-book. Joseph Heller published a memoir, Now and Then, in 1998, and another novel, Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man, an autobiographical work about an author who is unable to shake the success of his very first novel, was published posthumously in 2000. This is the first airing of the entire interview.

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Review of “Parade” at BroadwaySF Orpheum Theatre through June 8, 2025.

Review of “Pacific Overtures” at Brava Theater Center (Brava Center for the Arts) through June 15, 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 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 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).   See website for upcoming productions.
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. 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 Aves by Jihae Park, through June 8, 2025, Peets Theatre. The Big Reveal Live Show written and performed by Sasha Velour, June 4 – 15, Roda Theatre. Who’s With Me. written and performed by W. Kamau Bell, June 17-22, Roda Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company Julius Caesar, June 13-21, Live Oak Theater, Berkeley. y. See website for upcoming events and productions.
Boxcar Theatre. The Illusionist with Kevin Blake, live at the Palace Theatre.
Brava Theatre Center: Pacific Overtures, through June 15, 2025.
BroadwaySF: Parade,  May 20 – June 8, Orpheum. A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, June 3-22, Golden Gate. 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 Fiddler on the Roof June 7 – 22. See website for other events.
Golden Thread  Oriental, or 1001 Ways to Tie Yourself In Knots by Evren Odcikin June 7-8, Potrero Stage. See website for other events.
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. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, May 29 – June 22.
Lower Bottom Playaz  See website for upcoming productions.
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) To My Girls by JC Lee, through June 8. Pride Cabaret, June 6-21.  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. Pear Slices, May 23 – June 8. 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 summer camps.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: Next to Normal. May 30 – June 21.
Ross Valley Players: The Book of Will  by Lauren Gunderson, May 9 – June 8. See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time based on the novel by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens. May 1-June 21.
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.  Yellowface by David Henry Hwang, May 10 – June 14.
South Bay Musical Theatre:  Brigadoon, May 17-June 7,
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 Richard@kpfa.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The post June 5, 2025: Joseph Heller: The Man Who Gave Us “Catch-22” appeared first on KPFA.