>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP.

>> A LOCAL HOT SPOT FOR SPRING BREAKERS CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY.

>> WE'LL TALK TO FORT MYERS BEACH RESIDENTS ABOUT THE COMEBACK FROM HURRICANE IAN.

IT'S A TRICK OF THE TRADE QUICK COSTUME CHANGES IN LIVE THEATER.

BUT WE WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW IT'S DONE.

TONIGHT.

WE TAKE YOU UNDER THE SEA TO SHOW YOU THE MAGIC BEHIND THE MYSTERY.

AND BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TO ENJOY ONE OF OUR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BEACHES, MAKE SURE YOUR SKIN IS READY TO TALK TO A SKIN CARE DOCTOR ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF DAMAGE FROM THE SUN.

THE WORDS SPRING BREAK ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AND TONIGHT A LOOK AT ONE DESTINATION TURNING 30 YEARS OLD, SHARING ITS STORY AND MARKING A COMEBACK FROM MOTHER NATURE'S WRATH.

THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE EITHER JUST HOURS AWAY FROM STARTING THEIR SPRING BREAK.

WHILE OTHERS ARE WINDING DOWN AND PREPARING TO RETURN, VISITORS FLOCKING TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, MAKING IT A CENTRAL HUB FOR TOURISM, A VITAL PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

FORT MYERS BEACH RANKS AS A HOT SPOT FOR VACATIONERS ITS POPULARITY RISING AFTER HOTELS AND RESORTS FIRST POPPED UP ON THE ISLAND.

BACK IN THE 1950'S.

BUT AS WGCU KATE CRONIN REPORTS.

WELL, VISITORS HAVE DELIGHTED IN FORT MYERS BEACH FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THE TOWN IS YOUNG, JUST 30 YEARS OLD.

>> EVEN THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH ITSELF TALKS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ON A STAR ISLAND THAT PICKED UP IN 1920 AND THEN BECAME A TOURIST DESTINATION INTO THE 1950'S.

SO IT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE WHEN WE TELL YOU THE TOWN JUST CELEBRATED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY.

THE U.S.

MORE LIVE LONGER.

>> WE CAME HERE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND LOVED TO FISH.

SO WE HERE IN 2011.

>> THE FORT MYERS BEACH WEBSITE EVEN SAYS TALK OF INCORPORATING THE TOWN GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1935, BUT IT WILL BE ANOTHER 60 YEARS INTO ANYTHING BECAME OFFICIAL.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST.

1995 AFTER THE INCORPORATION OF ESTERO ISLAND THAT THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH CAME INTO EXISTENCE TO GET SUPPORT.

AND THEN I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE BY AGE 30 YEARS AGO, THEY HAD A VISION AND THEY REALLY WANT TO MAINTAIN.

>> A TOWN A FAR CRY FROM THE TIMES OF THE 1950'S WHEN SPRING BREAKERS STARTED ARRIVING AT THE BEACH FOR THEIR VACATIONS AND TURN THE ISLAND INTO A VIBRANT TOURISM DESTINATION.

>> SO I MEAN IT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THE PEOPLE AND HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHAT IT USED TO LOOK LIKE.

SOME OF THEM GET EMOTIONAL, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT THEY REMEMBER THAT WHAT USED TO BE THERE.

AND NOW IT'S SOMETHING NEW.

BUT EVEN THE GREATEST SUCCESS STORIES HAVE OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME.

>> THE LATEST FOR FORT MYERS BEACH THAT THREATENED ITS PLACE NOT ONLY AS A TOURIST DESTINATION, BUT AS A PLACE TO CALL HOME HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.

WITH HURRICANE IAN MADE LANDFALL.

AND THE REBUILD FROM THE CATASTROPHIC STORM IS FAR FROM COMPLETE.

BUT IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE OF FORT MYERS THAT THEY'VE COME THIS FAR AND NOW ARE TAKING TIME TO HONOR THE RICH HISTORY THAT SURROUNDS NEW BUILDINGS AND WELCOMES NEW VISITORS.

>> YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING'S CHEVES PEOPLE COME AND GO BUT >> A FEELING OF THE ISLAND IS ALWAYS THE SAME AS ALWAYS.

THAT SMALL LITTLE TERM.

HE'LL EVEN THOUGH THE BUILDINGS THEY SAID, LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW.

WE'RE COMPLETELY GONE.

>> BUT IT'S A IT'S IT'S IT'S THE PEOPLE FOR SURE.

>> FOR WGCUNEWS, I'M KATE CRONIN.

>> NEARLY EVERY BUILDING ON THE ISLAND, THE FORT MYERS BEACH WAS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY HURRICANE IAN, INCLUDING THE TOWN'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL REOPENED THAN WAS DAMAGED IN 2024.

AGAIN BY MILTON AND CLOSE DOWN AGAIN, THE FUTURE OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING REMAINS UNCERTAIN.

BUT WHAT IS CLEAR WITH THE GROWING POPULATION?

SO DOES THE NEED FOR SCHOOLS.

WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK TAKES US TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY IN LEE COUNTY GETTING ITS FIRST HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THE STAFF TOOK A WHOLE ROAD IN ALPHA IS A DESERT.

IT STREET.

BUT THIS IS THE SITE OF LEE COUNTY'S NEWEST HIGH SCHOOL.

THE GROUND IS TO START FOR NOW.

BUT CONSTRUCTION WILL START ON A NEW SCHOOL SET TO OPEN IN AUGUST 2027.

THE COUNTY IS GROWING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR ROB SPEAKER SAYS THE SCHOOL CAN'T COME FAST ENOUGH.

>> THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE OUT THIS WALLY EITHER ROUTE AND OVERCROWDED IT BACK.

IT'S OF THIS SCHOOL IS NEEDED TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THOSE RULES AND BE READY FOR FUTURE GROWTH.

>> EXCITEMENT WAS PALPABLE IN THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY.

THE EMPTY SPACE MEANS THAT LOTS OF WORK IS AHEAD FOR JOSEPH BRESEE.

KNOW THE PRINCIPAL SELECTED TO HELM THE NEW SCHOOL.

SO THAT WAS A BILL BY GET A CHANCE TO HIRE THE STAFF, GET A CHANCE TO BUILD A BUILDING OFF TO ALL THE RECRUITMENT.

DO ALL THE CURRICULUM, THINGS.

>> AND WORKING WITH THE ALL THE COMMUNITY OF HIS STARTS TO DATE IS JULY FIRST THE SUMMER.

SO THE FIRST THING I REALLY JUST WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING WHERE I WORK AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING TEACHERS.

>> EVERY LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP, THE COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CALL HOME.

AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE JUST SOMETHING THAT BECOMES KIND OF A BEACON FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> BEACON SIGNALING GROWTH AT THE SMALL TOWN ALPHA FOR WGCU IM YOUN JOO PARK.

>> SOME OF THE FUTURE GRADUATES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL IN ALVA, ALONG WITH OTHER STUDENTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WILL BE FUTURE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT.

THE MODEL UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM HELPS PREPARE STUDENTS TO BE LEADERS BEYOND OUR BORDERS AND REPRESENT COUNTRY'S INTERESTS.

FGCU HELD THE 33RD ANNUAL MOCK UN SUMMIT.

THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, ANDREA DORIA A TWENTY-TWENTY FGCU GRADUATE.

SHE SPOKE TO STUDENTS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES OVERSEAS.

HER FAMILY IS FROM COLOMBIA, BUT JOYOUS SPENT TIME IN CAMBODIA'S.

WELL WITH A HOST FAMILY WHO ESCAPED THAT COUNTRY'S MILITARY REGIME.

>> WHEN I WAS A PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER IN CAMBODIA, I LIVED IN A 4 GENERATION HOSPITALS AND MY HOST GRAHAM HAIR IS HIS SUPERVISORS OF THE FIGHT AND I WAS ALWAYS REALLY CARRY US ABOUT THEIR HISTORIES.

BUT I COULDN'T DEFEAT FOR THEM DIRECTLY BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED RUDE TO BRING UP TOPICS THAT RING UP NEGATIVE EMOTIONS.

SO FINALLY, AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF LIVING WITH MY HOST FAMILY, MY HOST GRANT FATHER TODD.

HE STARTED TELLING ME STORIES ABOUT HOW HE SURVIVED THE CUT BY REAVES AND HE WENT INTO HIDING AND THAILAND'S AT A BUDDHIST MONASTERY.

SO HE ACTUALLY LIVED WITH MONKS FOR A FEW YEARS.

>> AND THEN MOVED INTO A REFUGEE CARE.

>> SO GROWING UP, I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED.

SO WE'RE IN THE INTERNATIONAL A FIERCE AFTER MAYBE WITH HUMANITARIAN NEED.

AND NOW THAT I HAVE ALMOST LIKE A FACE IN A NAME TO THE PEOPLE.

HE SURVIVED OFF THE AID AT THE KEEP THAT IS YEAR IN AID.

IT'S A REALLY PERSONALIZED THE JOYOUS SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY THEY ALL SHARE IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

>> HAVING OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK THESE TO THESE REALLY INCREDIBLE IN A CALM BUT TENSE COOLERS.

IT'S A REALLY BIG RESPONSIBILITY.

I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY.

THE STUDENTS REALLY LISTEN AND PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO WHAT YOU TELL THEM.

SO I REALLY WANTED TO BE INTENTIONAL AND AND SHARE STORIES THAT MAYBE THEY HAD TO DO.

BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'LL TAKE THE STORIES AND THEY KNOW THAT EVEN APPLY THEM WHEN THEY MOVE ON.

>> BUT BOY, IT NOW WORKS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PARTNER STUDENTS WHO CAN WORK UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

COMING UP, IT MAY SEEM LIKE YOUR EYES ARE PLAYING TRICKS ON YOU.

WHEN A PERFORMER IS ON STAGE IN ONE COSTUME, THEN MAGICALLY APPEARS IN ANOTHER OUTFIT WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT.

WE'RE TAKING YOU BEHIND THE CURTAIN TO SEE HOW IT ALL WORKS.

THAT'S COMING UP ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

WATCHING AN ACTOR WALK OFF STAGE AND IMMEDIATELY REAPPEAR AT A DIFFERENT COSTUME CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST MAGICAL MOMENTS IN THEATER, ESPECIALLY IN A SHOW LIKE THE LITTLE MERMAID WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL HAS THE DETAILS.

>> WHAT COSTUME CHANGES AND A LAYER OF INTRIGUE TO ANY THEATER PRODUCTION.

THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE SHOW.

WERE 35 ACTORS CHANGE COSTUMES DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF A COUPLE OF HOURS.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LITTLE MERMAID.

LISA CLARK, THE THEATER DIRECTOR BISHOP HIGH SCHOOL, DESCRIBES THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHALLENGE.

THE ENSEMBLE.

I DON'T THINK THEY WEAR THE SAME COSTUME TWICE.

>> THEY START AS SAILORS AND THEN THEY BECOME SEA CREATURES.

>> AND THEN THEY BECOME CHEFS AND THEN THEY BECOME LILY PADS OR SEAGULLS.

AND THEN IN THE FINAL NUMBER, THEY'RE WEARING BALL GOWNS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

SO THEY'RE CONSTANTLY CHANGING COSTUMES AND MAKEUP TO TRY.

>> CLARK TOOK US BACK STAGE OF HEROES, ANDERSON THEATER DURING A RECENT LITTLE MERMAID DRESS REHEARSAL TO PULL BACK THE CURTAIN ON THE TECHNIQUES ACTORS USED TO MAKE QUICK COSTUME CHANGES.

LOOK, EFFORTLESS, THE FIRST IS LAYERING.

ROBIN DOAN, RYAN, WHO'S ASSISTING CLARK IN LITTLE MERMAID, EXPLAINS.

>> SOMETIMES YOU'RE WEARING 2, 3, OUTFITS UNDER THE OUTFIT THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE ON TO UCO.

YOU RIP OFF ONE LAYER.

YOU COME BACK OUT.

YOU GO BACK IN RIP OFF THE NEXT LAYER.

>> BURROW COSTUME DESIGNER HIGH RUSTIC SAYS QATAR AS WHO PLAYS ARIEL, IT REALLY MAKES EFFECTIVE USE OF LAYERING FOR A NUMBER OF THE COSTUME CHANGES SHOES REQUIRED TO MAKE BOTH ON STAGE AND IN THE WINGS.

>> WHEN SHE HAS A QUICK CHANGE COMING UP, SHE'LL HAVE BEEN DOWN UNDERNEATH ANOTHER SO THAT WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN, WE GO TO A BLACKOUT.

SHE CAME QUICKLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ASSISTANCE AND TAKE OFF THAT TOP LAYER.

>> AND EQUITY THEATERS, COSTUMES ARE OFTEN BUILT WITH SPECIAL FEATURES TO FACILITATE QUICK CHANGES THAT COMMUNITY AND HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE'S RARELY HAVE THAT LUXURY.

CLARK COATS.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THAT I THINK OF THEIR QUICK CHANGES WHEN I PICKED THE COSTUMES OUT.

BUT THAT'S JUST NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

THERE'S I MEAN, SOMETIMES WE'RE WORKING WITH LIKE VINTAGE ACCOUNTS FROM OUR SHOP BECAUSE IT'S WHAT LOOKS BEST IN THE SCENE.

BUT EVEN VINTAGE GALLONS OR OFF THE RACK COSTUMES CAN BE RETROFITTED TO HELP ACTOR SPEEDILY GET INTO AND OUT OF THEM.

>> SOMETIMES WILL MAKE ALTERATIONS LIKE WE'VE PUT SNAPS ON SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN SO THAT IT CAN JUST COATS AND SAID AND ALMOST EVERYTHING HAS DIFFERS, THOUGH, WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING A LOT EASIER.

RUSTIC EVEN USE MAGNETS.

THE FAST IN THE BACK OF ONE OF ARIEL STRESSES.

SO THAT COULD BE REMOVED ON STAGE WITH A SINGLE MOVEMENT TO REVEAL THE GOWN.

TORRES IS WEARING UNDERNEATH.

>> WEEDS LIKE TORRES WHO ARE BRITAIN HACKMAN WHO PLAYS PRINCE ERIC HAVE HELPERS KNOWN IN THEATERS, PRESSERS TO HELP THEM IN AND OUT OF THEIR COSTUMES WHILE SUPPORTING ACTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE ENSEMBLE HELP EACH OTHER, THEY'RE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN COSTUME CHANGES.

>> IT GETS TO BE CHOREOGRAPHY BACKSTAGE FOR THEM TO SURE TANKS HERE BECAUSE THAT'S NEXT YEAR.

THEY PUT ON MAKE SURE MY SHOES ARE HERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SCENE.

>> AND LEARNING THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF COSTUME CHANGE TAKES PRACTICE PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE.

>> AND THAT'S WHY WE GETTING COSTUME SO EARLY BECAUSE THOSE TRANSITIONS JUST TAKE A WILD WHERE IT'S REHEARSAL.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REHEARSING.

THE COSTUME CHANGES JUST AS MUCH AS WHAT HAPPENS ON STAGE.

>> WHAT IS LIVE THEATER?

DESPITE REHEARSALS, THINGS CAN GO AWRY.

STAYING CALM, BREATHING BEING IN THE MOMENT, ESCAPE RUSTIC SAYS THAT'S YET ANOTHER TECHNIQUE THAT KEPT TOURS IS PERFECT.

>> CATS REALLY THE MAGIC.

SHE MANAGES TO DO THINGS BEAUTIFULLY WITH SUCH GRACE GOING FROM ONE COSTUME TO THE NEXT AND WHEN EVERYTHING THE RIGHT AUDIENCES COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF COSTUME CHANGE.

>> DOES THAT VISION GROW HIGH SCHOOL MARCH 19TH THROUGH THE 22ND.

FOR WGCU NEWS IM TOM HALL WITH VIDEOGRAPHY BY AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE TARA WYROWSKY AND JOSEPH LYSHON THE 3RD.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL.

TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

PLEASURE BETTER.

THAT IS AN AMAZING SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE THAT WE JUST WATCHED AN I WAS TRULY BLOWN AWAY BY THE NUMBER OF COSTUMES THAT THESE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES HAVE TO CHANGE INTO DURING ONE PERFORMANCE.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?

>> WELL, THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE PACE.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT IT.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY COSTUMES ARE NEEDED FOR A SHOW LIKE THAT.

YOU FIGURE 35 ACTORS IN THAT SHOW.

AND ON AVERAGE, EACH ONE WILL PROBABLY CHANGE COSTUMES 8 TIMES.

SO IF YOU DO THE MATH, YOU TALK ABOUT HUNDREDS OF COSTUMES.

>> IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE.

AND THE FACT THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL GROUPS CAN ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH THIS.

HOW DO THE SCHOOL'S ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK?

>> WELL, >> ALL THEATERS THE STORAGE ROOM WITH ALL OF THEIR OWN COSTUMES.

SO ONCE THE DIRECTOR CHOOSES THE SHOW AND NONE STATES THEIR VISION FOR THE SHOW, THE COSTUME TEAM GOES IN.

THEY PULL OUT THEIR OLD COSTUMES AND THEY START REPURPOSING.

THEN TO SUPPLEMENT THEY'LL GO GO TO ETSY.

THEY'LL GO TO EBAY OR AND GET MATERIAL AND ACCESSORIES AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEED.

FORTUNATELY IN THEIR SHOW, FORT MYERS THEATER HAD DONE LITTLE HAD DONE LITTLE MERMAID LAST YEAR AND THE FOUNDER OF OF FORT MYERS THEATER, MICHELLE CAN SEE AND ROBIN'S ON RYAN WHO DIRECTED THAT SHOW MADE ALL OF THEIR COSTUMES AVAILABLE TO BISHOP BUREAU AND LISA CLARK.

AND THAT REALLY HELPED THEM AN AWFUL LOT.

AND YOU ARE COMMUNITY THEATERS ARE ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION.

THEY HELP EACH OTHER STORES, NOT ONLY COSTUMES, PROPS AND SETS ALL THE TIME.

BUT EVEN SO WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO OUTFIT HAD UPWARDS OF 2, 300 COSTUMES.

>> IT'S A BIG, BIG LEFT.

I LOVED THE FACT THAT THEY ARE USING MAGNETS TO HELP MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY THAT THAT WAS PRETTY INGENIOUS.

I DO, TOO.

AND I THINK IT'S ALSO VERY INTERESTING THAT SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE WEARING.

>> 4 DIFFERENT COSTUMES.

SO THEY JUST STEP OFF TO THE ENDS OF THE WINGS, RIP OFF A COSTUME.

WALKED BACK ON AND THEN THEY DO THAT LIKE 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRESSING ROOM.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INCREDIBLY TALENTED YOUNG ACTORS AND ACTRESSES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE BISHOP BURROW'S PERFORMANCE.

I LOOK.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO SEE IT COMING UP.

I THINK YOU SAID IT WAS MARCH 19TH 19 THROUGH THE 22ND WHICH IS AWESOME.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON THIS WEEK IN THE PERFORMING ARTS AREA THAT THAT WE COULD ENJOY?

>> WELL, CONTRARY TO WHAT TIMOTHY SHALLUM A SAYS, WHICH IS THAT NOBODY CARES ANYMORE ABOUT BALLET AND OPERA.

THIS WEEK IS A HUGE WE CAN OPERATE FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THAT'S BECAUSE OPERA NAPLES IS WINDING UP ITS FESTIVAL UNDER THE STARS.

SO FOR THE NEXT 3 NIGHTS, THEY'LL BE PERFORMING AT SUNSET IN BAKER PARK, PUCCINI'S TER AND DONORS EDDIE'S THE ELIXIR OF LOVE.

AND THEN TOMORROW RIGHT HERE ON THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY, THE PRELIMINARY ROUND BEGINS FOR THE LUCIANO PAVAROTTI INTERNATIONAL VOICE COMPETITION.

THEY HAD OVER 400 APPLICANTS.

THEY WENT DOWN THE FOR THE FIELD TO ABOUT 20.

THOSE KIDS WILL GO THROUGH 3 ROUNDS OF ELIMINATIONS IN THE FINALS WILL ALSO BE IN BAKER PARK SUNDAY NIGHT, BEGINNING AT 7 O'CLOCK.

SO IT IS REALLY A A HUGE EVENT.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF INTERNATIONAL EYES ARE ON THE COMPETITION.

AND AGAIN.

TO TAKE ISSUE WITH TIMOTHY SHALLUM A LITTLE BIT.

THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE RECENTLY BETWEEN 2020 2024 OF 11,000 OPERA GOERS.

AND WHAT THEY DISCOVERED IS THERE ARE MORE FIRST TIME OPERA GOERS NOW GOING TO THE OPERA THAN EVER BEFORE.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>> IS THERE A VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS SHOW THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE IN AS WELL THIS WEEKEND?

ABSOLUTELY.

>> PEOPLE SHOULD TRY TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET OVER TO LAST FOR THE ARTS FOR THEIR 40TH ANNUAL.

ALL FLORIDA SHOW.

IT'S A SURVEY OF SOME OF THE BEST ART, AN ARTIST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE 65,000 MILE, PUT A SQUARE MILE IT PENINSULA.

BUT WHAT I THINK IS REALLY VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THAT SHOW IS IT GIVES YOU AN INSIGHT INTO GENTLEMAN NAMED TIM YAEGER.

HE'S THE CHIEF CURATOR FOR RINGLING COLLEGE IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT HE LOOKS FOR WHEN HE'S WHEN HE'S CURATING A SHOW AND HE'S ONE THAT LOOKS FOR ANY KIND OF ARTWORK.

THAT TELLS AN INTRIGUING STORY THAT FOCUSES ON AND IDENTITY AND HISTORY AND PLACE.

SO IT'S LIKE WALKING THROUGH A BOOK WITH EACH PAINTING BEING THE TURN A PAGE TURNER AND HOOK.

>> IT'S ALL VERY EXCITING.

SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE AREA OF THE ARTS THIS WEEKEND IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AS USUAL.

TOM, THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT GOING ON.

THAT'S TRUE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING WITH US AND GIVING US A GREAT PREVIEW.

PLEASURE TO EARTH.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN EASILY FOLLOW ALONG WITH TOM'S EXCELLENT INFORMATION COVERAGE OF THE ARTS AND FIND UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> BY LOGGING INTO WGCU DOT ORG.

THAT'S ALSO WHERE YOU CAN CATCH OUR EXTENDED INTERVIEWS AND REPLACE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

ONE OF THE LARGEST COSTUME RENTAL BUSINESSES IS RIGHT HERE IN FLORIDA.

YOU CAN FIND IT AT THE SARASOTA OPERA ARE PBS STATION IN TAMPA WVU SHINES A LIGHT ON HOW ALL THESE COSTUMES ENDED UP HERE AFTER A BUSINESS IN TORONTO HAD TO CLOSE ITS STORES.

>> I ALWAYS REFER TO OPERATE AS THE ALL ENCOMPASSING ART FORM.

IT IS A MUSICAL FORM.

IT'S ALSO A DRAMATIC FOR IT CONTAINS SINGERS ORCHESTRA.

OF COURSE, IT ALSO HAS VISUAL ELEMENTS LIKE SETS AND COSTUMES.

AND SO IT'S ALL OF THE PIECES THAT CREATE THIS WONDERFUL ART.

>> COSTUMES AND SCENERY.

YS SET YOUR TO THE TIME AND PLACE.

WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COSTUMES IN OUR WAREHOUSE.

>> AND WE DO ALTERATIONS THEM FOR THE PARTICULAR PERSON.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A COSTUME FOR A PARTICULAR PART, THEN WE BUILD IT OR WE MAKE IT RIGHT HERE IN THE COSTUME SHOP.

SO WE DO BOTH.

>> FOR MANY YEARS, SARASOTA OPERA HAD BEEN RENTING COSTUMES FROM COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE NORTH AMERICA.

BUT OUR PRIMARY SOURCE WAS A COMPANY IN TORONTO CALLED MALABO.

THEY WERE THE LARGEST AND PROBABLY THE BEST COLLECTION OF RENTAL COSTUMES AVAILABLE FOR TRADITIONAL OPERA PRODUCTIONS.

OUR COSTUME DESIGNER HOWARD KAPLAN WORK WITH NOW ARE FOR A LONG TIME.

HE ALSO HAD DESIGNED SPECIFIC PRODUCTIONS FOR MALABAR TO BUILD RENT.

>> AND I BECAME VERY CLOSE WITH THE PARK MANAGERS AND THEY SAID, OH, WE'VE SEEN YOUR SKETCHES SO LUIGI YOUR SKETCHES AND THEN MR.

SPECTOR COMMISSION MOVED TO DESIGN PARTS PENS, AMS FOR THEM.

>> CLEVELAND OFFICE WHEN THE OWNER OF MALABAR LUIGI STAKEOUT DECIDED HE WANTED TO RETIRE AND SLOW DOWN.

HE FIRST CAME TO HOWARD KNOWING THAT HOWARD HAD THE SAME AESTHETIC AND THAT'S SARASOTA OPERA WOULD BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THIS INCREDIBLE COLLECTION THAT HE CREATED.

>> WE PURCHASED THE COLLECTION IN THE FALL OF 2019 AND IT MOVED DOWN AND 10 TRACTOR TRAILERS DURING THAT TIME.

BASICALLY $33 A COSTUME.

WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO FIND A WAREHOUSE AND A NICE CLEAN SPACE ACTUALLY BEFORE WE USED, IT WAS A VOLLEYBALL GYM.

>> THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD OUT AND IT'S ABOUT 16,000 SQUARE FEET.

WE WERE ABLE TO HOUSE THESE COST.

WE NOW HAVE ABOUT 50,000 COMPLETE COSTUMES.

THAT'S ABOUT 100,000 PIECES.

WHEN YOU COUNT EVERY COACH, EVERY PANTS, EVERY SHIRT.

SARASOTA OPERA, PURCHASE.

THIS COLLECTION TO USE FOR THEIR OWN USE.

BUT A SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS RENTING THESE COSTUMES TO OTHER OPPOR COMPANIES HERE TO COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE SURPRISED WHEN WE GOT THESE COSTUMES FOR MALABAR, A LOT OF THEM HAVE NAME TAGS AND ROUGH AND HAD THE NAMES OF SINGERS WHO VIEWS THEM OVER THE YEARS.

YEAH.

WAS WARNED BY MISTER PAVAROTTI.

AND HAS HIS NAME STILL IN THE LABEL.

AND WE HAVE OTHER GREAT SINGERS AS WELL.

PEOPLE LIKE LOU TRYING TO PUT OUT THE BEVERLY SILLS PLACIDO DOMINGO, MARILYN HORNE.

SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE NOT ONLY THE WONDERFUL COSTUMES THAT THEY USE, BUT ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WITH THEM.

>> EVERYTHING IS ORGANIZED BY SHOWS WE'RE PRODUCTIONS.

SO THERE'S A TASCA I'LL CARMEN, I'LL THERE'S THE AISLE THESE DRESSES ARE MADE TO BE ALTERED BY THAT.

I MEAN, >> THE IN SEEMS ARE 3 OR 4 INCHES THAT HAMS OR MAYBE 6 OR 8 INCHES.

SO IT CAN GO UP OR DOWN OR IN OR OUT.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY THERE TO FIT OTHER PEOPLE IN THAT SAME DRESS WHEN WORKING ON A PRODUCTION WILL FIRST READ THE LIBRETTO.

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.

>> AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH SKETCHES AND FABRICS GOING THROUGH OUR HUGE STOCK TO SEE WHAT WE CAN USE FOR THAT PRODUCTION >> AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS GREAT ABOUT OPERATES THAT THE STORIES ARE TIMES AND THE MUSIC IS SO IN GREECE.

MANY OF OUR AUDIENCES ARE LONGING FOR THAT LIVE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE.

AND I'VE BEEN REALLY HEARTENED BY THE FACT THAT IN THE POST COVID ERA WE'VE SEEN HUGE NUMBERS OF NEW FIRST-TIMERS COMING TO >> I LOVE THE CHALLENGE.

I LOVE THE DEDICATION THAT THE ARTISTS HAVE TO THEIR WORK.

THEY HAVE TO LEARN THEIR MUSIC TO HAVE TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE.

EVERY OPERA IS MAYBE SUNDAY IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.

AND SO IT'S A IT'S A VERY DEDICATED PROFESSION.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT I ENJOY BEING AROUND THAT.

I LOVE IT.

>> COMING UP NEXT, IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO WORK ON YOUR TAN PLANNING TO WORK ON YOUR TAN OVER SPRING BREAK, MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE PAYOFF THAT DEEP GLOW COMES WITH A GREATER RISK OF GETTING SKIN CANCER.

HOW DO ENJOY THE SUN AND PROTECT YOUR SKIN.

COMING UP NEXT.

AS WE LAUNCH INTO SPRING BREAK, WE WENT IN OR TANNING BEDS BETTER FOR YOU THAN THE SUN TO GET THAT GOLDEN GLOW.

AND SHOULD YOU GET A BASE TAN TO PREVENT BURNING?

WE SPOKE TO A SKIN DOCTOR WHO HAS EXPERT ADVICE ON THE SAFETY OF TANNING AND HEALTHIER OPTIONS TO GET YOUR BODY BRONZED.

>> WE KNOW TANNING BEDS OVERALL SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.

THEY DO A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS TO OUR SKIN AND OUR OVERALL HEALTH.

THE FIRST IS IT INCREASES YOUR RISK OF SKIN CANCER.

BOTH BASAL CELL AND SQUAMOUS CELL, WHICH ARE THE 2 MOST COMMON COMMON TYPES OF SKIN CANCER.

BOTH OF THOSE GET INCREASED BY AT LEAST 30%, EVEN WITH A SINGLE USE.

>> DOCTOR QATAR PULL WARNS TANNING BEDS CAN ALSO AGE OR SKIN AND CAUSE WRINKLES.

SHE SAYS IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING BURNED ON YOUR TRIP, MAKE SURE TO LOAD UP ON SUNSCREEN.

SHE RECOMMENDS BUYING A BRAND THAT IS BROAD SPECTRUM AND HAS AN SPF OF 30 OR HIGHER AND DON'T FORGET TO REAPPLY IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

OFTEN PEOPLE WILL THINK THEY ONLY NEED TO PUT IT ON ONCE.

BUT WHAT IF YOU WANT A BASED?

AND SO YOU HAVE SOME COLOR, DR, QATAR PULSE AS YOU'RE BETTER OFF GETTING A SPRAY TAN OR BUYING SELF TANNER.

>> THOSE ARE GENERALLY REGULATED AND IT'S REALLY JUST TO DIE THAT SITS ON THE SURFACE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY JUST SPRAYS AND SITS ON THE TOP LAYER OF SKIN.

AND THEN OVER TIME AFTER WASHING OR SWIMMING, IT JUST COMES OFF.

SO AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE'S REALLY NO NEGATIVE RISK TO THOSE OBVIOUSLY INHALING SOMETHING CAN CAUSE SOME IRRITATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE LIKE ASTHMA OR SOMETHING, MAYBE BEWARE.

BUT OTHERWISE, MOST OF THE FOAMS AND CREAMS TO APPLY CAN BE DONE VERY SAFELY.

YOU CAN EVEN DO THEM AT HOME AND THEY CAN GRADUALLY BUILD A TAN UNTIL YOU IT'S A COLOR THAT YOU'RE HAPPY WITH.

>> DR QATAR PULSES IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF TANNING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK WITH YOUR DERMATOLOGIST ABOUT GETTING A SKIN CANCER CHECK.

TOMORROW ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS, WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIDE FESTIVALS IN THE AREA AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTING IT.

WHILE OTHER CITIES HAVE BEEN AT ODDS WITH ORGANIZERS.

THAT'S COMING UP TOMORROW ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TO MAKE SURE TO HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND EXTENDED INTERVIEWS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.