>> IS THIS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS?

COMING UP, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNS NEW LEGISLATION AIMED TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF FLORIDA ELECTIONS.

>> BUT CRITICS ARE CONCERNED THAT NEW RESTRICTIONS MAY LIMIT WHO CAN CAST THEIR BALLOT DURING THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

PUTTING A SPIN ON A SHAKESPEARE CLASSIC, THE PERFORMANCE THAT TAKES THE STORY OF JULIUS CAESAR AND ADAPTED TO THE MODERN ERA AND THE ARTWORK THAT CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY.

WE HAD TO HARLEM HEIGHTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MURAL.

THAT BRINGS ONE NEIGHBORHOOD'S HISTORY TO THE FOREFRONT.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

A FEDERAL LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS HOURS AFTER HE SIGNED A NEW LAW.

HE SAYS WILL SAFEGUARD THE ELECTION PROCESS.

THE LAW'S A MODIFIED VERSION OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SAFEGUARD AMERICAN VOTER ELIGIBILITY ACT.

IT WOULD REQUIRE NEW AND CURRENT VOTERS TO PROVIDE PROOF OF U.S.

CITIZENSHIP SUCH AS A PASSPORT OR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN ORDER TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, JUST FILED BY MULTIPLE VOTING RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS.

THE NEW LAW WILL, QUOTE, MAKE IT HARDER FOR ELIGIBLE U.S.

CITIZENS TO VOTE AND FOR SOME IMPOSSIBLE, A CONTRADICTION TO GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

>> FOR TAX AND EXPANDS INTEGRITY AND OUR VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS BY REQUIRING THE VERIFICATION OF U.S.

CITIZENSHIP.

WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION, OUR CONSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA SAYS ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS THE LAW.

>> ANDREW GARVER IS COUNSEL WITH THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE.

HE JOINS US TODAY FROM NEW YORK.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

>> NOELLE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> WE ARE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THIS SAVE ACT BOTH ON THE STATE LEVEL AND ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR OUR AUDIENCE WHAT IS THE SAVE ACT?

>> THE SAVE ACT IS A BILL BEFORE CONGRESS THAT WOULD DO A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WOULD BE REALLY HARMFUL FOR OUR ELECTIONS NATIONWIDE, PERHAPS AMONG THOSE IS THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE ALL AMERICANS TO PRESENT A PASSPORT OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

NOW, THERE ARE 21 MILLION AMERICANS WHO DON'T HAVE READY ACCESS TO THESE DOCUMENTS IS A POLICY THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT VAST SWATS OF THE ELECTORATE IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT ANYONE BUT AMERICANS ARE VOTING AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE VOTING IN OUR ELECTIONS.

AND SO THIS BILL WOULD REALLY BE A VOTER SUPPRESSION MEASURE THAT MAKE IT A LOT HARDER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO VOTE WHILE NOT ACTUALLY PROVIDING ANY ADDITIONAL ELECTION SECURITY.

FLORIDA HAS PASSED ITS OWN VERSION OF THE SAVE ACT IN RECENT DAYS.

THAT AGAIN WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF ITS CITIZENS TAP TO PRESENT SOMETHING LIKE A PASSPORT OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER A VOTE AND THAT'S GOING TO FALL REALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA.

>> IS THE SAVE ACT THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED BY A GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AND SIGNED INTO LAW THIS WEEK.

IS THAT VERY SIMILAR OR THE SAME AS TO WHAT IS BEING DONE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES, BUT THERE ARE SOME KEY DIFFERENCES THE FEDERAL BILL WOULD REQUIRE EVERYONE EVERY TIME THEY REGISTER OR EVERY TIME THE CHANGE THEIR REGISTRATION TO AFFIRMATIVELY PRESENT THE PASSPORT BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT.

THE FLORIDA BILL ADDS A WRINKLE TO THAT.

IT DIRECTS THE STATE TO CREATE A SORT OF CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION SYSTEM.

SO WHENEVER YOU SUBMIT A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM, THEY WILL CHECK THAT AGAINST SOME THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES RECORDS IF DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES SAYS THAT YOU'RE A CITIZEN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER.

BUT FOR VOTERS WHERE THEY'RE NOT VERIFIED, THEY WILL THAT HAVE TO PRESENT THE PASSPORT OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS SIGNIFICANT DMV RECORDS CAN BE ADDED DATE.

PEOPLE MAY GO THERE TO GET A LICENSE BEFORE THEY BECOME A CITIZEN AND THAT'S NOT UPDATED IN THE SYSTEM.

THESE RECORDS SOMETIMES ARE, YOU KNOW, AREN'T ALWAYS THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INTO THE COMPLICATED TO GET THESE TO THE SYSTEMS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

SO IT'S A REALLY BIG BURDEN FOR OFFICIALS IN THE STATE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE PARTICULARLY HARSH IMPACTS AND CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA, INCLUDING OLDER VOTERS, PEOPLE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES MAY BE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LIST.

>> DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS REALLY A FEDERAL ATTACK ON THE RIGHT TO VOTE?

>> THE SAVE ACT IS PART OF A WIDESPREAD ATTACK WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ON THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

TO BE CLEAR, OUR ELECTIONS ARE VERY SAFE AND VERY SECURE.

EVERYTHING.

WE'VE SEEN EVERY STUDY, EVERY INVESTIGATION HAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS NO WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD.

TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THE STATE OF UTAH RECENTLY GRANITZ THEIR BIG INVESTIGATION.

IT RAN ITS VOTER ROLLS THROUGH THIS FEDERAL DATABASE TO FIND ANY NONCITIZENS ON THERE.

THERE'S ABOUT 1.7 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS IN UTAH AND THEY FOUND ONE NONCITIZEN ON THE ROLLS.

THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PROBLEM.

IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL FOR NON-CITIZENS TO VOTE OR REGISTER TO VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

THAT'S TRUE.

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THAT'S TRUE.

IN EVERY STATE.

AND ALL THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT ONLY ELIGIBLE AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE VOTING IN OUR ELECTIONS.

>> THE SAVE ACT WILL FACE POTENTIAL LAWSUITS.

WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE LAW REMAINS IN ITS CURRENT FORM?

>> IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO PRONOUNCE IT ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A GIVEN LAWSUIT.

I DEFINITELY I BELIEVE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT LEGAL ISSUES WITH IT.

AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT WHOLE PLACE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON THE RIGHT VOTE UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION.

STATES MAY NOT PLACE WITH CALLED AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE RIGHT TO VOTE, WHICH MEANS IF THEY'RE GOING TO PUT UP HURDLES, IF THEY'RE GONNA MAKE VOTERS JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

THERE HAS TO BE PROPORTIONATE REASON WHY THE STATE IS DOING THAT.

AND WHEN THIS IS THIS NEW LAW SEEMS TO NOT RELY ON ANY NEED FOR ELECTION SECURITY, BUT HE'S PUTTING UP BIG NEW HURDLES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK RAISES A LOT OF RED FLAGS.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US TODAY ABOUT THIS?

SAY THAT?

>> THE SAVE ACT AND SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT'S MAKING IT HARDER FOR AMERICANS TO VOTE ARE OFTEN ROOTED IN EFFORTS TO PROMOTE FALSE IS ABOUT OUR ELECTIONS.

THE TRUTH IS OUR ELECTIONS OR SAFE AND SECURE.

BUT IN THE OTHER TRUTH IS THERE ARE 21 MILLION AMERICANS WITHOUT READY ACCESS TO A PASSPORT OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

SO WHEN THESE ALSO TO TRANSLATE INTO POLICY.

IT'S THE AMERICAN CITIZENS TRYING JUST TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE TO BE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY THAT SUFFERED THE >> MR.

ANDREW GARVER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM NEW YORK.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

VERY MIA.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON VOTER RIGHTS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE.

BE SURE TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

WELL, COMING UP, GIVING A MODERN SHAKEUP TO THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE.

THE LOCAL THEATER GROUP THAT IS TAKING A CLASSIC PERFORMANCE AND GIVING IT A 21ST CENTURY MAKEOVER.

AMERICAN COUNTRY FOLK MUSIC TRACES ITS ROOTS BACK 100 YEARS.

THAT'S WHEN EUROPEAN BALLADS CROSSED WITH BLUES TO FORM A UNIQUE STYLE IS USED TO CALL ITS OWN OVER THE NEXT CENTURY.

THE STYLE EVOLVED.

BUT THE MESSAGES AND STORYTELLING REMAIN THE SAME WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL WAS AT A RECENT PERFORMANCE THAT CAPTURED THE SPIRIT OF THE SONGS OF OLD PERFORMED BY THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICIANS.

>> FOR RISING COUNTRY, FOLK SINGER SONGWRITERS ON STAGE FOR A TWO-HOUR ACOUSTIC CONCERT AT THE ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS.

THERE ARE 16 SONGS PLUMBED A RANGE OF UNIVERSAL EMOTIONS.

EXPERIENCE FROM A DISTINCTLY FEMALE PERSPECTIVE.

THEIR UNVARNISHED EXPLANATIONS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT GAVE RISE TO EACH SONG AS IMPACTFUL AS THEIR HEARTFELT LYRICS.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FAVORITE CLEAR LIP A DELIVERED SO FULL DYNAMICS.

SONGWRITING INFUSED WITH SHARP WIT AND FEARLESS AUTHENTICITY.

SHE'S SAYING OF A FRIEND WHO LOST HIS BATTLE WITH ADDICTION ABOUT THE PAIN OF BEING FORGOTTEN AND HER ESTRANGEMENT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ARE POLITICALLY POLARIZED AND FRACTURED SOCIETY.

>> AND I THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT CELL PHONES CONSTANTLY.

AND EVERYTHING IS READY TO BE AND EVERYTHING GETS MORE CLICKS AND HITS IT.

THERE'S A CONTROVERSY.

SO NOBODY'S WAITING IF EVERYBODY FINDS COMMON GROUND THINGS AND THEY ALL AGREE ON IN.

SO ALL OF THAT AND -13 RATING, SOME OF THE THINGS I REALLY SEE Y'ALL WANT US TO BE DOWN TO THE SONG.

>> AND IT'S SAW ITS.

>> THE FALLS >> BOWLES SAID THE U.S.

TEAM.

>> APRIL CUSHMAN WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AS A TOP 10 EMERGING ARTIST IN A NATIONAL CONTEST JUDGED BY COUNTRY STAR LAINEY WILSON.

A RISING FORCE IN THE NASHVILLE MUSIC SCENE.

SHE'S SHARED THE STAGE WITH ARTISTS, INCLUDING SCOTTY MCCREERY, DARIUS RUCKER, AND KEPT MORE.

THIS SONG HAS BEEN OPTIONED BY GRAMMY-NOMINATED COUNTRY, POP SINGER, SONGWRITER KELSEY BALLERINI.

>> HOW HE HAS BEEN LOST TO DO.

>> TO ESSENTIALLY WAS STILL HASN'T SHOWERED.

AND I JUST WANT TO PLAY IN THE HANDS OF MY HANDLING IT.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE 2 POINT.

>> AND OF SAUNDERS, MY BRAIN IS ALWAYS GOING LIKE WE INTEGRATE SOME TIME IN >> AND YOU CAN SEE BILLBOARD CHARTING RECORDING PARTNER, SHELLEY FAIRCHILD IS A PIONEERING JANICE JOPLIN, US VOICE FOR THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY IN NASHVILLE.

SHE HAS SONGS RECORDED BY LITTLE BIG TOWN.

TANYA TUCKER AND TIRED.

AMONG THE 4 SONG SHE PERFORMED WAS ONE ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH.

I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO EVEN NEED TO MAKE A CALL.

>> TO GET HELP OR TO THE PURSES OF ANY CALLS.

PERSONAL PAGE ISN'T WORRIED FOR ASIANS.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SING WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME TO GET SO MANY TIMES.

AND THEN >> SO THAT'S WHAT THE SONG IS ABOUT.

A TWO-TIME SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR HONOREE FROM THE SONGWRITER SHOWCASE OF AMERICA.

KELLY NOW HAS OPEN FOR MELISSA ETHERIDGE, KEB MO AND THE WALLFLOWERS.

SHE ALSO WROTE ABOUT LOSS IN PARTICULAR, A LOSS OF HER FATHER AND THE RIGHT.

WE EACH HAVE TO EXPERIENCE GRIEF FOR ON WHY.

AND ACCORDING TO OUR OWN TIMETABLE AND SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A SHOOTINGS AND WE NEED TO BE SUSPICIONS.

>> ISN'T NEW TO THE YEAR WHEN SHE STILL CAN COME IN AND SOMETHING THAT JUST LIKE THAT KIND OF NICE AND TENSION HAS MEANT TO US.

>> IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THIS INTIMATE EVENING OF SONG AND STORY FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC WAS AN ODE TO FEMALE EMPOWERMENT.

ONE SONG IN PARTICULAR, ENCAPSULATE OF THE SENTIMENT SON HERE WITHOUT INTRODUCTION BY APRIL CUSHMAN.

>> AND THEY SAW IT AS FEARLESS FOR SOME IS DUE TO RETURN IN THE FALL WITH FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC.

VOLUME 4.

>> THAT SURE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

WHAT IMPRESSED YOU MOST?

TOM?

>> THE SONGS WERE GREAT.

THE STORIES THEY TOLD BEFORE EACH PERFORMANCE WERE COMPELLING.

BUT I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED MOST BY THEIR AUTHENTICITY.

EACH OF THESE 4 SINGER-SONGWRITERS THEIR CAREERS ARE ON THE UPSWING.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISING IF THEY HAD GOT SWEPT UP IN THEIR THEIR GROWING FAME BUT EACH OF THESE PERFORMERS, THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THEY'RE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN.

AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY REFRESHING.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE AN AWESOME PERFORMANCE THAT YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME REPORTING ON ROBERT RUSSIAN BERKS CONNECTION WITH THE ONE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH LAST OCTOBER.

WE RECENTLY OF LEARNED ABOUT THE SALE OF HIS PROPERTY.

HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THAT AND WHAT WOULD BE THE UPDATE THAT YOU COULD SHARE?

>> YEAH, I HAVE SO ON MARCH 31ST.

THE PARTNERSHIP THAT OWNS SOUTH SEAS RESORT ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE 22 ACRE COMPOUND THAT RAUSCHENBERG ON DON KEPT AVA.

IT'S IT'S REALLY NOT THE NEWS THAT THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION ARE A LOT OF THE PACK THERE.

THE RESIDENTS OF THE ISLANDS WANTED TO HEAR.

AND THE SALE SEEMS A LITTLE INCONSISTENT WITH THE BOB RAUSCHENBERG EFFORTS DURING HIS LIFETIME TO BLOCK SOUTH SEAS FROM DEVELOPING ANY MORE OF THE ISLAND.

BUT APPARENTLY BOB DID NOT PROVIDE OTHERWISE.

AND SO HIS FOUNDATION WAS UNDER A FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION TO GET THE MOST THEY COULD FOR THE PROPERTY SO THAT THEY COULD SUPPORT SOME OF THEIR OTHER INITIATIVES.

THEY SUPPORT A LOT OF ARTISTS CAUSES AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT THE CAP TO THE SOUTH SEAS GROUP, THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY PLAN TO HONOR ROB ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG LEGACY.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT BY INCLUDING SOME KIND OF PART PROGRAMMING AND INCORPORATING SOME OF THE BUILDINGS INTO THE RESORT.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING RIGHT NOW TO SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO REALIZE AS THEY GO FORWARD.

IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY.

>> TRULY IS.

>> AND IT'S FINALLY APRIL.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE ARE FEWER THINGS GOING ON IN THE ART SCENE?

>> TO THE CONTRARY THIS WEEK.

>> THERE ARE 22 DIFFERENT SHOWS ON STAGE FROM MARCO ISLAND.

THE SARASOTA.

>> 3 NEW SHOWS ARE OPENING.

THERE'S BIRTHDAY CANDLES THAT OPENS AT FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE IN SARASOTA DOWN AT THE NAPLES PLAYERS.

IT'S A PIECE OF MY HEART.

AND AT THE LABORATORY THEATER, FLORIDA IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

THEY'RE OPENING JULIUS CAESAR.

SO WE WERE THERE THIS PAST SUNDAY AT THEIR DRESS REHEARSAL TO SEE THE MEASURES THAT THEY'RE TAKING IN ORDER TO MODERNIZE JULIUS CAESAR IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO A BROADER DEMOGRAPHIC, INCLUDING TRADING, TOLD US THANKS TO EFFORTS LIKE THIS LIKE IT.

SO WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK.

>> I KNOW NOT ONLY WAS IT A. WELL THAT LOVE.

>> MOST OF US HAD TO READ SHAKESPEARE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AFTER JUST LARGE HAD TO EVEN THOUGH HE WENT TO TRADE SCHOOL FOR PLUMBING.

>> I THOUGHT SHAKESPEARE WAS THE MOST UNDERSTANDABLE THING THAT I WOULD EVER.

READ OR TRY TO ATTEMPT TO WATCH.

THE LEONARDO DICAPRIO FROM YOUNG JULIA.

ROMEO AND JULIET SKEWS ME WAS ENTERTAINING, BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT.

>> SINCE THEN HE'S GONE ON TO PLAY COUNT ORSINO IN 12TH NIGHT.

THE MONSTER CALIBAN AND THE TEMPEST.

AND NOW HE PLAYS MARC ANTHONY AND LAB.

THERE'S PRODUCTION OF JULIUS CAESAR.

SO WHAT CHANGED?

>> I HAD SENIOR ENGLISH AND HAD THE MOST AWESOME TEACHER EVER.

AND THE RED.

STARTING WITH THAT SUPERSTITIOUS MCBATH.

AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

I HAD NO IDEA AT THAT POINT THAT I WHAT ARE COULD BECOME AN ACTOR.

BUT I WAS CHALLENGE WITH LEARNING TOMORROW TOMORROW, TOMORROW MONOLOGUE AND ALI DID IT IN LIKE A NIGHT.

AND HELD ON TO THAT FOR YEARS UNTIL I TURNED ABOUT 30 32 WHEN ACTUALLY GOT IN THE THEATER ACTUALLY JUST ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.

IN OTHER WORDS.

>> HE WENT FROM PASSIVELY READING TO ACTIVELY PROMOTING THE WORDS APPEARING ON THE PAGE MINDED AIRPLANES, BRUTUS IN JULIUS CAESAR.

HE SAYS IT'S THE ACTING TO TRANSFORM SHAKESPEARE'S LANGUAGE INTO WHAT AUDIENCES CAN READILY UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY SEE THE PERFORMANCE ON STAGE.

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ALL OF SHAKESPEARE'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

WHILE THAT IS TRUE, PERHAPS IF YOU'RE READING IT, YOU KNOW, THE MORE FOR THE ACTORS PERSPECTIVE, WE STUDY IT.

WE DIGEST IT.

WE DISSECT IT.

AND THEN WE TAKE THE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS BEING A. IN THAT SCENE AND PRESENT IT.

SO WATCHING IT AND READING IT ARE 2 VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE.

JULIUS CAESAR EVEN MORE UNDERSTANDABLE.

>> LAB THEATER HAS MODERNIZED SETTING MOVING IN FROM ANCIENT ROME TO PRESENT DAY, REDUCE THE CAST FROM 27 TO 9 ACTORS.

SHORTEN THE PLAY TO A TAD OVER 90 MINUTES AND PLACED IT IN THE CONTEXT OF A RADIO SHOW BROADCAST.

SO I KNOW ALEX AND WORKED REALLY HARD OR DIRECTORS HAVE WORKED A BRIDGING AT KEEPING THE GOOD STUFF AND THAT.

>> THE FAMOUS SPEECHES.

>> ONE SUCH SPEECHES, PORTIONS RELAY DOUBLE MONOLOGUE IMPLORING HER HUSBAND, BRUTUS FOR SURE.

THE SECRET THAT'S TROUBLING HIM, NAMELY HIS CONSPIRACY TO MURDER SEASON.

>> BUT >> IT'S MORE THAN I KIND OF CLASSIC SPEECHES THAT RENDER SHAKESPEARE RELEVANT MORE THAN 400 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH.

CHARLIE SANDERS, WHO PLACES ARE IN THE LAB PRODUCTION SAYS IT'S THE BARD'S INSIGHTS INTO HUMAN NATURE AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

>> JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE TELL YOU SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART, WHICH IS A FATAL FLAW.

THAT TEASER HAS BECAUSE HE LIKES WATERS OR SHE LIKES LETTERS AND ULTIMATELY LEADS TO THEIR DEMISE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD TAKE TO THE REAL WORLD AS WELL.

JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART.

>> ONE PHENOMENON THAT SHAKESPEARE KNEW WELL AND EXPLORED OFTEN IS MANIPULATION.

AND JULIUS CAESAR, MARC ANTHONY MANIPULATES BRUCE AND HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS, THEN WHIPS UP THE MASSES TO AVENGE CAESAR'S MURDER.

>> YOU REALLY LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE TO SEE THAT.

PEOPLE ARE EASILY MANIPULATED AND YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW YOURSELF KNOW YOUR OWN.

IDEAS AND STANDARDS AND DON'T LISTEN TO THE MEDIA.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO TRY TO INFLUENCE YOU TO DO.

TO WHAT THEY SEE FIT WORSHIP, WHO THEY WILL YOU?

THEY WANT YOU TO WORSHIP.

FOLLOW WHO?

THEY WANT TO FOLLOW.

>> JULIUS CAESAR IS ON STAGE AT THE LABORATORY THEYR'E FLORIDA THROUGH APRIL.

26.

FROM ABC NEWS ON TOM HALL.

>> FROM NEW PERFORMANCES TO ART SHOWS.

YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE HAPPENINGS IN OUR AREA BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE.

THAT'S WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, SOMETIMES IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT A NEW MURAL IN HARLEM HEIGHTS.

THAT'S A PERFECT REFLECTION OF ITS NEIGHBORHOOD.

HARLEM HEIGHTS IS IN THE MIDST OF A RENAISSANCE IN FORT MYERS, NEW FAMILIES.

STYLE HOMES ARE BEING BUILT IN THE HEIGHTS.

CAREER TECH INSTITUTE IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN THIS FALL.

IN THE MEANTIME AT THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION, A NEW MURAL WAS REVEALED THAT CAPTURES THE HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE COMMUNITY WGCUS ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL HAS THE STORY.

>> HE DIDN'T SIGN HIS NAME BUT DIED SUNDAY.

SHE WAS DETERMINED TO ASK GIRLS WON DE ESTA PAINTED GARGANTUAN MURAL FOR THE LOBBY OF THAT EDUCATION BUILDING HERE'S FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF KATHERINE KELLY WITH THE EXPLANATION.

>> ONE DIA'S HAD DONE AN ART WORK WITH OUR KIDS YEARS AGO AND YOU NEVER SIGNED IT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE HIS NAME.

BUT WE FINALLY TRACKED HIM DOWN.

FOUND HIM AND ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO ANOTHER PIECE OF ART FOR OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

>> TODAY THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION STANDS WHERE WORKERS ONCE TOILED AND POTATO VEGETABLE AND GLADIOLUS FARMS.

KELLY KNOWS THAT FIRSTHAND.

HER GRANDPARENTS, FATHER AND UNCLES ONCE FARM POTATOES IN THAT AREA.

>> KNOWS FARM FIELDS WENT AWAY.

AND THE FAMILIES THAT LIVED HERE FELL INTO POVERTY.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD SELF-SUFFICIENT FAMILIES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER HERE.

WE HAVE AN EDUCATION BUILDING SO WE HAVE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS.

WE HAVE AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER WHERE WE HAVE BABIES THROUGH 4 YEAR-OLD AND THEN WE HAVE A CHARTER SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 5TH GRADE AND WE HAVE AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, A SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM.

WE DO JUDY EDI AND ESL CLASSES, FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES.

SO WE STAND IN THE GAP AND WE HELP FAMILIES WHERE THEY NEED HELP.

>> FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT THE HARLEM HEIGHTS COMMUNITY.

SO DIAZ KNEW FROM THE OUTSET ITS SILVER ANNIVERSARY MURAL HAD CODIFIED THAT COMMUNITY.

>> AND I MET KATHERINE AND WALK TO THE BUILDING I WITHIN A MONTH I CAME AND MET WITH THE ELDERS AND THEY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO A CALL AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT OR AND THEY SHOW ME THE DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE THE OLD SCHOOL USED TO BE WHAT THE MARKET USED TO BE.

AND I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES >> DIAZ IS ON FAMILY HAD EMIGRATED FROM BOGOTA, COLOMBIA.

HE IDENTIFIED WITH THEIR STRUGGLE, PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE, WHICH INCLUDED COMPLETELY REBUILDING EVERY HOUSE AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOLLOWING HURRICANE IAN.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRAN FAMILY IS BETRAYING GROUND.

WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO TRAIN THE PASSENGER TRAIN, THE PRESS AND THE FUTURE.

>> WHAT THE MURAL COULD JUST BE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

IT HAD TO BE BY THE COMMUNITY.

SO HE LINED UP 12 WOODEN PANELS AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND INVITED THE COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN, ADULTS AND ELDERS TO PAINT THE MURALS UNDER LEHMANN.

I THINK.

>> AS AN ARTIST ONE, WE TAKE THE TIME TO PUT OURSELVES TOO, JUST GIVE ALL OF OURSELVES.

I THINK ENERGIES LEFT WITHIN THE WAR.

>> EVERYTHING CONTAINED IN THE MURALS FINAL COMPOSITION, A SYMBOLIC, INCLUDING AS MANY REFERENCES TO ART MUSIC AND CULTURE.

BOTH KELLY AND DIAZ HOPE THE MURAL INSPIRED THE CHILDREN WHO VISIT THE EDUCATION BUILDING, A COMMUNITY CENTER TO APPRECIATE THE ARTS NO MATTER THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSION OR CAREER.

>> IF NONE OF THIS KIDS GROW UP TO BE ON RECESSIONS, I THINK IN IN LIFE IS IMPORTANT TOO.

EXPLORE CREATIVITY WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG ENOUGH.

BECAUSE IT'S HELPFUL FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

>> BUT THE MURALS ALSO ASPIRATION UL.

IT'S INTENDED TO HELP THE KIDS WHO SEE IT SHOOT FOR THE STARS.

>> WE WANTED THE CHILDREN TO LOOK AT THE MURAL AND BE INSPIRED TO BE PRODUCTIVE ADULTS.

A GENTLEMAN ON THE FERRY LEFT IF HE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO UNIVERSITY BECOMES A PROFESSIONAL, THE NURSE TO A MECHANIC, THE CHUFFED.

THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE OCCASIONAL THAT ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE CAREER TECH.

>> CALLERS REACTION TO THE COMPLETED MURAL IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT OF THE HARLEM HEIGHTS COMMUNITY.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S AMAZING.

I'M JUST OVER THE MOON ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS MURAL TURNED OUT.

IT TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IT TALKS ABOUT THE KIDS THAT ARE HERE RIGHT NOW AND THE ADULTS THAT ARE HERE RIGHT NOW AND THEN THE FUTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO WE CAPTURED THE PAST THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE AND AGAIN, BE ON MY EXPECTATIONS.

>> FOR WDSU NEWS ON TOM HALL WITH THE MAN DIDN'T SCORE WHEN A MORE.

>> AND OUR NEXT PROGRAM.

IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE A RARE PIECE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HISTORY.

WE GET A LOOK AT HISTORY BUFFS LINEUP FOR A GLIMPSE OF THE 6 INCH MARKO CAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WTC DONNA WORD WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

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

IN FOCUS.