THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, REVITALIZING LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

WE GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS UNDER WAY TO PREPARE FOR A GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS FROM THE SILVER SCREEN TO THE STAGE.

HOW ONE LOCAL THEATER GROUP BRINGS TO LIFE AND ICONIC MOVIE VILLAIN.

AND THE ORIGIN STORY OF A BASKETBALL LEGEND.

WE LEARN ABOUT A NEW BOOK DETAILING THE RISE OF PART-TIME NAPLES RESIDENT LARRY BIRD.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MORE THAN 100,000 KIDS ARE ENROLLED IN LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS MAKING IT THE 8TH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN FLORIDA AND THE 27TH LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSIONS ARE UNDERWAY AND SOME OF THE DISTRICT'S 118 SCHOOLS MAKING WAY FOR MORE STUDENTS UPDATED CLASSROOMS AND NEW PROGRAMS.

HURRICANE DAMAGED CYPRESS LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS JUST ONE SCHOOL UNDERGOING MAJOR RENOVATIONS AS WGC USED AN HARKES TO REPORTS.

CONSTRUCTION IS WELL UNDERWAY AT SCHOOLS IN FORT MYERS, CAPE CORAL AND BONITA SPRINGS.

>> CREWS WERE ABOUT 80% ON WHEN WE VISITED THE NEW THREE-STORY MAIN CLASSROOM BUILDING AT CYPRESS LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

ACCORDING TO PROJECT MANAGER MATTHEW BAREBACK.

>> YOU SAW THE DRYWALL GOING IN AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HITTING HARD RIGHT NOW AND TRYING TO GET THAT WRAPPED UP.

BUT WE ARE PUTTING IN THE DUCTWORK WERE RUNNING.

THE CONDUIT WERE RUNNING.

ALL OF THE STUFF THAT YOU DON'T SEE.

THAT'S ALL INSIDE THE WALLS.

>> STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN THE BUILDING BY THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER.

BUT THE 100 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT TO BE DONE IN MID FEBRUARY 2027.

THAT'S WHEN THE PORTABLES WILL BE GONE.

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL MATT MILLER CAN'T WAIT.

>> THIS WAS A VERY, VERY MUCH NEEDED PROJECT AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW DESIGN BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT INSTRUCTIONAL SPACES ARE LARGER AND BETTER THAN WHERE WE WERE.

YOU KNOW, IN A IN A BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 1960'S.

>> IN CAPE CORAL.

>> THE 125 MILLION DOLLAR HECTOR CAFFERATA SCHOOL.

>> SHOULD BE COMPLETED FOR THE 2026 27 SCHOOL YEAR.

THE NEW 2 STORY BUILDING REPLACES THE ORIGINAL HURRICANE DAMAGE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ADDS THE MIDDLE GRADES.

HERE'S DR.

JASON KURTZ, PRINCIPLE.

>> THE SCHOOL IS REALLY A LARGER THAN 2 TIMES SIZES.

SCHOOL WILL HAVE 1800 STUDENTS.

ONE OF OUR FIELD UP EVENTUALLY.

BUT IT'S A IT'S SUPER EXCITING FOR THE NORTH WEST, CAPE AND FOR FAMILIES.

HECTOR CAFFERATA STUDENTS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY GOING TO SCHOOL AT CAPE CORAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

>> WE'RE 34,400 SQUARE-FOOT.

25 MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION IS ALSO UNDERWAY.

THIS MARKS THE FIRST MAJOR ADDITION TO THE CAMPUS SINCE 1993 AND INCLUDES NEW FACILITIES FOR PROGRAMS IN HVAC AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, GREEN TECHNOLOGY, WELDING AND CONSTRUCTION.

>> HERE'S DIRECTOR CHARLIE PEAS.

YOU KNOW, CAPE CORAL HAS CLOSE TO PUSHING 250,000 RESIDENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY POST-SECONDARY TECH TO A COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

THE ENTIRE CITY OF CAPE CORAL FOR THE BLUE COLLAR TRADES.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS BUILDING GO UP THERE.

SEEING AWESOME LABS AND BEHIND US IS THE MARINE LAB AND THE AUTO LAB.

AND IT REALLY IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FOR THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL.

THAT PROJECT SHOULD BE FINISHED IN JULY.

>> THE NEED IS SPRING.

STUDENTS ARE GETTING A NEW 40 MILLION DOLLAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT MANAGER BOB STAFFING BURGER DESCRIBES THE PLAN.

>> WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE A NEW 2 STORY BUILDING THAT TO STORY BUILDINGS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE BUILDING.

IT'LL HAVE 16 CLASSROOMS.

A NEW AD MAN CLINIC AND MEDIA CENTER THAT BUILDING WILL COME ONLINE AUGUST OF 26.

WE'LL DO A RE STACK OF THE CAMPUS AT THAT TIME WHICH ALLOWS US TO LITERALLY REMOVE SOME OF THE EXISTING PORTABLES THAT ARE HERE ON THE CAMPUS.

AND AT THAT TIME WILL START CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION ON THE SECOND PHASE OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS CREATING A NEW CAFETERIA AND KITCHEN RECEIVING AREA AND SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS MUSIC AND ART ROOMS.

THAT PHASE OF THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE DONE IN AUGUST OF 27.

AND AS WE FINISH, THAT PHASE WILL ALSO BE FINISHING SOME UPGRADES TO THE SITE, WHICH INCLUDES UPGRADING THE PLAYFIELD.

THE BUS LOOPS, PARENT DROP-OFFS, ALL OF THAT IS PART OF THE OVERALL PROJECT.

>> CONSTRUCTED IN 1921, THE BONITA SPRINGS CAMPUS WAS DAMAGED IN RECENT HURRICANES.

THE NEW SCHOOL WILL FEATURE A 16 FOOT LIKENESS.

WELL, TO HONOR THE ORIGINAL WHILE INCREASING CAPACITY IMPROVING SAFETY AND ADDING STEM LABS.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE LEASE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR A COMPLETE LIST VISIT W G C DOT ORG FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

THIS IS DANA HARPSTER WITH THEM AND IN SCORE WITH MORE.

>> COMING UP NEXT, IT TAKES MORE THAN MIRACLE GROW TO GET A PLAN.

THIS BIG THE TEAM MENTALITY, ONE THEATER GROUP ADAPTED TO BRING A MOVIE VILLAIN TO CENTER STAGE.

FOR LOCAL THEATER GROUPS, BRINGING A WELL-KNOWN ADAPTATION TO THE STAGE CAN BE DAUNTING.

BUT FLORIDA REP SUCCEEDS WITH THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

THE MUSICAL OPENING THIS WEEK AT THE DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS THEATER.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PREPARATION TO GET THE SHOW'S STAR READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT.

SHE IS A MASSIVE POP.

IT NAMED AUDREY TOO.

THE GIGANTIC SIZE OF THE CARNIVOROUS PLANT CREATING A PRETTY UNIQUE CHALLENGE FOR ANYONE IN HER PRESENCE.

ONE PERSON WHO GOT A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE CURRENT PERFORMANCE OF LITTLE SHOP, OF COURSE, IS OUR VERY OWN ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL.

TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON DENVER.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS PRODUCTION IN FORT MYERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ABOUT THE STAR AUDREY, TOO.

>> WELL, SINCE SHE FIRST CAME ON THE SCENE IN THE 1960'S, THE CURRENT EVERS PLANT KNOWN AS OUR GREAT WHO'S GONE THROUGH AN EVOLUTION.

FIRST PRODUCTION OF LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATER IS EMBRACING THE CROCODILE MOUTH.

VENUS FLYTRAP VERSION INTRODUCED BY HOWARD ALTMAN AND HIS 1982 MUSICAL.

ALONG THIS FORT MYERS STREET, A NEW CULINARY DISTRICT IS TAKING SHAPE THE SECOND ONE AROMA OF GRILLED STEAK, SEAFOOD AND BARBECUE PERFUMES.

THE NIGHT AIR.

INSIDE THIS THEATER.

THERE'S LESS APPETIZING FARE ON THE MENU THIS IS FLORIDA REP ARTISTIC DIRECTOR GREG LONG AND HAGEN WITH THE YOUNG VERSION OF AUDREY TO FROM LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS >> WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW IN THE BUNCH REHEARSAL HALL AND I KNOW WHAT I'M STANDING WITH.

HERE IS ONE OF THE INNOVATIONS OF AUDREY TO.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE BLOCK FROM AUDREY TO THE FULL GROWN AUDREY, TOO, COULDN'T FIT INTO THE SPACE.

IT'S NOT TALL ENOUGH TO SEE, LEAST NOT TALL ENOUGH TO GET CAUGHT UP TO THE DOOR HERE.

>> IN THE MUSICAL, AUDREY TO ARISE FROM OUTER SPACE AFTER A FULL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

FOR THE SHOW PROPS MASTER LORE LUPITA REPORTS 4 DIFFERENT PADRES ARRIVED.

FLORIDA REP SEEN SHOPPING EVANS AVENUE IN A SHIPPING POD FROM DENVER.

>> H PUPPET OPERATES COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY.

SO I'VE REALLY HAD TO TEACH MYSELF HOW EACH ONE.

WORKS AND BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PUPPETEER FROM THE CAST THEATERS.

SO THAT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

ALSO, THIS BEAST IS TALLER THAN A MOVING POT.

SO WE HAD TO LIKE SANDWICH IT TO GET IT OUT OF THE DOOR.

SO THAT WAS A JOURNEY.

>> NOAH GARCIA SUPPLIES, AUDREY TWO'S LIFE FORCE.

>> THIS IS MY FIRST BUCKETS OR.

>> HE RECALLS HIS FIRST MEETING WITH HIS NEWFOUND ALTER EGO.

>> I WAS A LITTLE INTIMIDATED TO BE HONEST BECAUSE I HEARD THE TALK AND THEY'RE LIKE.

>> IT'S AS BIG AS A CAR LIKE THERE'S NO, IT'S GOING TO BE THAT DAY.

>> AND THEN LO AND BEHOLD, I GET TO THE SHOP AND ITS LIKE THIS THING IS IS BECAUSE THE CAR IS AND IT'S NOT EVEN IT'S BIGGER THAN THIS.

IT GETS UP TO LIKE IT.

10 FEET.

>> GARCIA'S JOB IS TO MAKE AUDREY MOVE.

IT'S A WHOLE BODY WORKOUT, NOT JUST ARMS AND LEGS.

HE HAS TO REALLY PUT HIS BACK INTO IT.

IT'S HOT WORK.

>> THE INSIDE IS VERY ALL ART.

IT'S VERY VOICED AS WELL.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE A LITTLE NECK FAN.

COMES IN HANDY A LOT.

ALSO GETTING A LOT OR PAC SO-CALLED TREMENDOUS.

BUT IT'S VERY DARK AS WELL.

>> HE DEFINITELY CAN SEE CHAZ ROSEN SUPPLIES, AUDREY TO HIS VOICE.

THAT'S A CHALLENGE SINCE GARCIA HAS TO MASH AUDREY'S MATH AND FACIAL MOVEMENTS WITH EACH SYLLABLE ROSE OTHERS FOR HIS PART, ROSE IS NOT INSIDE AUDREY, TOO.

HE'S NOT EVEN ON STAGE.

>> SO FOR THIS SHOW, I WILL ACTUALLY BE BACKSTAGE OUT ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE.

I WILL BE OPPOSITE WAS THE BAN BECAUSE IT IS A LIVE ORCHESTRA THAT IS PLAYING THIS WHOLE SHOW.

AND I WILL ACTUALLY HAVE WHAT WE CALL IT AIR.

SO I WILL HEAR THE MUSIC.

I HAVE A VIDEO SCREEN SO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON STAGE.

>> THANKS TO NUMEROUS REHEARSALS AND DIRECTION FROM JASON PARISH.

ROSEN GARCIA ARE ESTABLISHING THE TIMING THAT INDUCES THE AUDIENCE TO BELIEVE A PLANT IS ACTUALLY TALKING TO SEE MORE OF HIS GIRLFRIEND PLAYED BY COMEDIC ON JEN.

YOU CASSIDY STONER.

WE'RE INSIDE THE SCENE.

SHOPPING STONER FIRST MET AND WAS EATEN BY AUDREY, TOO.

SHE DESCRIBES THE EXPERIENCE.

>> WE HAVE ONE OF OUR STATE CHANCE PULLING MY ANKLES ON THE OTHER END, WHICH IS HELPING A LOT YEAH, I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE IT FEELS IT'S BRINGING UP A LOT OF INNER CHILD.

I'M LIKE, YEAH, CHUCK.

E CHEESE AGAIN AREA.

>> DESPITE AUDREY TWO'S UNSAVORY DIE LONG AND HAGEN HOPES FLORIDA REP AUDIENCES WILL NONETHELESS DYING OUT BEFORE OR AFTER THE SHOW.

>> UNLIKE AUDREY, TOO.

>> WHO SUBSIST BASICALLY ON HUMAN FLASHING HUMAN BLOOD.

>> OUR PATRONS WHO COME TO THE THEATER, THEY CAN PARTAKE IN IT.

ALL KINDS OF EATERIES HERE IN DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY ACTUALLY DON'T SERVING THE U.S.

THEY ACTUALLY SERVE, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE STATE IN PART BECAUSE YOU ENVISION OTHER PROTEINS AND ALL KINDS OF DELIGHTFUL VEGETARIAN DISHES ALL OVER DOWNTOWN LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS IS THAT FLORIDA REP THROUGH APRIL 12TH.

>> I WAS AMAZED THAT AUDREY TO IS SO BIG THEY COULD NOT FIT HER IN THEIR USUAL REHEARSAL SPACE.

IS THAT WHY YOU DECIDED TO FOCUS ON AUDREY TO IN YOUR STORY?

>> IN PART, JENNIFER, OF COURSE, IT'S VERY VISUALLY APPEALING TO TO FOCUS ON AUDREY TOW BUYERS ALSO DRAWN TO THE THEME WHICH IS THE FACT THAT THE WHEN SEYMOUR AND WITHOUT GIVING AWAY TOO MUCH, HE ULTIMATELY REALIZE IS THAT IF LEFT UNCHECKED ALDRETE WHO IS GOING TO SPELL THE DOOM OF MANKIND.

IN FACT, THE PLAN AT ONE POINT SAYS IF YOU WANT TO BE PROFOUND, IF YOU'VE GOT TO JUSTIFY TAKE A BREATH AND LOOK AROUND, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GONNA DIE.

AND THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THE ESSENCE.

A REFERENCE TO OPPENHEIMER WHO AFTER HE ACTUALLY DISCOVERED THE ATOMIC BOMB IN HIS LATER LIFE, HE WAS AGAINST NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION.

AND BY THE WAY, THE THE THEME OF THE ETHICS OF DISCOVERY.

IT'S ALSO A PART AND PARCEL OF A NEW SHOW THAT'S OPENING UP AT THE OVERNIGHT THEATER IN SARASOTA CALLED A B OR AB AREA AND WHICH 2 RESEARCHERS DISCOVER A WAY TO EXPONENTIALLY GROW.

BEE POPULATIONS.

BUT THEY KEEP THAT DISCOVERY TO THEMSELVES WITH DELETERIOUS EFFECTS.

THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

>> YOU ALSO MENTIONED IN THE STORY, GREG LYNN HAGAN TALKING ABOUT A NEW CULINARY DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT IS IT'S AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

>> BETWEEN 2008 IN THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE WANT DOWNTOWN IN ORDER TO GO TO OUR BLOG MUSIC WALK OR GO TO FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATER.

POST PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING THAT IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO EAT.

AND SO THE CITY NOW IS RE-BRANDING THE DOWNTOWN AS A CULINARY DISTRICT.

I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, STEVE WEATHERS AND HE SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FARMERS MARKET THAT THEY DID, THEY JUST RECENTLY LAUNCHED PEOPLE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRITY CHEFS >> SOME CHOCOLATE WITH CHOCOLATE MARTINIS AT BRUNO'S.

>> AND EVEN TASTE OF FORT MYERS EVENTS WHERE THE RESTAURANTS WILL COME SET UP TABLES ALONG FIRST STREET AND PROVIDE FREE SAMPLES.

>> SO GET YOUR TASTE BUDS READY.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AND I LOVE THAT RESTAURANT.

BRUNO'S.

>> THAT'S DELICIOUS.

WE ALL KNOW.

I KNOW.

NOW YOU ALSO ATTENDED ANOTHER WONDERFUL EVENT LAST WEEKEND.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> I HAD THE HONOR OF FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR COVERING THE BUSH ON A POWER.

IT FOUNDATION OPERA, NAPLES, INTERNATIONAL VOICE COMPETITION.

IT'S IT ACTUALLY PUTTING NAPLES AND FORT MYERS ON THE WORLDWIDE MAP WHEN IT COMES TO OPERA.

THIS YEAR, THEY HAD 430 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED.

THEY CHOSE 19.

THE PANEL INCLUDED LOU SHAUNA'S POWER.

IT IS WIDOW NICOLETTA MONTA BODY.

THEY HAD THESE 19 THE THE UP AND COMING SINGER IS COMPETE OVER 3 DAYS.

PARTLY HERE AT THE FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

AND THEN THE FINALS TOOK PLACE IN BAKER PARK AND TELL YOU WHAT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

DURING HIS LIFETIME LUCIANO PAVAROTTI SPONSORED A VOICE COMPETITION TO FOSTER THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF PROMISING YOUNG OPERA SINGERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

LAST YEAR.

HIS WIDOW, NICOLETTA MONT OF IT AND OPERA NAPLES.

MAESTRO, A MUSIC DIRECTOR, A MOMENT, A BAR RESURRECTED THE VOICE COMPETITION RIGHT HERE IN FORT MYERS, NAPLES, TO ADVANCE THE SAME OBJECTIVE.

THE COMPETITION RETURNED OVER THE WEEKEND TO THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY.

SOME 430 SINGERS APPLIED FOR A SPOT.

THE COMPETITION 19 WERE SELECTED.

HE MADE IT TO THE FINAL ROUND.

WELL, IT WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE UNDER THE STARS AND BAKER PARK RAINFOREST CONTESTANTS IN THE AUDIENCE INSIDE THE SUNKEN GOMEZ PAVILION AT THE LAST MINUTE.

BUT NEITHER THE RAIN HASTY CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THE ONUS OF ONE OF THE ACCOMPANYING PIN U.S.

DAMPEN THE SPIRITS OF THE FINALISTS IN THE TRADITION OF THE CHINA, PAVAROTTI.

THEY POURED THEIR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO THE 2 ARIAS TO EACH SAYING FOR THE AUDIENCE AND A PANEL OF 11 ESTEEM JUDGES.

SUNDAY NIGHT, 5 WINNERS WERE CHOSEN TO MEZZO-SOPRANO IS A BARITONE AND TO 10 YEARS FIRST MEZZO-SOPRANO WAS GRACE.

RYAN.

>> YOU GET OLDER.

>> THE NATIONAL AWARD WINNING ARTIST ORIGINALLY FROM CHICAGO.

RYAN IS CURRENTLY PURSUING HER MASTER OF MUSIC IN VOICE PERFORMANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.

AND JOINING RYAN AS WINNER AND THE MEZZO-SOPRANO CATEGORY WAS KARA MORNING.

SHE BROUGHT THE AUDIENCE TO THEIR FEET WITH HER HIGH RANGE.

IT RULES AND ENTER GETTING A LOT OF FIGURES C. SO FAR MORGAN HAS HAD MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCES AT MINNESOTA IN FARGO-MOORHEAD OPERATIVES AND APPRENTICESHIPS AT SARASOTA IN SANTA FE.

ALSO A WINTER SUNDAY NIGHT WAS BE JUNG JOON COM.

A KOREAN BARITONE IS PRESENTLY BASED IN GERMANY AND APPEARING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AT THE LANDERS THEATRE NEED OR BAYERN IN THE ROLE OF PUCCINI'S GIANNI SKI TEAM.

MOVING NORMAL WAS ONE OF 2 WINNERS AND THE TENOR CATEGORY.

IS THE 4TH YEAR RESIDENT ARTIST AT THE ACADEMY OF LOCAL PARKS.

HIS REPERTOIRE ALREADY INCLUDES MOTEL A FALL IN LOVE.

THE A TITLE ROLE IN DALLAS.

AND NOW AND LA TRAVIATA A CROWD FAVORITE PITTSBURGH 10 ARE VICTOR CARDAMONE IS A GRADUATE OF YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI IS COLLEGE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AND THE ADLER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT SARASOTA OPERA.

HE'S BEEN PERFORMING FOR THE LAST MONTH THAT COPPER MAPLES MOST RECENTLY IN THE CHAIN IS TERROR AND UP.

BETTER THAN CASH.

EACH WINNER WILL RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF $10,000 IN PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS SINCE ASPIRING OPERA.

STARS NEED WORK AND EXPOSURE TO FURTHER THEIR PROFESSIONAL GOALS.

AND THAT CONNECTION ALL 5 WILL BE OFF OF ROLES BUT OPERA NAPLES NEXT SEASON.

ONE OR MORE WILL APPEAR IN THE SEE THE CONCERT SERIES AND FGC USED OUR SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND THE ARTS.

IT ENDED WITH AN IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCE BY ALL 8 FINALISTS LED BY SPIRITED ITALIAN AMERICAN SOPRANO SAFIYA SCANNER.

ATION.

AND IF YOU DO SOME NEWS TOWN HALL.

YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST ART NEWS FROM TOM HALL BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU.ORG COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, HE WAS BUSTING BRACKETS BEFORE IT WAS COOL.

A LOOK BACK AT HOW LARRY BIRD WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN TURNING MARCH MADNESS INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY.

IT'S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN MARCH MADNESS BEGINS TO TAKE HOLD, ITS COLLEGE BASKETBALL TAKES OVER TO CROWN A CHAMPION ONE LEGEND OF THE HARDWOOD IS BEING REMEMBERED FOR HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE GAME NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO WGC USED HEAVY BYRNE HAS MORE ON BASKETBALL LEGEND AND A PART-TIME NAPLES RESIDENT.

LARRY BIRD.

>> SO WITH A LOOK AT ONE LEGENDS HAVE COLLEGE BASKETBALL.

I'M JOINED BY KEITH O'BRIEN AND HE'S THE AUTHOR OF HEARTLAND, A FORGOTTEN PLACE, AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.

AND THE MIRACLE OF LARRY BIRD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

SO NOW COMING FROM HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND FRENCH LICK INDIANA, EVERYONE KNOWS KIND OF WHERE LARRY BIRD WENT.

BUT WHAT MADE HIM AN IDEAL TOPIC FOR THIS BOOK?

EXPECIALLY HIM ENTERING THE COLLEGE THING.

>> WELL, FOR 50 YEARS WE'VE BEEN TELLING THIS STORY ONE WAY.

EVERY TIME WE COME TO THIS STORY, WE ALWAYS END UP DOING THE THE BIRD MAGIC THING.

YOU KNOW, THE LARRY BIRD MAGIC JOHNSON COMBINATION NARRATIVE.

AND I AND I UNDERSTAND WHY WE MIGHT DO IT THAT WAY.

OBVIOUSLY BIRD AND MAGIC WILL PLAY AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE MOST WATCHED GAME OF ALL TIME IN MARCH 1979, AND THEIR COLLEGE CAREERS.

AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON AND REDEFINE THE NBA SAVE THE LEAK.

BUT THE TRUTH IS IN THE 1970'S, THEY BARELY KNEW EACH OTHER.

THEY WEREN'T FRIENDS.

THEY WEREN'T RIVALS.

THEY WEREN'T ANYTHING.

AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH THIS BOOK IS REALLY JUST TILT THE CAMERA A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

YOU KNOW, SHAME THIS CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE.

JUST A LITTLE AND FOCUS IN ON THIS REMARKABLE ORIGIN STORY AND RURAL INDIANA.

AND THAT'S TO ME.

IT IS MORE THAN JUST A SPORTS STORY.

IT'S JUST A COMPELLING HUMAN NARRATIVE.

>> AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS, TOO, IS THAT EVEN THOUGH LARRY IS ON THE COVER, KIND OF LIKE HIS DAYS, INDIANA STATE, HE'S THE FACE OF EVERYTHING.

BUT IT REALLY IS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT CAME TOGETHER IN TERRE HAUTE AND BUILT THIS UNIVERSITY.

THAT WAS KIND OF ON THE OUTS.

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT ESPECIALLY 50 YEARS LOOKING BACK THAT LIKE A COLLEGE THAT WAS STRUGGLING, CAN'T GET BY GETS THIS ONE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF CAPTURE THE NATURE BY STORM.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TRYING TO SHARE THAT SIDE OF STORIES THAT MAYBE PEOPLE WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WITH INDIANA STATE?

>> YOU CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH OF AN UNDERDOG STORY THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IN THE 1970'S, INDIANA STATE BASKETBALL DREW SMALLER AUDIENCE IS SMALLER.

CROWDS IN THEIR HOME GYM.

THEN SOME HIGH SCHOOLS IN INDIANA.

THEY'RE TEETERING ON THE EDGE OF BEING BANISHED TO DIVISION 2 ENTRENCHED IN TOTAL MEDIOCRITY ON THE EDGE OF OBLIVION.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A DOWN ON HIS LUCK.

ASSISTANT COACH AND LEAD RECRUITER BY THE NAME OF BILL HODGES GOES LOOKING FOR LARRY BIRD.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK, YOU KNOW, LARRY BIRD MUST HAVE BEEN THIS ENORMOUS STAR, YOU KNOW WHO, YOU KNOW, IS GETTING ATTENTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

YOU KNOW, IN THE WINDSOR OF 74.

75 LARRY BIRD IS NEARLY DISAPPEARED FOREVER.

AND ITS BILL HODGES NO GOES DOWN TO FRENCH LICK FINES, LARRY, THERE OUTSIDE A LAUNDROMAT ON STATE ROAD.

56.

AND THEN IN SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS THAT SPRING AND SUMMER, YOU KNOW, WORKS ON, LARRY, YOU KNOW, COAXING HIM TO COME BACK TO COLLEGE AND AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THEY NOW HAVE THE SEEDS OF SOMETHING AMAZING.

BUT EVEN THEN, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.

LARRY BIRD NEVER PLAYS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT UNTIL HIS SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE.

HE NEVER PLAYS ON NATIONAL TV UNTIL HIS LAST 3 WEEKS OF COLLEGE.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM PLAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS TEAM REALLY DOES COME OUT OF NOWHERE CAPTURING THE AMERICAN IMAGINATION.

WELL, NOW.

>> FLASH FORWARD IN A COUPLE OF DECADES IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS.

WE HAD THE FGCU MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM JUST OVER A DECADE AGO HAD DUNK CITY THIS IMPROBABLE RUN OF A 15 SEED TO THE SWEET 16 OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

AND EVEN THEN A KIND OF HASN'T CAPTURED THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE OF THIS INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES TEAM.

SO IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN NEVER BE REPLICATED WITH THIS SMALL TEAM REACHING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP THAT LARRY BIRD MAGIC JOHNSON SHOWDOWN THAT PEOPLE STILL REMEMBER TO THIS DAY.

STILL ONE OF THE MOST HIGHEST RATED BASKETBALL GAMES.

VIEWERSHIP OF ALL TIME.

WILL WE EVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS AGAIN OR IS THIS TIME CAPTURE IN A CAPSULE RIGHT HERE THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED.

>> I'VE LEARNED AS A JOURNALIST AND AS A HISTORIAN TO NEVER SAY NEVER, BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN INCREASINGLY UNLIKELY TO HAVE A MOMENT LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, BY MARCH 1979, THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, AN AN ENORMOUS TIED THAT PICK EVERYBODY UP AND PROPELLED THEM TO PLACES THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD GO.

AND I DON'T MEAN BIRD AND MAGIC.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY AROUND BIRD, YOU KNOW, IN TWENTY-TWENTY 6 CAN A PLAYER LIKE LARRY BIRD OF HIS TALENT SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS AND END UP AT A SMALL SCHOOL LIKE INDIANA STATE.

YES, THAT CAN STILL HAPPEN.

BUT IN THE NIL ERA NAME IMAGE AND LIKENESS MONEY YOU KNOW, THE BIRD LEFT INDIANA AFTER THAT FIRST SEASON, HE AVERAGES 30 POINTS, A GAME IN HIS FIRST YEAR IN TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

YOU KNOW THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW, THAT PLAYER WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID $10,000 TO PLAY AT INDIANA STATING NOW HAVE BEEN OFFERED A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE, YOU KNOW, TO JUMP TO UCLA OR DUKE OR NORTH CAROLINA OR FLORIDA.

YOU KNOW.

AND SO THAT JUST MAKES IT INCREDIBLY HARD FOR COACHES AT SMALL PROGRAMS.

2 TO TO KEEP THEIR TALENT IN THE LOCKERROOM AND AND BUILD THE KIND OF CINDERELLA SEASON THAT LARRY BIRD AND THE INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES PUT TOGETHER ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

>> WELL, THE BOOK IS PERFECT IN TIME FOR MARCH MADNESS.

I CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH.

IT IS HEARTLAND, A FORGOTTEN PLACE, AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.

AND THE MIRACLE OF LARRY BIRD, KEITH O'BRIEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING TO US.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

>> COMING UP ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

FIND OUT HOW ONE COLLIER COUNTY GROUP IS WORKING TO LOWER RENT PRICES WITH NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

THAT STORY COMING UP ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG.

WE'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS EXTENDED INTERVIEWS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.