THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP ELECTION SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER BEFORE YOU HIT THE BALLOT BOX.

HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP 30 YEARS AGO.

THE MUSICAL RENT MADE ITS BROADWAY DEBUT FOR THE YOUNG ACTORS IN AN UPCOMING PERFORMANCE.

THE SHOW'S THEMES AND CHARACTERS PROVIDE RELEVANT CONTEXT FOR THE CURRENT STRUGGLES OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

AND THE OARS MIGHT BE OUT OF THE WATER.

BUT THE CELEBRATIONS AREN'T OVER JUST YET.

WE VISIT AN ANCIENT CHINESE FESTIVAL THAT BRINGS SOME NON-TRADITIONAL DRAGON BOATS TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FLORIDA IS PREPARING FOR WHAT IS SHAPING UP TO BE A VERY BUSY ELECTION SEASON.

VOTERS WILL BE CHOOSING A NEW GOVERNOR.

CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND WHETHER TO CUT PROPERTY TAXES.

ALL OF THESE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE AS VOTERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IMPACT THEM.

THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS MOVE PARTS OF COLLIER COUNTY FROM DISTRICT 19 INTO DISTRICT 2020.

22 AND REMOVES DISTRICTS 18.

AND 26 OUT OF COLLIER COUNTY ENTIRELY.

ALSO THE CITY OF FORT MYERS.

THIS MOVE FROM DISTRICT 19 TO DISTRICT 17.

THE SHIFT IMPACTS ABOUT 300,000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN LEE AND COLLIER COUNTIES.

>> COLLIER COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, MELISSA BLAZER JOINS US NOW TO CLARIFY.

>> NEW RULES AND TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT DEADLINES UPCOMING.

IF YOU WANT TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> COLLIER COUNTY HAS ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS.

YOUR OFFICE IS IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THESE ELECTIONS GO FAIRLY AND SMOOTHLY.

HOW HAS REDISTRICTING IMPACTED COLLIER IN AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE?

VOTERS SPECIFICALLY TO BE AWARE OF REGARDING THAT?

>> SURE.

SO SO THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSED A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS BACK IN APRIL AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY UPHELD A PELL THROUGH THE THROUGH THE COURTS.

AND SO WE WERE IMPACTED BY JUST OVER 173,000 OF ALL REGISTERED VOTERS, THEIR DISTRICTS CHANGED IN COLLIER COUNTY.

WE WERE IN 3 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN COLLIER COUNTY AND THIS CHANGE ACTUALLY SHIFTED US INTO 2 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

SO WE ARE NOW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 19, WHICH WE WERE BEFORE.

BUT THIS ACTUALLY CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

19 AND NOW WE ARE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

22 SO A FEW WEEKS AFTER AFTER EVERYTHING HAS SETTLED THROUGH THE COURTS FOR NOW, WE WANT TO HEAD IN AND IMPLEMENTED ALL OF THOSE CHANGES.

SO FOLKS GO ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH IS COLLIERVOTES DOT GOV.

THEY CAN LOOK UP THEIR REGISTRATION STATUS AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY SEE WHAT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THERE IN NOW.

AND IF THEY WERE IMPACTED BY THAT CHANGE, WE ACTUALLY MAILED OUT NEW VOTER INFORMATION CARDS TO THOSE 173,000 REGISTERED VOTERS JUST ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO NOW.

SO FOLKS SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT CARD IN THE MAIL IF THEY DIDN'T GET A CARD IN THE MAIL, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE OFFICE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NO BIRD SEASON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SO ANY CARDS THAT THAT ARE MAY BE MAILED OUT AND FOLKS ARE TEMPORARILY AWAY MAYBE IN A VACATION HOME.

THEY DO GET RETURNS TO US.

SO IF FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR THAT CARD AND THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT, PLEASE GO ON THE WEBSITE OR GIVE US A CALL.

>> AND THE PRIMARIES THAT ARE UPCOMING IN AUGUST, THOSE ARE >> REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY ON THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND TYPICALLY THEY HAVE.

>> A LOW VOTER TURNOUT.

CAN YOU ADDRESS WHY THESE PRIMARIES ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET OUT AND VOTE AND HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.

>> ABSOLUTELY SO IS SO IT IS A LOT DIFFERENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAN THAN IN OTHER STATES.

AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH A WITH A DEFINITELY A TRANSIENT POPULATION WE'RE ONLY ONE OF 8 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ACTUALLY HAS A CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND THAT CONFUSES A LOT OF FOLKS AND WE HAVE A FALL PRIMARY.

SO IN AUGUST, WHICH A LOT OF FOLKS ARE USED TO HAVING A PRIMARY ELECTION EARLIER IN THE YEAR, MAYBE MARCH APRIL, EVEN INTO MAY, TYPICALLY IN COLLIER COUNTY ARE TURNOUT AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS IS AROUND.

25 MAYBE 30%, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY LOW FOR PRIMARY ELECTION.

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, IT IS REALLY TRYING TO ENSURE THAT OUR VOTERS UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPACTS ARE MADE DURING PRIMARY ELECTIONS SPECIFIC TO LOCAL CONTESTS.

SO FOR COLLIER COUNTY ON OUR PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT, WE'VE GOT OVER 11 DIFFERENT RACES AND FOR LOCAL REFERENDA ITEMS ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT.

WITH OVER 63 CANDIDATES, MAJORITY OF OUR LOCAL RACES WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

SO ALL FOLKS MAYBE THINK THAT THIS IS A PARTISAN PRIMARY AND WE'RE NARROWING DOWN CANDIDATES AND THEY'LL JUST VOTE FOR THEM DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION.

NO, THERE WILL BE RACES THAT ARE DECIDED WITHIN THE PRIMARY AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO GET OUT AND VOTE IN AUGUST.

>> CAN YOU GO OVER THE DEADLINES THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED PROPERLY TO VOTE IN AUGUST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE FIRST MAJOR DEADLINE FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

AND THAT IS JULY 20TH, JULY 20TH IS THE VOTER REGISTRATION OR WHAT WE CALL THE BOOK CLOSING DEADLINE.

SO IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

29 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

SO YOU CANNOT SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY AND REGISTER TO VOTE AND EXPECT TO ACTUALLY CAST A BALLOT.

YOU HAVE TO BE REGISTERED.

29 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

SUPER EASY TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

JUST GO ON.

COLLIERVOTES DOT GOV.

WE HAVE AN ONLINE PORTAL THAT TAKES YOU RIGHT TO THE STATE'S WEBSITE AND FOLKS CAN REGISTER TO VOTE THERE OR EVEN JUST CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS.

AND THEN THERE'S EARLY VOTING TIMES.

CAN YOU TOUCH ON THOSE?

AND SO THAT'S THE SECOND WAY YOU CAN VOTE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS IN PERSON DURING EARLY VOTING DURING THE PRIMARY ELECTION FOR COLLIER COUNTY.

WE WILL OFFER EARLY VOTING BEGINNING ON AUGUST 8 THROUGH THE 15TH.

YES, THAT INCLUDES SATURDAYS AND SUNDAY AND WE WILL HOLD EARLY VOTING EVERY DAY FROM 10:00AM UNTIL 06:00PM.

AND WE OFFER EARLY VOTING AT 11 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY IN COLLIER.

AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT EARLY VOTING IS THAT VOTERS CAN VOTE AT ANY OF THOSE 11 LOCATIONS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE ONE THAT'S CLOSEST TO THEIR HOME.

THEY COULD BE DOWN IN EVERGLADES CITY HAVING LUNCH FOR THE AFTERNOON AND WE HAVE AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION DOWN IN EVERGLADES CITY.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE NICE CONVENIENT WAYS TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND THEN THE BIG DAY, AUGUST 18TH.

ELECTION DAY VOTERS LAST OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE?

THAT'S AUGUST 18TH.

>> AND YOU ALSO HAD LAUNCHED A PROGRAM THAT WAS CALLED TEXT MY GOD THAT TRIES TO HELP MAKE THIS WHOLE PROCESS EFFICIENT.

CAN YOU?

>> TALK ABOUT THAT PROGRAM?

YEAH.

SO WE ACTUALLY YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE PROMOTING IT WITH EVERYONE IS TO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE RECEIVE OUR ELECTION RELATED NOTIFICATIONS.

YOU CAN TEXT CALL YOUR VOTES TO 9, 1, 8, 9, 6, AND IT WILL SIGN VOTERS UP TO RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE OFFICE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE PROMOTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IN THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT.

OBVIOUSLY ONCE EARLY VOTING STARTS AND THEN ELECTION DAY INFORMATION AND THEN ANYTHING IN BETWEEN THAT WE REALLY FEEL IS IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, IMPACT A MAJORITY OF OUR VOTERS WERE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SEND A QUICK MESSAGE TO THAT TEXT MESSAGE AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOLKS ARE INFORMED AND ENGAGED IN AND READY TO VOTE IN THIS UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION.

MELISSA BLAZER, THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS VISIT DOT ORG FOR THE LATEST ON THE UPCOMING PRIMARY AND THE TERMS.

COMING UP NEXT, THE TRANSITION FROM ALL TIME, DISNEY CLASSIC 2 UNFORGETTABLE STAGE PERFORMANCE.

WE'RE THE ROCK MUSICAL RENT CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR WHEN IT DEBUTED ON BROADWAY IN 1996, THE MUSICAL BROKE TABOOS BY CENTERING ITS STORY ON THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY DRUG ADDICTION AND THE HIV AIDS EPIDEMIC AT THE ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS IN FORT MYERS, RENT OPENS TODAY AND RUNS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

WGCUS ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL.

DETAILS HOW THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE OF THE MUSICAL STILL RESONATES TODAY.

>> IT TODAY, BUT THROUGH TOMORROW FROM THE 2 OF YOU BOB CROW FROM THE STATE TODAY TO DO BROKE FROM.

>> RENTS LEGACY IS INSEPARABLE FROM THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV AIDS.

THE MUSICAL DESCRIBES A TIME WHEN AN AIDS DIAGNOSIS WAS A DEATH SENTENCE.

AND THE SHOW CONVEYS THE CLIMATE OF FEAR, DEPRESSION AND DESPAIR FELT BY THOSE INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS SUCH AS ROGER AND ASPIRING MUSICIAN PLAYED BY FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE SOPHOMORE TYLER SCOTT.

ROGERS SAID DESPONDENT AND OBSESSED TO LEAVE A PERMANENT MARK BEFORE HE'S GONE.

AS WE LEARN IN ONE SONG, GLORY.

>> YOU CAN NO LONGER BEFORE.

I YOU WANT >> THE EYE WHEN YOU FIRST SEE HIM, HE'S JUST KIND OF JUST KIND OF DOWN.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING JUST DEPRESSED.

AND THEN YOU KIND OF SEE INTO HIS CHARACTER ON WHY HE FEELS THAT WAY AND BEING ABLE TO THAT PORTRAY THE EMOTION THROUGH THE SONGS AND ACTING AND THE DANCING.

AND THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST GOALS.

>> ROGERS, NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR IS MIMI MARK HENS PLAY BY FGCU SOPHOMORE J ON A LOT.

SHE TOO, IS HIV POSITIVE AND SHE POSITIVELY WANTS TO BE WITH ROGER, BUT HE'S STILL FILLED WITH GUILT AND SELF-LOATHING OVER THE DEATH OF HIS PREVIOUS GIRLFRIEND.

SO ROGER SPURNS BEANIES, INITIAL OVERTURE, XANADU, ET ANOTHER DEATH.

>> AND >> NOT IN AN ERA OF GUYS THAT.

>> SHOWS LIKE THE REJECTION AND HOW LIKE I'M MAD, BUT ALSO LIKE I'M TRYING TO MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND THAT I WANT HIM AND MORE THAN A ROMANTIC WAY, YOU KNOW, FOR MORE FROM THE WAY THE TO QUIT.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE SONG.

>> ON A LOT.

AND SCOTT HAVE ON STAGE OF HISTORY THAT SHINES THROUGH IN THE DUET.

>> DOING A DUET WITH SOMEONE YOU HAVE TO NOT ONLY SHOW THE CONNECTION OF WHATEVER YOU'RE SAYING AND YOU'RE DANCING WITH THE PERSON.

BUT IT IS JUST TAKE SUCH A MOTIONAL TOLL ON YOU, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO LIKE JUST SINGING WITH ANOTHER PERSON.

YOU HAVE TO BLEND WITH THEM IN A CERTAIN WAY.

FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE SOPHOMORE DA JURY IN ST.

LOUIS PLACE.

TOM COLLINS.

>> A RAY OF SUNSHINE APPEARS IS THE PLACE STORM CLOUDS AS EXPRESSED IN THE SONG SANTA FE.

>> ALL THIS MISERY, BASIL, CELERY.

AND SO WHAT?

>> LET'S HOPE OR RESTORE RIGHTS AND SANTA FE, THE SUNDAY SETS AVAILABLE IN THE 90'S.

I JUST LOVE THE NUMBER SO MUCH BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOPE, ESPECIALLY AND SUCH A DARK TIME THAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, THEY FOUND A GLIMMER OF HOPE AND THEY HAD A DREAM AND THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN THERE SINGING ABOUT IT.

DESPITE EVERYTHING GOING ON AROUND THEM.

>> ST.

LOUIS RELISHES THE ROLE OF TOM COLLINS FOR ANOTHER REASON.

>> HE'S RESILIENT.

HE'S BRAVE AND HE'S DETERMINED NO MATTER WHAT THE WORLD AROUND HIM.

THANKS.

AND I JUST THINK THAT SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN APPLY TO OUR WORLD NOW.

EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT AND WE SHOULDN'T BE ASHAMED OF THAT.

>> HANNAH CREWS TO PLACE MORE RAIN VOICES.

A SIMILAR THING YOU SHOULD DO IS JUMP OVER THE MOON.

>> A MEETING OF THE STORY IS MORE LIKE JUST BEING YOURSELF.

NOT A FREE, NOT BEING AFRAID TO EXPRESS WHO YOU ARE, WHO YOU LOVE THIS SHOW IS REALLY JUST ABOUT BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF, NOT BEING AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

CARMEN CRUZ, ART DIRECTOR MIGUEL CENTRE, RON AND CHOREOGRAPHER KIYANA RAIN CINTRON.

>> THIS ENSEMBLE CAST OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS IS IN A WORD OUTSTANDING PEOPLE.

>> BRENT IS ON STAGE FOR 4 MORE PERFORMANCES.

>> FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL AND TOM RENT WON THE PULITZER PRIZE IN 1996.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?

>> THE PULITZER JURY WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF PUCCINI'S LA.

BUT LAMB RELOCATING IT TO THE EAST VILLAGE OF NEW YORK CITY.

THEY WERE ALSO INFLUENCED BY THE MUSIC FACT THAT THE MUSICAL TACKLE POVERTY ADDICTION, GENTRIFICATION AND THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, ALL ISSUES THAT WERE NOT DIRECTLY ADDRESSED ON BROADWAY AT THE TIME.

IN ADDITION, JONATHAN LARSON WROTE RAMP BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY WHICH TRANSFORMED AIDS FROM A DEATH SENTENCE INTO A MANAGEABLE CHRONIC CONDITION.

SADLY, RENT REMAINS RELEVANT IN TODAY'S POLITICAL CLIMATE.

EVEN THE FLORIDA LAWMAKERS HAVE PASSED A 75 MILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO RESTORE HIV MEDICATION, ACCESS THE REMAINING SUSPECT OR THE GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS COULD VETO THAT FUNDING.

EVEN IF HE DOESN'T.

THE MEASURE ONLY COVERS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

WITHOUT THIS MONEY.

MORE THAN 10,000 FLORIDIANS WILL LOSE ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING HIV MEDICATION BECAUSE CONGRESS DIDN'T EXTEND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

TAX CREDITS LAST FALL.

AND UN AIDS WARNS THAT AN ADDITIONAL 6 MILLION NEW HIV INFECTIONS.

AND 4 MILLION AIDS-RELATED DEATHS COULD OCCUR BETWEEN 2025 2029.

AS A RESULT OF THE DISSOLUTION OF USAID AND THE U.S.

PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY PLAN FOR AIDS RELIEF OR PEPFAR.

SO FOR TOO MANY PEOPLE AND HIV AIDS DIAGNOSIS IS POTENTIALLY STILL A DEATH SENTENCE.

>> NOW TO CAST OF RENT IS YOUNG TEENAGERS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PERHAPS THE FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE.

ARE THEY AWARE OF THESE HEAVY UNDERTONES?

>> THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO THE TIMELINE DURING WHICH THE PLAY TAKES PLACE.

BUT WHILE THEY WERE BORN 10 YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE HIV ANTI WRECKER VIRAL WERE DEVELOPED.

THEY ALL LIVED THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH CLAIMED NEARLY A MILLION US LIES BEFORE THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES BECAME AVAILABLE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON THE SHOW'S OTHER MAJOR THEME, WHICH IS THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE FREE TO BE WHO WE ARE AND LOVE WHO WE LOVE.

>> AND THAT IS THE THEME OF ANOTHER SHOW THAT YOU SAW LAST WEEK FROZEN, WHICH IS AT FORT MYERS STATER.

WE ALL LOVE THAT.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT IT?

YES, CERTAINLY CAN.

>> FROZEN'S MORE THAN JUST THE DISNEY MUSICAL ABOUT THE SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN 2 SISTERS.

ITS THE SHOW'S MESSAGE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND EMPOWERMENT.

THAT'S RESONATED WITH AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

AT THE CENTER FROZEN OR 2 PRINCESSES ELSA AND ON MAY 1ST GET A SLICE OF THE NORTHEAST ON ALSO HASN'T HOW SHE CAN CREATE ICE AND SNOW WITH THE FLICK OF HER ARRESTS THERE.

IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD ENDS ONE NIGHT WHEN ELSA ACCIDENTALLY FREEZES OR SISTER THE KING AND QUEEN SEPARATE THE GIRLS AND THEN STRUCK ELSA CONCEALED.

DON'T FEEL SADLY THEIR PARENTS DIE AT SEA A SHORT TIME LATER AND ALSO GOES INTO ISOLATION WITHOUT TELLING THE KINGDOM OR ON A WHY TO BE >> VALERIE >> PRODUCTS.

MEN WHO PLAYS ELSA PROVIDES CONTEXT.

>> THEY WANT TO BE SO CLOSE, BUT THEY CAN'T BE AND ELSA IS DOING IT FROM THE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WANTING TO PROTECT YOUR SISTER.

BUT SHE'S ALSO NOT COMMUNICATING.

NOT SO HER SISTER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE'S HIDING FROM HER.

>> ROSMAN SAID THAT ELSE'S ATTEMPT TO HIDE HER POWERS MIRRORS THE PRESSURE.

MANY PEOPLE FEEL TO REPRESS ANY ASPECT OF THEMSELVES THAT DOESN'T CONFORM TO SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS.

>> SHE'S AFRAID OF THE DAMAGE THAT SHE COULD DO.

AND SHE'S A GREAT A DANGER THAT SHE COULD BE.

BUT SHE ALSO DIDN'T EVER GET THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE GOOD THINGS THAT SHE CAN DO WITH IT, FEELING HER HER CITY WITH MAGIC IN WITH WONDER AND WITH WARMTH AND THAT'S THE COOL THING ABOUT THE SHOW IS THAT BY THE END, SHE'S ABLE TO LEARN THAT THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO HIDE IT.

SOMETHING TO EMBRACE.

>> AND ALSO MAKES THIS BREAKTHROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ANTHEM.

LET IT GOT MANY GOOD.

>> AND >> IT'S ON HIS MESSAGE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND EMPOWERMENT HAS RESONATED WITH AUDIENCES AROUND THE LAW.

>> YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THE SPECIAL QUALITIES THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU SHOULD NEVER BE AFRAID TO SHOW THEM BECAUSE IT'S WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE IN SUMMATION.

YOU AND TO MAKE PEOPLE LOVE YOU.

AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO HIDE WHO THEY ARE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO LOSE NO MORE MISS THAN THOSE.

>> AND AS PLAYED BY HAZEL TRACING A SOPHOMORE MUSICAL THEATER MAJOR AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE HER CHARACTER'S ARC TAKES HER FROM IDEALISTIC TO TRUE LOVE.

BUT ITS LOVE FOR HER SISTER.

THAT TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE.

IT'S THE BALL.

THAT'S WHY TRACY'S FAVORITE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS ARE DUET WITH PROXIMITY.

IT JUST LIKE.

>> KIND OF CAPTURES THAT LIKE LONGING CEILING FOR SOMEONE AND IT REALLY LIKE DRAWS YOU INTO WHAT THE COURT OF THE RELATIONSHIP MEANS.

>> THE ROLE NOT ONLY CHALLENGES TRACY VOCALLY, SHE CONFESSES TO BEING MORE OF A BELTER THAN A TRUE SOPRANO.

BUT PHYSICALLY AS WELL WITH SEVERAL QUICK COSTUME >> WHEN I DO A QUICK CHANGE, AND LARRY, BECAUSE THIS IS 2 PIECES AND I ALSO DOING CHANGE SO IT'S IT'S A LOT, BUT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A GREAT TEAM BACK THERE.

WHO HELPS ME ALL I CAN SAY GOOD JOB FOR ALL.

>> NO ROLE IN THE MUSICAL'S IS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING ITS.

THEN THE REINDEER PLAYED BY JOSHUA POTTER.

FIRST IS THE COSTUME.

>> FOR LAWYERS TO THE SUIT BECAUSE I HAVE I HAVE THE CRUTCHES PERSON LEAVES WITH THE SHIRT.

I HAVE A VESTED PUT ON TO COVER UP THE SHIRT.

ONE DIED.

THE SADDLE HOUSE OF THE HEAD PIECE, WHICH IS A HAT.

SO ACTUALLY SEE THROUGH HIS NECK.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE COSTUME POTTER SPENDS HIS TIME ON STAGE IN AN EXTREMELY AWKWARD AND PHYSICALLY TAXING POSH GOT AWAY.

>> I'VE LOST 12 POUNDS DOING THIS FOR ALL THE PAST LIKE 2 MONTHS.

>> COMBINE ROBIN GONE BRIAN'S DIRECTION, TRADEMARK CHOREOGRAPHY AND IMAGINATIVE COSTUME DESIGN WITH HER ACTING IN VOCALS.

AND AUDIENCES ARE IN FOR AN ENTERTAINING AND UPLIFTING THEATER.

EXPERIENCE BASED ON THE HIT 2013 FILM FROZEN REVEALS THE TRUE LOVE COMES IN MANY FORMS AND THE BOND BETWEEN SISTERS IS TRULY SPECIAL FOR WGCU NEWS COM.

>> FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE SONG LET IT GO WAS A MASSIVE HIT FROM THE MOVIE BECOMING THE FIRST SONG FROM THE DISNEY ANIMATED MUSICAL TO LEAD THE TOP 10 ON THE BILLBOARD TOP 100 CHART SINCE 1995.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST SELLING SONGS OF 2014 AND WOULD GO ON TO WIN A GRAMMY AND AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ORIGINAL SONG.

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF TOM HALLS, ARTS FEATURES ON OUR WEBSITE WTC, YOU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, A CLASSIC CHINESE CELEBRATION TAKES ON A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SPIN AS THE THE CHINESE CALENDAR DATES BACK 4,000 YEARS TO THAT SHANG DYNASTY AS TIME PROGRESSED, CELEBRATIONS THAT DID HIT CHINESE TRADITIONS WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THE DEW ONE WHO FESTIVAL OR DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL FALLS ON THE 5TH DAY OF THE 5TH MONTH ON THE CHINESE CALENDAR.

WGCU CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH AND ARCHIE DELVES INTO HOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TAKES PART IN THE FESTIVITIES.

>> THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM CHINA IN A PARKING LOT OF A CHURCH IN FORT MYERS, THE 2000 YEAR OLD STORY IS VERY MUCH ALIVE.

>> IT'S A STORY FOR THE RIGHT.

JUST MISSED FOOD.

BUT PEOPLE IS REALLY FOR JUSTICE.

>> THAT STORY IS DWAN.

WOO.

THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL.

THE HISTORY.

POET AND POLITICIAN, 2 YEN DROUGHTS HIMSELF TO PROTEST CORRUPTION.

VILLAGERS RACE OUT IN BOATS TO SAVE HIM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CANNOT.

SO THEY THROW RICE INTO THE RIVER TO PROTECT HIS BODY FROM BEING CONSUMED BY FISH.

THAT OFFERING IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE ORIGIN OF PULL PULL STICKY.

RICE WRAPPED IN BAMBOO LEAVES AND TIED WITH YARN CONTINUING ADJUSTER THAT WAS ONCE THROWN INTO THE RIVER.

THE DRAGON BOAT RACE TOLD THE SAME STORY MINUS THE RIVER THIS TIME ITS INFLATABLE BOATS, A PARKING LOT AND KIDS WHO HAVE LIKELY NEVER SEEN THE YANGS E BUT THEY'RE RACING IN ITS HONOR ANYWAY.

BASICALLY, IT'S A COUCH OR ALL A TRADITION.

>> DRAGON BALL DA'S ENHANCES SPEAKS IT TO GET IN THIS OF THE PEOPLE AND MORE A COMMUNITY ALREADY.

AND IT AND IT IS MORE PATRIOTIC CULTURE.

AND SO PEOPLE GET FROM THIS IS JUST HOW MANY IN PEACE AND UNITY.

>> AND THERE'S A REASON COLLEGE THING WANTS TO STORY TOLD NOW AND NOT A TIME YOU SEE CHINESE CULTURE.

THAT'S A LOT OF US.

THAT IS CNN.

>> BUT THIS IS A FUN EVENT.

AND THIS CULTURE AND JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE DEAL.

THE FIRST CHINESE.

YEAH CULTURAL EVENT FESTIVAL TO BE IN THE UNESCO.

INTANGIBLE HERITAGE HUMANITY.

>> THAT MISS SCHOOL DESIGNATION CAME IN 2009 FOR DIASPORA COMMUNITY FAR FROM HOME.

IT'S PROOF THAT YOU DON'T NEED A RIVER TO KEEP A LEGEND AFLOAT.

FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M ELISBETH ANDARGE.

>> ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, THE END HAS COME FOR ALLIGATOR.

ALCATRAZ AS GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ANNOUNCES THE CLOSING OF THE CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITY.

>> TODAY IT NOW HAS 0 DETAINEES.

IT HAS HELPED REMOVE MANY, MANY DANGEROUS PEOPLE FROM THE STREET AND GET THEM OUT OF NOT ONLY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> WELL, THE FACILITY INITIATE A PERMANENT SHUTDOWN.

QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN.

WE ARE ASKING WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LAND AND WHEN COULD RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THE EVERGLADES ACTUALLY BEGIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU VISIT W G C DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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

IN FOCUS