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Gulf Coast Life: Arts Edition
Hosted by John Davis

John Davis has been a full-time Reporter/Producer for WGCU since 2009. He is the local host for NPR’s Morning Edition and producer and host for WGCU’s radio talk program Gulf Coast Life! John came to WGCU as an intern in 2007, and is now reporting on a broad spectrum of topics of interest to Southwest Florida. Prior to joining WGCU, he worked at WDUQ-FM in Pittsburgh, PA covering local government and general assignments.John studied journalism at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Florida Gulf Coast University. His work has garnered awards from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and a first place award and “Best in Show” from the Florida Associated Press for his investigative work in 2011. Send news pitches to wgcunews at wgcu.org

Latest Episodes
  • SCCF and Players Circle Theater team up for Climate Change Theatre Action
    The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation and Players Circle Theater are once again teaming up to bring Southwest Florida into a world-wide festival of short plays called Climate Change Theatre Action. The festival, which coincides with the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference, aims to use theater as a tool to translate the climate crisis into personal, emotional and collective stories. We take deeper dive into the initiative in a conversation with Players Circle Theater’s Carrie Lund Cacioppo and Jenny Evans and Matt DePaolis with the SCCF.
  • Benny Benack III, FGCU Director of Jazz Studies Brandon Robertson and musicians with the FGCU Jazz Combo performed live in the WGCU Performance Studio. (combo members include Eduard Barcela on piano, Gabe Burgos on bass, Jonathan Eysaman on tenor saxophone, Diego Figueredo on trumpet, Robert Law on drums, and Alejandro Ramirez-Morales on guitar.)
    ENCORE: FGCU Jazz Combo performs with Benny Benack III
    We listen back to our April show featuring Emmy-nominated jazz trumpeter, vocalist and composer Benny Benack III performing live in studio with the Florida Gulf Coast University Jazz Combo.
  • The cast of Florida Repertory Theatre's production of "Doubt, A Parable" (clockwise from top left) Matt Lytle, Julia Brothers, Taylor Reister and Alia Shakira.
    A conversation with the cast of the Florida Rep’s production of “Doubt, A Parable”
    Florida Repertory Theatre is mounting a production of playwright John Patrick Shanely’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning drama “Doubt, A Parable.” We take a deeper dive into the show in a conversation with cast members Matt Lytle, Taylor Reister, and Alia Shakira.
  • Bruce Ryan Costella performing his one-man show "MUTTNIK"
    Bruce Costella performs his one-man show “MUTTNIK” at the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
    Bruce Costella brings a limited engagement of his one-man show “MUTTNIK” at the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium November 7 – 9. The performance tells the story of Laika, stray dog from the streets of Moscow, who was chosen by Soviet scientists to become the first living animal to orbit the Earth aboard the Sputnik 2 in 1957.
  • (from left) Director Robert Cacioppo and cast members Frank Blocker and Carrie Lund Cacioppo in the WGCU talk studio talking about Players Circle Theater's season-opening production of Neil Simon's "Rumors."
    Players Circle Theater opens its 7th season with Neil Simon’s “Rumors”
    Players Circle Theater in Fort Myers opens its 7th season this week with a production of playwright Neil Simon’s sophisticated farce “Rumors.” We explore the play in a conversation with director Bob Cacioppo and cast members Carrie Lund Cacioppo and Frank Blocker.
  • Naples International Film Festival returns for 17th year
    The 17th annual Naples International Film Festival will feature 60 films, filmmaker panel discussions, and a special performance by the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. We get a preview of the festival with producers David Filner and Shannon Franklin. We also talk with Mark Craig about his documentary film “Apollo 1,” which will have its Florida premiere at the festival.
  • ENCORE: Players Circle Theater Seventh Season Preview
    Players Circle Theater is preparing a robust seventh season, which kicks off next month. The season includes a fast-paced farce, a holiday musical revue, a musical adaptation of the classic novel “Little Women,” a family comedy, a romantic comedy, a dramedy and a one-woman show that includes a three-course meal prepared and served to a few lucky patrons. We’ll listen back to our season-preview conversation with Players Circle Theater co-founder and Artistic Director Bob Cacioppo.
  • Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts Board of Directors member Cotrenia Hood, Founder and Executive Director Sonya McCarter, and professional dancer/dance instructor Eden Collier in the WGCU-FM talk studio.
    ENCORE: Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts empowers BIPOC artists in Southwest Florida
    Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts is Southwest Florida’s newest arts and culture nonprofit. The new organization is committed to providing support, education, community, and performance opportunities for BIPOC artists. We’ll learn about the new organization in an encore of our conversation this past summer with founder and executive director Sonya McCarter, board of directors member Cotrenia Hood, and dance instructor Eden Collier.
  • Lab Theater opens 17th season with SWFL premiere of the psychological thriller “Grey House”
    Laboratory Theater of Florida opens its 17th season with the Southwest Florida premiere production of the psychological thriller “Grey House.” Ahead of next week’s opening, we explore the horror play in a conversation with director Heather Johnson and actors Roslyn Kellogg and Abby Seeley.
  • Players Circle Theater Seventh Season Preview
    Players Circle Theater is preparing a robust seventh season, which kicks off next month. We’ll get a preview of the season ahead in a conversation with Players Circle Theater co-founder and Artistic Director Bob Cacioppo.