Gulf Coast Life: Arts Edition
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
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Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts is mounting the world-premiere production of “The Last Show,” written and performed by actor, playwright and screenwriter Derek Lively. Ahead of opening night we get a preview from Lively and the production’s director and Conspiracy Theatre Founding Artistic Director Bill Taylor. -
The tragic loss, last summer, of the incomparable trumpet player Dan Miller has left a huge void in the jazz world. We preview this coming weekend’s “Celebration of Love and Life” tribute concert and learn about how his legacy will continue through the Dan Miller Jazz Foundation in a conversation with his long-time significant other Judi Woods. We also hear selections from a previous episode of this program featuring Dan Miller performing live in studio. -
Multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer, band leader, and composer Gunhild Carling will perform Friday, Feb. 24 in the Grand Atrium of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center as part of the center’s “Jazzy Nights” music series. We talk with Carling about her remarkable musical upbringing, her affinity for American jazz music from the 1920s and 30s, and her approach to performing and composing new music. -
A conversation with Southwest Florida Symphony Maestro Radu Paponiu and Outreach Ambassador Robert Van Winkle about the orchestra’s upcoming concert featuring world-renown violinist Gil Shaham performing Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto in G Minor. The Masterworks series concert, Saturday, Jan. 28, also includes the overture to Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. We’ll take a deeper dive into the music and the historical context behind each piece. -
Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers is mounting the Florida premiere production of the courtroom drama “Faceless.” The play, based on true events, concerns the trial of a young white American woman radicalized into Islamic extremism online and charged with conspiring to commit acts of terrorism and the Muslim attorney chosen to prosecute the case. We hear from two actors in the show: Sharon Isern and Matt Flynn. -
A retrospective exhibition of works by Naples-based artist Carmelo Blandino comes to the Wasmer Art Gallery at Florida Gulf Coast University Jan. 17 – March 2. We talk with the artist himself along with co-curators of the exhibition, FGCU Art Gallery Director John Loscuito and founding Director of “Method and Concept” Chad Jensen. -
Encore broadcast of blues, roots, and folk singer/songwriter and guitarist Jon Shain performing live in studio. -
A conversation about the Laboratory Theater of Florida’s regional premiere production of “SISTAS! The Musical” with the show’s director Sonya McCarter and cast members Makayla Davis and Julissa Jean-Bart. -
A conversation with Southwest Florida Music Education Center Executive Director Jennifer Clark and the organization’s mission to provide comprehensive post-secondary music certificate programs for neurodivergent students, with a goal of preparing students for careers in the music industry. -
Southwest Florida’s new, first, and only professional ballet company Florida Gulfshore Ballet is holding a fundraising performance event at Artis-Naples, Nov. 18 to benefit local arts organizations impacted by Hurricane Ian. We talk with Florida Gulfshore Ballet artistic directors Iliana Lopez and Franklin Gamero about the event, their vision for the new ballet company, and their own impressive careers as professional ballet dancers.
