William Shakespeare is one of the most studied playwrights of all time. But what do we know about his theater troupe and the boys and men who played his heroines?

Local theater group Loud Fridge Theatre is staging the play, "Boy My Greatness," which follows the male actors who played women characters in Shakespeare's plays.

Thursday on Midday Edition, we talk more about how the play explores backstage dynamics, gender identity and sexuality — and Loud Fridge's mission to make theater accessible to all.

Then, a new children's book, "Your Fluff is Enough" follows farmyard animals as they encourage readers to celebrate self love and acceptance. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando sits down with the book's creators.

And finally, there's no shortage of things to do this Fourth of July weekend. We check in with KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans and KPBS web producer Brenden Tuccinardi about the artistic events on their radar.

Guests:

• Lee Engelman, director of "Boy My Greatness"
• Liliana Talwatte, associate director of operations of Loud Fridge Theatre, producer of "Boy My Greatness"
• Rashmi Gandhi, author, "Your Fluff is Enough"
• Darren Oei, illustrator, "Your Fluff is Enough"
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter and host of "The Finest," KPBS
• Brenden Tuccinardi, web producer, KPBS

After 16 years, Micah Parzen is moving on from his role as CEO at Balboa Park's Museum of Us.

During his time there, he led the museum's decolonization efforts, taking the institution from the Museum of Man to the Museum of Us.

Now, he's headed to Berkeley to take on a new role as director of the Hearst Museum of Anthropology.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we sit down with Parzen to reflect on 16 years at the museum and what he envisions for its future.

Guest:

• Micah Parzen, CEO, Museum of Us

America will officially commemorate 250 years since it declared independence from British rule, and celebrations are well underway.

But the Fourth of July also marks another important anniversary: 80 years ago, the U.S. signed the Treaty of Manila, which liberated the Philippines from colonial rule.

Wednesday on Midday Edition, we talk about a new four-part series from KPBS, "The Forgotten Fourth of July," which looks at how that treaty shaped the Filipino diaspora over the past several decades — both here in San Diego and beyond.

Guests:

• Elaine Alfaro, East County reporter, KPBS
• Kori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBS