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

The United States is preparing to celebrate two and a half centuries since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

But although Indigenous people are a central part of America's origin story, they are often left out of the narrative.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we sit down with three Indigenous storytellers and scholars to talk about that history and how our country's past informs the present.

Guests:

• Stanley Rodriguez, member of the Santa Ysabel Band of the Iipay Nation; past president of Kumeyaay Community College
• Ethan Banegas, member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians; professor of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University
• Terria Smith, member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians; editor of News from Native California magazine

Tuesday the Supreme Court ruled to uphold automatic birthright citizenship for all people born in the United States.

While the issue might be settled from a legal standpoint, it brings up a long history of people fighting for citizenship status and the rights it guarantees.

Tuesday on Midday Edition, we dive into some of the legal and historical precedents for birthright citizenship and our cultural, social and political understandings of what it means to be a citizen in the current moment.

Guests:

• Veronica Martinez-Matsuda, associate professor of history, UC San Diego
• Gabriel Jack Chin, professor, UC Davis School of Law

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration can end protections to people from Haiti and Syria. The ruling adds uncertainty to the immigration status of over 350,000 people, including thousands of Haitians in the San Diego region.

On Midday Edition Monday, we hear more about how the local Haitian community is reacting to the ruling, and the increased fear being felt across it.

Guest:

Guerline Jozef, executive director, The Haitian Bridge Alliance

Links:

The Hatian Bridge Alliance

It's been just over a month since two men opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three people and traumatizing many more.

The suspects followed a familiar pattern of far-right radicalization, idolizing perpetrators of other white supremacist attacks.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we talk about San Diego's long and well-documented history of white supremacist violence.

Plus, a new report digs into the inner workings and ideologies propelling Patriot Front, one of the nation's largest white supremacist groups. We discuss the details and what they reveal about white supremacy in the U.S. today.

Guests:

• Roberto Camacho, freelance journalist
• Will Carless, reporter covering extremism and emerging issues, USA Today

This year's Black Music Month theme is "The Soundtrack Continues," celebrating 250 years of Black musicians' influence on American music.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we invited San Diego-based hip-hop and rap collective Soul Disciples into the studio for a live performance and conversation about their music.

Then, our Midday Movies critics talk about summer blockbusters, from alien encounters to low-budget horror, bringing fans to the theaters.

Plus, our weekend preview of upcoming arts and culture events.

Guests:

• Ric Scales, hip-hop artist, Soul Disciples
• Ray Jones, hip-hop artist, Soul Disciples
• King Cobretti, hip-hop artist, Soul Disciples
• Beth Accomando, arts reporter and KPBS Cinema Junkie, KPBS
• Yazdi Pithavala, film critic, Moviewalla podcast
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter, host of "The Finest," KPBS

Listen to "Lifted Volume One" by Soul Disciples.