>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON A DEBATE ON PROP 129 WHICH REQUIRES CITIZEN INITIATED BALLOT MEASURES TO EMBRACE A SINGLE SUBJECT.

THAT AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE FROM CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF PBS AND MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> >> TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON I'M TED SIMONS.

A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WAS SENTENCE TO DO 10 YEARS FOR HIS PART IN THE RIOT AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

THOMAS WEBSTER WAS SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT.

THE 56-YEAR-OLD FORMER OFFICER AND MARINE WAS SEEN IN VIDEOS SWINGING METAL FLAG POLE AT A POLICE OFFICER BEFORE BREAKING THROUGH A BARRIER AND CHOKING THE OFFICER.

HE WAS FOUND GUILTY AND 5 OF WHICH WAS A FELONY.

A 10 YEAR SENTENCE WAS THE LONGEST THUS FAR.

THE CDC REPORTED ON HOW EFFECTIVE VACCINES HAVE COLBY.

THE FIRST YEAR THEY PREVENTED 14 TO 16 MILLION DEATHS.

A NEW BIVALENT BOOSTER WAS AUTHORIZED AND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS OPTIMISTIC WITH THAT.

>> IT CONTAINS BA4 AND BA.5 THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW IN PEOPLE THAT YOU GET A MUCH GREATER IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST THE BA4/BA.5 WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT.

THE IDEA IS RIGHT BUT YOU NEED TO PROVE IT.

>> OTHER NEWS MORTGAGE RATES IN THE U.S. ARE ON THE RISE AGAIN.

FREDDIE MAC REPORTED TODAY THAT AVERAGES FOR A 30-YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGE ARE HIGHER THAN LAST WEEK AND HIGHER THAN THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

THE RECENT INCREASE IS DUE IN NO SMALL PARTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND FORCEFUL AND RAPID STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN.

SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE STANCE WILL LEAD TO A SLOW DOWN IN HOME SALES AND PRESSURE TO DROP PRICES.

LAS VEGAS HAS ENACTED A LIMIT ON THE SIZE OF RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOLS IN AN EFFORT TO CONSERVE WATER.

THEY'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN GIANT POOLS SOME LARGER THAN 3,000 FEET.

BUT NOWITZKI THEY CAN'T BE OVER 600 SQUARE FEET.

THE CITY BANNED GRASS AND SPRAY IRRIGATION STEMS FROM BEING INSTALLED IN NEW PROPERTIES EARLIER IN THE YEAR EXCEPT FOR SCHOOLS AND PARKS AND CEMETERIES CEMETERIES.

>>> PROPOSITION 129 WOULD LIMIT A MEASURE TO A SINGLE SUBJECT AND REQUIRE THAT SUBJECT TO BE EXPRESSED IN THE TITLE OF THE BALLOT MEASURE.

TONIGHT WE TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

WE'RE JOINED BY MIKE BAILEY GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE ARIZONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PINNY SHEORAN.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

IS IT'S A GOOD THING FOR ARIZONA >> SINGLE SUBJECT RULE IS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE THAT APPLIES ACROSS THE BOARDS AND TO OUR LEGISLATURE AND ANY CONS CAN STAOUGSAL AMENDMENTS.

WHAT IT SAYS IS IF YOU PASS A LAW ON SOMETHING YOU CAN'T HIDE THINGS THAT AREN'T RELATED TO THIS TOPIC.

THE PRINCIPLE APPLIES IN ALMOST ALL STATE LEGISLATURES AND EVEN THE STATES THAT HAVE CITIZEN INITIATIVE STEMS LIKE WE DO, MOST OF THOSE STATES REQUIRE THE SINGLE SUBJECT RULE.

SINGLE SUBJECT RULE.

WE'VE COLBY SEEING SPECIAL INTERESTS TRYING TO HIDE THINGS AND WE THINK THE SINGLE SUBJECT RULE IS AN EXCELLENT ANECDOTE.

>> >> TED: WHY IS THIS NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA?

>> THE CONSTITUTION SAYS IT IS RIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS TO ENACT LAWS INDEPENDENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WE DON'T THINK THAT THIS NOTION THAT APPLIES TO EVERYBODY APPLIES TO THE CITIZENS.

IN FACT, THE COURTS HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT PATH TO BRING FORWARD LEGISLATION.

LEGISLATURES HAVE A VERY SIMPLE TASK TO BRING FORWARD MANY, MANY LAWS.

SOME GOOD AND SOME NOT GOOD.

WE DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE NEED TO KEEP THE LEGISLATURE AWAY FROM THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS TO HAVE INDEPENDENT LAWS.

>> TED: FOR THOSE WHO SAY THIS WOULD CLARIFY A BALLOT MEASURE AND NOT CONFUSE THE VOTER, HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I'LL RESPOND THIS WAY, TED.

IF IN FACT IT CONFUSES THE VOTER THEY WON'T VOTE FOR IT.

HOWEVER, JUST IN THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE HAD OVER 100 BILLS THAT WERE ANTI-DEMOCRACY BILLS, OKAY?

THE CITIZENS HAVE ONLY ONE SHOT AT BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS LEGISLATION THAT REALLY HARMS THEM AND SO THEREFORE IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT TO BRING FORWARD WHAT MIGHT BE A COMPLEX SUPBT.

THEY GET ONLY ONE SHOT.

IF I MIGHT ADD ONE MORE PIECE TO THIS AND THAT IS WHO IS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SINGLE SUBJECT IS.

>> TED: THAT BRINGS UP MY NEXT QUESTION.

CRITICS SAY THIS WILL INVITE ALL SORTS OF LEGAL CHALLENGES AS TO DELINEATE SUBJECTS HERE.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT.

>> THERE WERE ALREADY SINGLE SUBJECT LEGAL CHALLENGES ALL THE TIME FROM BOTH SIDES.

PINNY'S GROUP IN 2018 CHALLENGED PROPOSITION 306 ON A SINGLE SUBJECT RULE.

THEY WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT POSITION AND THEN FAIRNESS IT WAS A REF REFERENDUM AND NOT A CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE.

BUT WE DON'T LOOK AT THIS AGAIN AS AN ARGUMENT OR TENSION BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE CITIZENS RIGHT WE HAVE HERE IN ARIZONA TO THE INITIATIVE PROCESS IT'S A VALUABLE RIGHT THAT WE ALL HAVE.

WHEN WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH SOMETHING SO COMPLEX.

THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, BALLOT PROPOSITION NARROWLY MISSED HAVING ENOUGH SIGNATURES THOUGH GET ON THE BALLOT.

BUT IT HAD IMPACT ON 44 SEPARATE STATUTES IN OUR STATE CODE, ON 40-PLUS SINGLE ISSUES THAT IT SAID IT DID.

SOMETHING LIKE 20 PLUS ARTICLES, CHAPTERS AND THEN 4 DIFFERENT TITLES IN OUR STATE CODE.

IT WOULD TAKE AN EXPERT IN THE AREA OF LAW DAYS TO FIGURE OUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT AND IT'S NOT REALISTIC AND JUST TOO MANY THINGS BEING HIDDEN.

>> >> TED: IS IT BEST FOR ARIZONA TO HAVE ALL THESE THINGS IN ONE INITIATIVE, WHEREAS YOU MIGHT WANT X BUT THE REST OF THE ALPHABET YOU DON'T WANT ANY PART OF?

>> IS THIS SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CITIZENS TO ENABILITY BALLOT INITIATIVES.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE COURTS HAVE DECIDED THEY DO NOT PUT THAT SINGLE SUBJECT RESTRICTIONS ON CITIZENS.

THEY APPLIED THAT TO THE LEGISLATURE, BUT NOT BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S HARD FOR CITIZENS TO BRING FORWARD BALLOT INITIATIVES AND BECAUSE THEY GET ONE SHOT.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

TO DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT SHOULD THE CITIZENS BE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD MULTIPLE ITEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE INITIATIVE WHERE IF IN FACT THE CITIZENS ARE RESPONDING TO MULTIPLE LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS ONE BROAD SUBJECT, VOTING RIGHTS, OKAY, OR ACCESS TO THE BALLOT, THEN IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE FOR THE CITIZENS TO IDENTIFY MULTIPLE ITEMS, PROVISIONS, THAT ADDRESS THIS FAIRLY COMPLEX ISSUE.

>> TED: WELL, AND I THINK IT COULD ALSO BE ARGUED THAT IF IT IS FAIRLY COMPLEX AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACETS SO THE INITIATIVE, PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT.

THEY'VE ALREADY SIGN THE PETITIONS.

APPARENTLY THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT, ARE THEY NOT?

>> MY POINT AGAIN IS THAT THEY SIGNED WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND ALWAYS OF COURSE MANY PROPOSITIONS HAVE VERY APPEALING TITLES.

BUT IT'S WHAT'S HID REPB IS WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AMENDING 44 DIFFERENT STATUTES THERE IS NO WAY TO FIGURE OUT HOW CATASTROPHIC OR IMPORTANT IT IS.

I DO WANT TO ADD, TED, THAT THE CITIZENS INITIATIVE IS VERY SUCCESSFUL ON THE SINGLE SUBJECT APPROACH.

WE'VE HAD -- WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CITIZENS OF ARIZONA WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING THEY WANT HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES GETTING THAT ACROSS.

WE HAD MINIMUM WAGE IN THE PAST YEARS.

MARIJUANA.

THIS YEAR OUR FRIEND HAS ON THE BALLOT A DARK MONEY INITIATIVE.

THESE ARE SUBJECTS -- AGAIN, THE REF REN REN DUMB THAT PINNY'S GROUP SAW HAD TWO ISSUES AND NOT 44 AND EVEN THEN IT WAS A PROBLEM.

>> TED: THE ARGUMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE IS IT'S UNFAIR TO CONSIDER ALL THESE THINGS?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR POINT IS COMING FROM?

YOU'RE ASKING SOMEONE TO VOTE ON X BUT THEY HAVE ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IN FRONT OF THEM.

YOU'RE SAYING, WHAT, THEY WOULD JUST VOTE NO?

>> IS THIS I THINK PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES AT THE POLLS AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE THEMA CHOICE ON CANDIDATES AND THEY VOTE YES OR NO.

IN THE SAME WAY WHEN THE BALLOT HAS MULTIPLE PROVISIONS AND I WOULD BEG TO DISAGREE THAT IT'S KITCHEN SINK AND EVERYTHING UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK, THE PROVISIONS ARE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT TIED TO ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE TO ALL THE THE -- ALL OF OUR VOTERS AND I DON'T -- THE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS WILL GET DETERMINED IN THE COURTS AT THE POLLS.

>> TED: MIKE, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> IT I DO THINK CANDIDATES IS AN ABOUT ONE BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN TWO OR THREE AND SOMETIMES 4 CANDIDATES.

BUT WE'RE NEVER FORCED TO GO ASLEEP AND WHEN YOU ARE THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE AN INITIATIVE PROCESS THAT DOESN'T HAVE A SUBJECT RULE.

>> TED: LAST POINT.

THIS PROPOSITION WOULD KEEP BALLOT INITIATIVES SIMPLE AND TRANSPARENT.

RESPOND.

>> NO.

NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED ANY TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE A SINGLE SUBJECT THAT HAS A PARTICULAR TITLE AND MAYBE EVEN IN THE SUBJECT TITLE BUT THE PROVISIONS THAT IT PUTS FORWARD MIGHT BE FAR MORE COMPLEX AND ISN'T THAT ALL THAT TRANSPARENT.

WE DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY -- IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE NECESSARILY THAT THE IMPACT ON VOTERS IS GOING TO BE EASILY UNDERSTOOD OR IN FACT -- YOU KNOW, AS TRANSPARENT.

>> TED: MIKE, LAST POINT.

IT DIMINISHES -- >> IT MAKES IT TRANSPARENT AND.

MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO HIDE CONCERNS.

>> TED: DOES IT DIMINISH THE -- >> NOT AT ALL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> >> TED: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WHAT USC AND UCLA LEADING THE LEADING THE PAC-12 FOR THE BIG 10 MEANS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

>> TED: USC AND UCLA ANNOUNCE THEY'RE LEAVING THE CONFERENCE TO JOIN THE BIG 10.

IT'S SIGNIFICANT MOVE FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND THE PAC-12 IN PARTICULAR.

FOR MORE WE'RE JOINED FROM KEN.

TALK TO ME -- FIRST OF ALL IS THIS A DONE DEAL?

.

>> WELL IT LETS THEM TO COME UP WITH A REASON FROM UCLA SAYING IT IS A DONE DEAL.

THAT'S THE LAST WRENCH THAT COULD BE THROWN INTO IT.

BUT IT MEANS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY, TO THOSE TWO SCHOOLS AND >> TED: OBVIOUSLY MONEY IS A MAJOR FACTOR FOR THIS DECISION.

IS IT THE SOLE FACTOR?

WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE GOING TO HELP USC AND UCLA BY MAKING THIS MOVE?

>> YOU COULD ARGUE THE COMPETITION IS BETTER AND ARGUE -- IT ALL RELATES BACK TO MONEY.

I THINK WE GET BACK TO IT.

THE IDEA OF BEING MORE HIGHLY RANKED IN THE NATIONAL POLLS, THE IDEA OF YOUR HEISMAN TROPHY CANDIDATE GETTING MORE AIR TIME AND PRIMETIME.

ALL THESE THINGS GO BACK TO MONEY.

BUT BETTER OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF ATHLETICS AND THE DOWNSIDE, WHICH I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO IS THE IDEA OF ADDITIONAL ATHLETE TRAVEL BEYOND KIND OF A REGIONAL COURSE THAT NORMALLY OCCURRED.

>> TED: I WANT TO GET TO THAT TRAVEL IN JUST A SECOND HERE.

BUT BACK TO THE MONEY ASPECT.

WHY IS THE BIG 10 A BIGGER AND BETTER PAYDAY THAN THE PAC-12?

>> WELL, PERFORMANCE WISE NOW, IT'S A NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

THE IDEA IT REACHES FROM THE EAST COAST WITH MARYLAND AND RUCKERS AND ORIGINAL BIG 10 IS COVERED AND NOW YOU HAVE THESE TWO BIG SCHOOLS FROM THE WEST COAST HAVEN'T YOU HAVE OHIO STATE AND MICHIGAN AND EVERY BIG SCHOOL IN THE MID SECTION OF THE COUNTRY OTHER THAN NOTRE DAME.

>> TED: I GUESS THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WOULD BE, HOW DID THE PAC-12 GET LAPPED BY THE LIKES OF THE BIG 10?

>> THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

IT'S A HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THAT OCCURRED IN THIS WHOLE TRANSITION AS WE SAW THE S.E.C.

BECOMING THE POWERHOUSE THAT IT WAS, THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THE PAC-12 HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND BECOME BIGGER, BUT THE BIG 10 LAID LOW AND MADE STATEMENTS THEY WEREN'T GOING TO EXPAND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS DEAL WAS DROPPED.

REALLY SURPRISED EVERYONE.

>> TED: IT WAS A SURPRISE, WASN'T IT?

>> SHOULD YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE -- I BET WITH KEVIN WARD OUR ARIZONA PERSON I TALKED TO HIM RATE BEFORE OCCURRED.

BUT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THAT WAS NOT ON ANYONE'S RADAR.

>> TED: YOU MENTIONED ATHLETICS BUT THIS INVOLVES ALL OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

BUT THE UCLA SWIMMING AND TENNIS THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL FOR MATCHES AND MEETS?

>> THAT'S THE TOUGHEST PART.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT FOOTBALL OR A HANDFUL OF GAMES WHERE YOU MAY TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ONCE A WEEK.

THAT'S NOT SO SKRA DRAMATIC.

BUT JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER SPORT, THE TRAVEL IS EXTENSIVE.

THE IDEA OF HAVING A COUPLE OF COMPETITIONS PER WEEK AND IDEA YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND CERTAINLY MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF GAMES THAN IN A FOOTBALL SEASON, SO IT IT CAN BE QUITE A DRAIN ON THE ATHLETES.

EVEN IN THIS ERA OF NIL AND GREATER COMPENSATION THEY WON'T BE RECEIVING THE MONETARY BENEFITS FOR THIS ARRANGEMENT.

>> TED: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PAC-12?

>> I'M A PAC-12 GUY.

I PLAYED AT STANFORD.

I HOPE THERE IS SOME RECREATION THAT OCCURS AND THERE ARE A NUMBER HAVE SCHOOLS FROM OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE THAT WANT TO GET IN.

THERE IS STILL MAGIC TO THE NAME.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN WHATEVER RECONFIGURATION TAKES PLACE.

>> TED: WHAT TKPOUTSDZ HAPPENS TO ASU?

>> ASU IS BOUND ARIZONA.

I HATE TO SEE IT THAT KAOEUPBLGD OF WAY.

PRETTY GOOD STRENGTH OF HAVING THAT COMBINATION TO STICK WITH THE PAC-12 HOPEFULLY BUT IF THERE IS SOMETHING NEW GOING IN THE PACKAGE.

>> TED: BEFORE YOU GO, I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT SERENA WILLIAMS.

I KNOW IT'S VERY MUCH OFF TOPIC.

BUT SHE'S MAKING HISTORY.

SHE WON AGAIN AND ADVANCING.

WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF SERENA WILLIAMS?

IS SHE ARGUABLY THE BEST ATHLETE IN HER SPORT THAT WE HAVE SEEN?

>> YOU SAID IT EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT'S PROBABLY IN MANY WAYS YOU GOT TO PUT HER IN THE PANTHEON WITH JIM THORPE AND MUHAMMAD ALI.

SHE'S THERE NOW.

THE IDEA THAT SHE'S DOING IT AT THIS AGE AND SHE'S WON AS MANY CHAMPIONSHIPS AS SHE DID AND ADDED PERSONAL LIFE THAT SHE HAS TO GET THIS FAR.

SHE'S ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME AND I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T SAY ONE OF THE GREATEST FEMALE ATHLETES.

>> TED: YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

SHE'S ABSOLUTELY DOMINANT IN HER FIELD IN WHAT SHE DOES.

WHAT WILL HER LEGACY BE?

>> SHE SAID IT THE OTHER NIGHT.

SHE CAME FROM COMPTON AND SHE'S EXCELLED FOR SO LONG THAT THAT'S PROBABLY A BIG, BIG PIECE OF THE LEGACY AND THE IMPACT IS THE SUSTAINED SUCCESS THAT SHE'S HAD WHICH IS SO RARE IN ANY SPORT.

>> TED: IS SHE TAKING THE SPORT ALONG WITH HER OR WHEN SHE LEAVES ALMOST LIKE A TIGER WOODS THINGS, WHEN SHE LEAVES IS THE SPORT WALLOWING FOR A WHILE?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S SO IRONIC TO HAVE TIGER IN THE STANDS YESTERDAY AND THINK ABOUT HOW PARALLEL THEIR CAREERS OFF AT LEAST IN TERMS OF COMEBACKS FROM INJURY AND IMPACT'SED THIS ON THEIR SPORT.

SERENA WITH HER SISTER ELEVATED THE SPORT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL IN THE SAME WAY THAT TIGER DID.

AS WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE LIKE RORY MCILROY TRYING TO PICK UP THE MANTLE MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN TENNIS AS WELL.

>> TED: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD IT SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.T SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.O SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>?

I'M JUDY >> TED: THEY'RE KICKING IT OFF A SEASON THAT INCLUDES TWO DRAMAS AND KNEW TWO MUSICALS AND THE BLACK NATIVITY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> TED: IS THE TROOP BACK FULL BOTHER NOW POST COVID?

>> YEAH, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

COVID NOT ONLY GAVE US A CHANCE TO RETOOL A LOT OF THINGS IN TERMS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATION AND ET CETERA.

IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AS A FUNDRAISING TOOL.

SO WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> TED: YOU HAD A FULL SCHEDULE THIS YEAR, HUH?

>> FULL SCHEDULE.

>> TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 5 GUYS NAMED MO.

WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT'S FULL OF ENERGY.

>> IT IS.

IT'S A 5 GUYS COMING OUT OF A RADIO AND THEY SING AND DANCE.

IT'S THE MUSIC OF LEWIS JORDAN AND VERY INTERESTING.

A LOT OF DANCING AND SINGING.

>> TED: AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION TOO?

>> WELL, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT POST COVID.

WE'RE NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THE CONGO LINE.

>> TED: SPEAKING OF POST COVID, WHAT KIND OF MITIGATION MEASURES.

ARE MASKS REQUIRED OR SUGGESTED?

>> WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE IF THEY AREN'T VACCINATED TO MASK.

NOW LAST SEASON MASKS WERE HAND TORE.

BUT THIS SEASON WE KIND OF RELAXED IT'S A BIT AND TOLD PEOPLE IF THEY AREN'T VACCINATED TO PLEASE BE NICE TO PEOPLE AND PUT A MASK ON.

>> TED: YES.

YOU GOT A COMEDY FOCUSSED ON THE AMERICAN FAMILY BARBECUE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S A GREAT SHOW BY ROBERT O'HARA.

THE FIRST ACT IS A WHITE FAMILY AND THE SECOND ACT IS A BLACK FAMILY MAKING A FILM ABOUT WHAT THE WHITE FAMILY JUST DID IN THE FIRST ACT.

>> TED: OH MY GOODNESS.

>> IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

THE MASTER OF THAT KIND OF -- >> YOU GOT AUGUST WILSON PLAY JOE TURNER HAS COME AND GONE.

WE'VE DONE ALL 10 OF AUGUST WILSON'S SHOWS SO WE THINK IT'S TIME TO START GIVING A NEW GENERATION THE IDEA OF WHAT AUGUST WILSON MEANT TO THE THEATRE.

SO WE'RE STARTING OVER AGAIN.

THE FIRST ONE THAT WE DID WAS IN 1992.

FIRST ONE WE DID WAS '92.

JOE TURNER WE DID IN 'H '97 SO WE'RE BRINGING THAT ONE BACK.

>> WHAT MAKES AUGUST WILSON'S PLAYS SO EFFECTIVE?

>> I THINK IT'S HIS UNDERSTANDING UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN CONDITION.

HE'S HE JUST KNOWS AND FEELS HOW IT IS TO BE A PERSON IN THIS WORLD TODAY.

>> TED: YEAH.

YOU ALSO HAVE RESPECT THE MUSICAL.

IS THIS R-E-S-P-E-C-T OR A DIFFERENT RESPECT?

>> IT IT'S NOT THE SPONGE OF RESPECT BUT THAT SAME PREMISE OF WANTING RESPECT AND WHAT ARETHA FRANKLIN IS SAYING ABOUT IT.

>> FOCUSSED ON WOMEN'S STORIES >> ALL WOMEN.

>> TED: AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE BLACK NATIVITY.

>> OH, THAT ONE OF THE THAT'S OUR CHRISTMAS CARD TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT NEVER SEEMS TO GET OLD.

EVERYONE LOVES IT.

>> TED: WHEN YOU PROGRAM THESE THINGS, DO YOU LOOK TO GIVE THE AUDIENCE WHAT IT WANTS OR WHAT YOU THINK THE AUDIENCE MIGHT WANT?

>> WELL, IT'S A FINE LINE.

WE TRY TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WE TRY AND ANTICIPATE HOW FAR WE CAN PUSH THEM WITH NEW THINGS, BUT WITHIN THAT SAME FORMULA YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WILL IT MAKE MONEY.

SO THAT'S IN THERE TOO.

SO WHEN WE'RE PROGRAMMING AND CHOOSING SHOWS WE THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> TED: SO, GIVE US A PLACE TO GO WEBSITE AND PHONE NULL.

WHAT HE GOT FOR TICKETS 602-25-81208 AND GO TO OUR WEBSITE BLACK THEATRE TROOP.ORG >> TED: GREAT TO HEAR THEY'RE BACK.

YOU GOT OUT OF COVID AND MADE IT AND BACK ONLINE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TED, WE APPRECIATE IT >> TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

AND THAT IT FOR NEW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.