>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBER OF NINE PBS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

KWOFE COLEMAN, WHO NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE MUNY WILL BE JOINING US ON NEXT UP AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.

JUST THINKING ABOUT THE MUNY MAKES IT SEEM LIKE SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE.

AND HERE SHE IS, MS. SUNSHINE HERSELF, THE NEWS DIRECTOR FOR THE BIG 550 KTRS AND THE COHOST THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW, WENDY WIESE.

ALONG WITH MR. BILL McCLELLAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

AND RAY HARTMANN FROM RAWSTORY.COM AND THE BIG 550 KTRS AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES.

AND WE WELCOME THE NEWS EDITOR FOR THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, MR. ALVIN REID.

AND BILL, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU TODAY.

THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT VOTED 2-1, THAT WOULD BE CROMP TROERL DARLENE GREEN AND NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR TISHAURA JONES VOTING TO TAKE $4 MILLION OUT OF THE ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MOVE TO IT HOMELESS HOUSING AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES.

AND THE IDEA WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON HOMELESSNESS AND THIS AND THAT, THAT'S GREAT.

AND I HOPE WE TAKE THAT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE'RE GETTING TO COVID RELIEF AND PUT IT TOWARD THOSE THINGS AND I DON'T THINK THINGS LIKE CUTTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT ALL HELPS, BUT THE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN UNOCCUPIED FOR A LONG TIME HAVE BEEN USED FOR OVERTIME PAY AND NOW IF THAT'S GONE SO THAT THE POLICE CAN'T GET OVERTIME, I THINK THAT THE ETHICAL SOCIETY IS RIGHT THAT IT'S HARD TO SOLVE THE CRIME PROBLEM WITH FEWER POLICE OFFICERS.

>> I THINK YOU -- GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK TISHAURA JONES IS RIGHT.

I THINK THAT, FIRST OF ALL, IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER WHAT WE THINK.

SHE GOT ELECTED AND HER MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY -- >> WELL, WHAT'S WE THINK, RAY, AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I SAID IT.

I GET IT.

>> I SAID WHAT WE THINK IS NOT NEARLY AS CONSEQUENTIAL AS WHAT SHE -- THE VOTERS OF ST. LOUIS ELECTED HER.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY FOR HER AS IT WAS FOR ALL THE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE WAS ADDRESSING THE CRIME PROBLEM.

SHE HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW THAN MANY FOLKS DO, INCLUDING LEWIS REED, WHO LOST, BY THE WAY, WHO VOTED AGAINST IT, WHICH IS THAT THE SOLUTION HAS GOT TO START BEING -- THE RESOURCES, IT'S NOT DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

YOU STILL HAVE A ROBUST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY, BUT THAT THE RESOURCES HAVE GOT TO REDUCING -- >> LET ME FINISH.

SHE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE CAUSE.

SHE'S DOING WHAT SHE'S ELECTED TO.

SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR OUTCOMES.

IT WOULD BE VERY -- IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY WRONG FOR HER TO COME IN ON THAT PLATFORM, WHICH I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH, AND THEN TO TURN AROUND AND SAY NEVER MINE, WE'LL JUST DO BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THE ONE THING WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT THE STATUS QUO HAS NOT WORKED IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AND I APPLAUD HER FOR TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S LIKE HAVING AN ACUTE CASE OF AP PEPPENDICITIS AND TRYING TO TREAT IT WITHOUT THE SURGEON ANYWHERE IN THE OPERATING ROOM.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

I KNOW THIS IS THE PROMISE SHE MADE, THIS IS THE PROMISE SHE'S KEEPING, BUT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT LEWIS REED LOST THE ELECTION.

HE SOUNDED PRETTY FORMIDABLE YESTERDAY, OR TODAY, EXCUSE ME, WHEN HE SAID THAT IF YOU TAKE THE MONEY AWAY, IF YOU TAKE THE OVERTIME AWAY, THAT IS GOING TO -- THAT'S GOING TO PUT MORE LIVES AT RISK BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSE TIME AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT THERE AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WILL NOT BE PAID OVERTIME TO BE THERE IN THE PLACE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SHOULD BE THERE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHEN WE ARE -- WE ARE OFFICIALLY, LIKE, DODGE CITY AT THIS POINT, RAY.

>> SHE BROUGHT IN DAN ISOM WHO I -- I'M ASSUMING HE'S -- I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM, BUT I ASSUME HE'S PART OF THIS DECISION.

SO SHE'S SURROUNDING HERSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE.

WHAT TISHAURA JONES AS MAYOR IS GOING TO BE JUDGED ON IS THE OUTCOME AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO RESPECT, ONE, SHE'S GOT -- >> ALVIN?

>> NO, I THINK WITH THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, OKAY, I THINK THAT IF WE HONESTLY LOGGED TIME AND WHO'S AT WORK AND WHO'S AT A DESK MAKING $120,000 AND HADN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, I THINK YOU CAN FIND THAT $4 MILLION.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BESIDES BEATING UP THEIR OWN AND GETTING SUED NINE WAYS TO SUNDAY AND THEN THE WHOLE HORRIFIC, YOU KNOW, INCIDENT WHERE THE YOUNG LADY POLICE OFFICER WAS KILLED BY PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON DUTY AND THERE'S ALWAYS ONGOING, PEOPLE LYING ABOUT OVERTIME, I THINK THE $4 MILLION CAN BE FOUND.

NOW, IF IT'S UP TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO DO THAT OR IS IT UP TO NOW, LIKE YOU SAY, DAN ISOM TO DO THAT, THEN FINE.

I THINK YOU CAN FIND THE $4 MILLION.

WHAT HAPPENS, THOUGH, AND I KIND OF FEEL LIKE WHAT HAPPENS, OUT OF THE BLUE, 150, 200 WELL-QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS DECIDED THEY WANTED TO BECOME POLICE OFFICERS, HOW DO YOU PAY THEM, HOW DO YOU EMPLOY THEM?

MAYBE THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE STIMULUS MONEY OR THE COVID MONEY WILL COME FROM, BUT I THINK THEY CAN FIND THIS 4 MILLION, SO BEFORE EVERYBODY STARTS ARGUING, FIND THE 4 MILLION.

>> ALVIN IS ON TO SOMETHING.

THIS WAS A POLITICAL MOVE.

IT WAS A SIGNAL BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS $517 MILLION COMING IN.

SHE COULD HAVE FUNDED HOMELESS AND HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH THAT, AND 4 MILLION OUT OF $130 MILLION POLICE BUDGET IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT SHE WAS TRYING TO SEND A SIGNAL OF SOME SORT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE -- >> IT WAS -- >> HANG ON.

LAST SEPTEMBER, CHIEF HAYDEN GOES TO JEFFERSON CITY AND HE BEGS FOR A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.

HERE'S A QUOTE: WE DESPERATELY NEED MORE OFFICERS, HE TOLD LAWMAKERS.

NOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN?

>> SO WHY DID HE FLIP-FLOP?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> IS HE TRYING TO KEEP HIS JOB?

>> WAIT A MINUTE, THE POINT IS THIS.

TISHAURA -- FIRST OF ALL, IT ISN'T LIKE SHE ISN'T DOING ANYTHING WITH THE MONEY.

>> I DIDN'T SEE THAT.

>> SHE'S SPENDING MONEY ON THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, SHE'S TRYING TO ADDRESS THE CAUSES OF CRIME AND EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING, YES, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU WON, BUT DON'T DO WHAT YOU RAN ON.

SHE RAN -- >> NO, NO, NO RAY, RAY, NOBODY -- RAY, NOBODY IS SAYING THAT.

EVERYBODY IS AGREEING THAT SHE RAN ON THAT CAMPAIGN.

THE QUESTION IS, IS IT SMART RIGHT NOW?

AND I'M SAYING -- >> WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE SMART?

>> ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF CRIME AND THE ROOT CAUSES, THAT MIGHT HELP IN TEN YEARS.

>> NO, NO, SHE DIDN'T RUN ON ADDRESSING -- SHE DIDN'T RUN ON DOING IT TEN YEARS.

SHE RAN ON DOING IT NOW.

>> WAIT, LENS REVERSE THIS ARGUMENT.

>> I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL 911 FLIMENT SOON, RAY.

>> THE CRAZY STUFF THAT COMES OUT OF OUR STATE LEGISLATURE -- WAIT.

THE CRAZY STUFF THAT COPS OUT OF OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE FOR THAT CRAZY STUFF SAY I WAS ELECTED TO BACK THIS CRAZY STUFF.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> MY CONSTITUENTS LIKE CRAZY.

>> JOSH HAWLEY.

>> RIGHT.

SO I MEAN -- >> BUT SHE ISN'T THAT CRAZY.

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

EVERYONE MADE GREAT POINTS, BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT TODAY'S PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER POINTS OUT PHILADELPHIA IS BUILDING A NEW POLICE SUBSTATION IN KENSINGTON, ONE OF IT'S MOST -- >> ISN'T THAT ALVIN'S IDEA?

DIDN'T I SAY THAT?

THE NEW POLICE STATION SHOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF NORTH ST. LOUIS?

>> MAYBE IT WILL BE.

SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ABOLISHING THE POLICE.

>> ALVIN, THIS WEEK THE MAYOR ALONG WITH THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY AND CONGRESSWOMAN CORI BUSH AND SAM PAGE TOOK A TOUR OF BOTH JAILS IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AND THEY ALL SEEMED TO WAIT THAT WHAT THEY SAW WAS NOT HUMANE, ALTHOUGH INDEPENDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS DID NOT ACCOMPANY THEM.

IT DIDN'T CONVINCE SAM PAGE ENOUGH, HOWEVER, TO ACCEPT INMATES OR RESIDENTS FROM THE JAILS IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS IN THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY JAIL.

THE IDEA WAS FLOATED IN THE PRESS LATE LAST WEEK AND BY MIDWEEK, WE HAD THREE MEMBERS OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY JAIL TASK FORCE, INCLUDING THREE LIBERALS, AND THEY ALL SAID NO THANK YOU, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

WE'RE NOT TAKING INMATES FROM THE CITY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> WELL, CHARLIE, THEY'RE RESIDENTS AND WE HAVE -- THE COUNTY IS NOT STRUGGLING FOR RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW, SO YOU CAN KEEP THOSE IN THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO AND TRY TO GET HONEST ANSWERS, BE IT FROM CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS OR PRISONERS THEMSELVES, I DON'T THINK HAVING A FULL MEDIA CONTINGENT IS A VERY GOOD IDEA.

AND SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NOT A LOT OF MEDIA REPRESENTATION.

I THINK WE DO HAVE TO RELY ON THOSE THAT WENT IN TO BE HONEST AND SAY WHAT THEY SAW.

BUT I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT TWO PLACES WHERE WE HOUSE PEOPLE AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE PROBLEMS.

ONE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE CLOSED AND WE CAN DEBATE THAT AGAIN IN ANOTHER HALF HOUR, BUT I THINK THERE IS JUST ONE OF THOSE, LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

LET'S TAKE THE TOUR SO WE CAN SAY WE WENT, WE LISTENED, AND NOW THIS IS WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO.

FIX THE LOCKS, OKAY?

AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT, DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.

>> I DON'T THINK A TOUR BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS IS GOING TO BE A, YOU KNOW, A VERY IN-DEPTH FACT-FINDING THING.

I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO LET THE MEDIA GO WITH THEM, PERSONALLY.

AS FAR AS ST. LOUIS COUNTY, THOUGH, LET ME STICK UP FOR PAGE AND THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY, JUST BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS CONCERNED AND LOOKS AND TAKES PART, WHICH I THINK WAS, BY THE WAY, A GOOD THING THAT THE COUNTY AND CITY PEOPLE WENT TOGETHER.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PHOTO OP.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY MADE A RESPONSIBLE DECISION BASED ON ITS CAPACITY TO ACCEPT PRISONERS.

IT WASN'T A QUESTION OF ITS WILLINGNESS.

I THINK THEY MADE A GREAT POINT.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PHYSICAL CAPACITY OF THE JAIL, WHICH PEOPLE FOCUS ON, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE OFFICERS, WE DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO HANDLE MORE PEOPLE PROPERLY AND, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T RUN ITSELF, I THINK THEY MADE A TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISION SAYING WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S -- >> I AGREE, BUT NOW WILL THE INMATES OR RESIDENTS GO TO KENTUCKY?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS HAVEN'T THEY PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS IN LIKE 50-MILE RADIUS?

I THINK THEY'RE HANDLING IT FINE.

LET'S SEE WHAT THEY GET, BUT I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S -- BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS CONCERNED, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PUT IT ON SAM PAGE AND SAY YOU'RE NOT -- >> WHAT RECEIVE RENT DUVAL -- REVEREND DUVAL SAID IT'S BASIC MATH, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE SPACE.

BUT I DO AGREE WITH YOU, RAY, IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY, IF THE MAYOR AND CONGRESSWOMAN CORI BUSH, IF THEY SEE A REAL HUMANE ISSUE HERE, WHY NOT DOCUMENT IT WITH MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA?

THIS LOOKS LIKE AN AGENDA THAT'S BEING DRIVEN AND, YOU KNOW, WITH NO BALANCE AND THAT TURNS PEOPLE OFF, I THINK.

NOT THAT THEY CARE.

>> I JUST -- TOURING JAILS AND PRISON, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN TELL THE INMATES TO GO WAIT IN THE HALL WHILE YOU VIDEOTAPE THEIR PRISON CELL?

DO THEY EAT THE FOOD?

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHES OTHER THAN JUST BEING ABLE TO SAY I WAS THERE.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT.

>> CHARLIE YOU'VE BEEN -- >> I WILL SAY THAT THEY DID COMPLAIN THAT THE FOOD WASN'T GOOD.

YOU KNOW, MYSTERY MEAT WAS BEING SEBD, BUT THAT'S EASILY CORRECTABLE.

YOU WOULDN'T SHUT DOWN THE WORKHOUSE BECAUSE THE FOOD'S BAD.

JUST GET A NEW CATERER, RIGHT?

>> I WOULD AGREE.

>> I DIDN'T COME AWAY WITH THE IMPRESSION THEY HAD ENOUGH EVIDENCE JUSTIFYING THE CLOSING OF THE WORKHOUSE, BUT I'M NOT DISAGREEING THAT CONDITIONS AT THE CITY JAIL IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS COULD BE EXTREMELY BAD BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THERE.

I THINK THE CITY JAIL IS PROBABLY WORSE THAN THE WORKHOUSE OVERALL.

>> CHARLIE, AREN'T YOU FIGHTING THE LAST WAR HERE?

THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE WORKHOUSE.

SHE RAN ON IT, SHE'S ANNOUNCED IT.

THEY'RE CLOSINGS IT.

WE CAN ARGUE IT EVERY WEEK ABOUT WHETHER SHE SHOULD.

I DON'T MEAN TO BE A BROKEN RECORD ON.

>> I DON'T I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK -- YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT THE WORKHOUSE IS GOING TO BE CLOSED?

IT'S BECAUSE WE STILL CALL IT THE WORKHOUSE.

>> MAYBE.

>> AND IF WE HAD OVERCOME THAT 40 YEARS AGO, I THINK THINGS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT, BUT IT JUST HAS SUCH AN UGLY CONNOTATION, THAT PEOPLE -- IF YOU ASK, SHOULD THE ST. LOUIS CITY WORKHOUSE BE CLOSED AND WE ASK ANOTHER PEOPLE IN ANOTHER STATE WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ST. LOUIS, THEY WOULD SAY, YEAH, IF YOU GOT A WORKHOUSE.

YOUR FIRST IMAGE IS LIKE OLIVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT OUT OF CHARLES DICKENS, THAT WE'RE SENDING PEOPLE TO THE POOR HOUSE.

>> TO THE WORKHOUSE.

>> GOOD POINT, ALVIN.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO YOU, RAY HARTMANN.

THE LAND OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS WAS ONE OF THREE STATES TO LOSE POPULATION, ACCORDING TO THE RECENT CENSUS.

ILLINOIS JOINS WEST VIRGINIA AND MISSISSIPPI AND PUERTO RICO AS IT TURNS OUT, LOSING POPULATION.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE ILLINOIS HAD LOST POPULATION SINCE 1818.

IT WILL LOST ONE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, IT WILL HAVE 17.

THERE WAS A TYPE IN THE 1940s WHEN ILLINOIS HAD 27 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

MISSOURI IS GOING TO HOLD STEADY, BUT IN ERPS T OF GROWTH, IT'S 37 OUT OF 47 STATES IN INCREASING POPULATION.

THE SHOW-ME STATE REALLY CAN'T BRAG TOO MUCH, RAY, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ILLINOIS.

I DON'T THINK IT CAN REVERSE THIS.

I THINK BETWEEN PROPERTY TAXES AND THE DEBT AND FUTURE INCOME TAX INCREASES, PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT MOVING TO STATES LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE MOVING TO TEXAS AND FLORIDA AND THEY'RE GOING TO IDAHO AND UTAH AND NORTH CAROLINA AND PLACES WHERE THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF TAX POLICY.

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE MOVING -- I'M NOT SAYING NO ONE, BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE MOVING FOR TAX POLICY REASONS.

FIRST OF ALL, TAX POLICIES CAN CHANGE IN ANY STATE.

I THINK CLIMATE AND LOTS OF THINGS AFFECT PEOPLE'S DECISION TO MOVE FAR MORE THAN THAT.

OF COURSE, I MEAN, WE CAN ALWAYS JUST RELOCATE THE WORKHOUSE PEOPLE IN A COLONY IN MISSOURI -- IN I WILL -- IN ILLINOIS, INCREASE THE POPULATION THAT WAY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.

TO ME, IT'S ALL ABOUT -- LIKE IN MISSOURI, I CAN CARE LESS WHETHER MISSOURI GOES UP OR DOWN OR STAYS THE SAME.

IT'S A QUESTION OF QUALITY OF LIFE, QUALITY ENVIRONMENT TRK THE AIR YOU BREATHE, GETTING LED OUT OF THE SCHOOL.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT MATTER ABOUT A COMMUNITY AND WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.

I DON'T THINK -- TO ME, IF YOU CAN SAY, OH WOW, WE CAN RAISE THE POPULATION OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WOULD BE EITHER GOOD K BAD OR INDIFFERENT.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT.

I THINK WE NEED MORE IMMIGRANTS HERE WHO START BUSINESSES AND EMPLOY PEOPLE.

I THINK WE'RE KIND OF DEADSVILLE IN MANY WAYS.

YOU'RE JUST NOT FINDING A VIBRANCY IN OUR AREA WHICH WOULD BE ENHANCED WITH NEW BLOOD.

>> BUT CHARLIE I -- >> CHARLIE, I WAS JUST LOOKING SOMETHING UP.

THAT'S WHY I HAD MY HEAD DOWN.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT WE CAN DO THAT NOW ON THE ZOOM, AS THEY CALL IT.

ILLINOIS HAS GOT A LOT OF TEMPORARY RESIDENTS THAT ARE OVER THERE FOR AN HOUR, TWO, THREE HOURS AT A TIME.

LEAVING BEHIND, OH, JUST IN THE MARIJUANA, ABOUT $500 MILLION, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

ANOTHER THING.

COLLINSVILLE ITSELF HAS MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE LOCAL TAX FROM LEGALIZED MARIJUANA.

THIS WEEK, I MADE MY FIRST LEGAL BET OVER AT THE CASINO, FIVE DOLLARS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR A HORSE IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

ILLINOIS HAS GOT A LOT GOING ON THAT WE DON'T AND THE WHOLE IDEA WHERE THEY LOST A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, OH BY THE WAY, NOT IN URBAN CHICAGO AREA OR, YOU KNOW, SOMEPLACE ELSE.

THEN IT'S JUST NOT A BIG DEAL.

ILLINOIS IS DOING BETTER THAN MISSOURI IS.

>> OH MY HEAVENS.

>> IF YOU DOUBT THAT, THAT'S JUST WRONG, I'M SORRY.

>> I THINK NOT.

YOU KNOW, ATLANTIC CITY HAS HAD GAMBLING FOREVER AND LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED THERE.

WENDY, BRING SOME COMMON SENSE TO THIS DISCUSSION, PLEASE.

>> ARE YOU COMPARING WASHINGTON AVENUE TO THE MAGNIFICENT MILE?

I THINK THAT -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> I THINK THE PANDEMIC HAS CLOUDED EVERYTHING, AND I HAVE NOT -- I HAVE NOT VISITED CHICAGO IN A WHILE AND USUALLY WE GO FAIRLY FREQUENTLY.

BUT I AM NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY SLEEP TONIGHT WHEN I PUT MY HEAD ON THE PILLOW WORRYING ABOUT CHICAGO AND ITS FUTURE, AND A LOT OF THERE COULD BE JUST DEMO GRAPHIC.

I MEAN, BABY BOOMERS, THEY DO MIGRATE SOUTH EVERY SO OFTEN, AND SO I'M SURE THE TAX POLICY DOES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT FOR SOME OF THEM.

BUT I'M JUST -- I'M NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT ILLINOIS AS YOU ARE, CHARLIE.

I'M SORRY, I KNOW THAT'S NOT COMMON SENSE.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATES, IT'S NOT ALL SOUTHERN STATES BECAUSE YOU HAVE IDAHO, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, UTAH, THEY'RE ALL BOOMING.

NORTH CAROLINA IS FURTHER SOUTH, BUT MAN, THEY'VE GOT NONSTEP FROM THEIR AIRPORT IN CHARLOTTE TO EVERY MAJOR CAPITAL IN THE WORLD.

I THINK MISSOURI AND I WILL, WE'RE JUST LOSING OUT.

>> AND THERE'S A SCENERY THING TOO.

IF YOU GO TO, YOU KNOW, YELLOWSTONE PARK OR SOMETHING OR UP IN PLACES IN UTAH AND MONTANA, IT'S JUST KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF LOVELY AND IT'S -- ON THAT LEVEL, MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS CAN'T COMPETE.

I MEAN, WE JUST CAN'T.

>> CHARLIE, THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS SIGNIFICANT TO A STATE IS WHEN IT LOSES A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, BUT EVEN THAT, YOU CAN'T TELL -- FOR EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF THE POLITICS, A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WERE REALLY WORRIED THAT, YOU KNOW, TEXAS WAS GOING TO GET THREE SEATS AND FLORIDA WAS GOING TO GET TWO.

ENDED UP BEING TWO AND ONE.

THE OTHER THING, LIKE IN ILLINOIS, ILLINOIS LOST A SEAT, BUT I MAY NOT LOSE A DEMOCRATIC SEAT.

DEPENDS ON HOW REDISTRICTING GOES.

IF THERE'S A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SQUARING OFF AGAINST EACH OTHER, IT MIGHT NOT AFFECT THE LANDSCAPE AS MUCH AND THAT COULD GO TERT WAY IN ANY STATE.

CALIFORNIA LOST THE FIRST SEAT IN ITS HISTORY, BUT THAT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING AND NOBODY REALLY CAN PREDICT HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO.

I JUST THINK TO FOCUS ON MORE POPULATION IS OVERRATED COMPARED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN ANY COMMUNITY.

>> VERY WELL.

LET'S MOVE ON TO A COUPLE OF QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WITH YOU, WENDY WIESE.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A MEASURE WHICH HAS PASSED IN JEFFERSON CITY WHICH SAYS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER A HOUSE OF WORSHIP WITH A FIREARM, COULDN'T BE STOPPED.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE SECOND AMENDMENT WOULD CARRY INTO A CHURCH OR A TEMPLE.

THIS WEEK THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT INCLUDED A RABBI AND AN ARCHBISHOP AND THEY SAID, NO, WE DON'T LIKE THERE LEGISLATION.

YET, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 142 MASS SHOOT MANAGES THIS COUNTRY SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, INCLUDING 46 IN THIS MONTH ALONE.

THAT'S WHERE MORE THAN FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT AT A TIME.

DON'T YOU THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR SOMEONE TO CONCEAL CARRY UNDER A, YOU KNOW, A SPORT COAT, A BLAZER JUST WHILE WORSHIPPING AT THE SAME TIME?

>> I THINK THAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN -- I DON'T THINK THAT THE RESISTANCE ON THE PART OF THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS INDICATES THAT THEY DON'T WANT ANY PROTECTION.

THEY MIGHT HAVE -- THEY MIGHT HAVE SECURITY UNDER COVER, THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE DESIGNATED, AND THAT IS WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO DO THAT, SO PROTECT THEIR CONGREGATION.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL.

I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LETTING ANYBODY ENTER A HOUSE OF WORSHIP WITH, YOU KNOW, AN AK-47 OR -- I'M BEING FACETIOUS AND I SHOULDN'T BE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE A GUN INTO A CHURCH.

I THINK THAT THE CHURCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF ITS CONGREGATION, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ALLOWING ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY TO PACK HEAT WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO COMMUNION.

>> I THINK IT'S A NON-ISSUE.

I THINK THAT IF A RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNER THAT DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITHOUT HAVING HIS WEAPON ON HIM, CAN GO TO CHURCH AND NOBODY IS GOING TO KNOW HE HAS A GUN.

AND THE PERSON WHO'S GOING IN THERE WITH THE INTENT TO SHOOT IT UP, HE'S GOING TO TAKE HIS GUN IN ANYWAY.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IF YOU WERE IN CHURCH, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHETHER THERE'S TWO PEOPLE IN HERE WITH WEAPONS OR FIVE OR NONE.

I MEAN, SO IT'S ALL -- IT'S KIND OF GETTING EXCITED ABOUT NOTHING, I THINK.

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING.

I TELL YOU WHAT IT'S NOT -- WHAT IT IS, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE DON'T SEE THAT, THE REPUBLICAN HYPOCRISY IN THIS.

WHAT ABOUT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?

THEY'RE TELLING SYNAGOGUES, CHURCHES, MOSQUES, WHOEVER, YOU CANNOT EXCLUDE PEOPLE WITH GUNS AND IT'S LIKE, WHAT ARE -- THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO ALLOW -- IN THE NAME OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, THEY WANTED TO ALLOW THEM TO IGNORE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE THE CHURCH AND STATE, THEY WANTED A CHURCH TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HECK, WE CAN SPREAD COVID IF WE WANT TO AND THE RESPONSE FROM GOVERNMENT WAS, ACTUALLY, NO, YOU CAN'T.

YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE SAME PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES AS THE REST OF US.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, CHURCH AND STATE, THE GOVERNMENT IS TELLING A SYNAGOGUE OR CHURCH YOU HAVE TO ALLOW?

IF A CHURCH WANTS TO PUT UP A METAL DETECTOR, THAT'S UP TO THEM.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT -- >> I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO ANY CHURCH WHERE ANYBODY IN THERE HAS A GUN BECAUSE LAST TIME I LOOKED, ONE OF THE LEADING COD CODICILS IS GOING CALLED FAITH AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH, JUST DON'T GO.

JUST WATCH ON TV.

SEND HIM YOUR MONEY.

>> BUT YOU DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS A GUN IN CHURCH.

>> I HEAR YOU, BUT THE IDEA THAT ANYBODY COULD BE ALLOWED TO COME IN THERE IS JUST FLAT WRONG.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST WRONG.

THAT'S JUST A TENET OF WORSHIP THE WAY I SEE IT.

I MEAN, GOSH, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT PEACE AND WE'RE INVITING MAYHEM IN LEGALLY, THAT'S REPREHENSIBLE TO ME.

>> SAYS THE MAN WHO FAVORED MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN ON A RED LIGHT NOW.

>> HE HAS NO PROBLEMS BRINGING GAMBLING AND MARIJUANA INTO CHURCH.

>> WAIT, WAIT, CHURCH BROUGHT GAMBLING IN LONG BEFORE I WAS BORN.

BINGO GAMES?

COME ON.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GOING TO WRAP IT FOR THIS WEEK, BUT IN JUST A MOMENT, WE'RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY KWOFE COLEMAN.

IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED BY THE MUNICIPAL OPERA OF ST. LOUIS, THE MUNY THAT, MR. COLEMAN WILL TAKE OVER AS PRESIDENT AND CEO, REPLACING DENNY REAGAN.

MR. COLEMAN STARTED THERE AT THE AGE OF 16 AND I THINK HIS DEBUT INTERVIEW I THINK WILL BE NEXT ON NEXT UP.

SO DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR NEXT UP.

THIS IS WHERE WE INTERVIEW COMMUNITY LEADERS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME KWOFE COLEMAN WHO, STARTING JANUARY 1st NEXT YEAR, WILL BE THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE MUNY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT MAKES ME FEEL WARM AND READY FOR LEMONADE OR A BEER IN FRONT OF SOME GREAT ACTORS AND DANCING AND MUSIC, AND MR. COLEMAN, LET US BE AMONG THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR NEW ASSIGNMENT.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> THANK YOU, I'M WONDERFUL.

DOING WELL, EXCITED FOR THAT PART, BUT EVEN MORE EXCITED FOR THE QUESTION OF GETTING BACK TO THEATER SOON.

>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU STARTED AT THE MUNY AT THE AGE OF 16, 22 SHORT YEARS AGO, AM I RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I WAS AN USHER AND A WHEELCHAIR PUSHER THOSE FIRST YEARS, STRUGGLING UP THAT HILL WITH WHEELCHAIRS.

I WAS IN FAR BETTER SHAPE, BUT IT WAS A GREAT INSTRUCTION TO THE INSTITUTION.

>> WENDY.

>> YOU ARE A GRADUATE OF THE U-HIGH, A BILLIKEN, YOU WENT TO EMORY UNIVERSITY, BUT THIS HAS GOT TO BE SURREAL TO FIND YOURSELF IN THIS POSITION.

AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, THOUGH, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE CURIOUS.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT YOU WILL TAKE AWAY FROM WATCHING YOUR FRIENDS, DENNIS REAGAN, IN THIS POSITION FOR SUCH A LONG TIME?

>> THERE'S A LOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT, BUT NUMBER ONE IS TO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

THAT'S FROM INSIDE THE INSTITUTION, OUR STAFF AND THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH, BUT ALSO THE AUDIENCE.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM DENNY IS IF YOU CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND YOU TREAT THEN THE RIGHT WAY, THAT TYPE OF ENERGY WILL COME BACK TO YOU AND COME BACK TO THE INSTITUTION.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE REASON WHY THE MUNY IS SO BELOVED IN ST. LOUIS RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE IDENTIFY THE MUNY WITH A GREAT HUMAN BEING, WITH DENNY.

SO I'LL TAKE THAT AWAY FOR SURE WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER LESSON I'VE GOTTEN AFTER WORKING ALONGSIDE HIM FOR A LONG TIME AND JUST UNDERSTAND HOW TO RUN A PLACE OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

>> KWOFE, I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE REGULAR OL' -- THE MOST FAMOUS SHOWS.

LIKE I'LL GO SEE "MY FAIR LADY" OR "OKLAHOMA."

THIS YEAR, I'LL PROBABLY SEE "SOUND OF MUSIC," BUT I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE "SMOKY JOE'S CAFE" ON THE MEN KNEW THIS YEAR AND IT SAYS THAT -- MENU THIS YEAR AND IT SAYS THAT IT'S SET IN GASLIGHT SQUARE.

IS THE ORIGINAL SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE SET IN GASLIGHT SQUARE, OR ARE WE JUST ADAPTING IT TO ST. LOUIS?

>> THIS IS AN ADAPTATION TO ST. LOUIS.

THERE WAS A PRODUCTION IN CHICAGO THAT WAS ADAPTED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD THERE AS WELL.

NOW, INTERESTINGLY, IN THE RESEARCH, OUR MARKETING TEAM AND OUR PRODUCTION TEAM WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH, WHAT, TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE PLANNED TO DO IT IN 2020, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE.

THEY SAW AN OLD SIGN IN GASLIGHT SQUARE.

SO SOMETIMES WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ADAPT A SHOW OR ADAPT THE THEME OF IT TO FIT TO FEEL LOCAL, TO FEEL LIKE HOME, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> I THINK I'LL BE AT THAT ONE TOO.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL SEE YOU THERE.

>> RAY?

>> KWOFE, MY PARENTS BOUGHT TICKETS, SEASON TICKETS TO THE MUNY 72 YEARS AGO, AND I GREW UP GOING TO THE SHOWS.

AND SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGE YOU FACE IN BRIDGING GENERATIONS.

HERE YOU ARE BARELY OLDER THAN THIS SHOW AND YOU'VE GOT A REAL CHALLENGE AHEAD OF YOU TO KEEP THE MUNY RELEVANT.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HERITAGE BRIDGES SO MANY GENERATIONS NOW?

>> WELL, RAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE IT FULLY AS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL BENEFIT OF ADDRESSING THAT, EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING WITH THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND PEOPLE MY AGE OR THIS NEXT GENERATION, WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE FROM HERE, SO IT'S PART OF OUR TRADITION.

THE TASK WE FACE IS MAKING SURE THAT THE CONTENT ON STAGE FEELS RELEVANT TO THEM AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN JUST TO PUT IN NEW SHOWS, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NAMES AND THE FACES THEY SEE ON STAGE AND THE WAY THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE IS BUILT, IT FEELS SOMETHING THAT'S WELCOMING TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE WELL TO STAY CURRENT IN MIXING THE SEASONS.

YOU KNOW, BILL TALKED ABOUT "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" AND "SEVEN BRIDES," BUT THERE'S ALSO THE "ON YOUR FEET" AND "CHICAGO" SO YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR SHOWS THESE DAYS, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT FEELS INHERENTLY ST. LOUIS SITTING IN THE MUNY UNDER THE STARS.

AND MORE THAN EVER, WE'D LIKE TO GET AWAY FROM OUR SCREENS.

I THINK WE CAN ALL SAY THAT A LITTLE BIT, SO WHAT WE DO AND THE WAY WE DO IT ALLOWS -- AS LEAST FOR ME, I'M 38 YEARS OLD AND AS MUCH OF A DIGITAL GENERATION AS I AM, I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN THAT WAY.

YOU'RE RIGHT IS THAT IT IS A DIFFERENT QUESTION BECAUSE FOR OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, THERE WERE FEWER OTHER THINGS THEY WERE LOOKING TO DO, BUT I THINK AS LONG AS WE STAY ALIGNED WITH THIS COMMUNITY AND STAY A PART OF IT, I THINK WE ALSO STAY A PART OF TRADITION.

>> ALVIN.

>> ALVIN, YOU'RE MUTED.

>> ALVIN, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

>> ROOKIE MISTAKE, I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

ROOKIE MISTAKE.

HEY, ONE QUESTION.

FREE SEATS FOREVER, RIGHT?

>> FREE SEATS FOREVER AS LONG AS I'M THERE.

>> OKAY, AND A FOLLOW-UP.

THERE WILL BE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS, I'M SURE, FOR THE AUDIENCE AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER, BUT I HAVE DEALT WITH ARTISTS AND I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH, YOU KNOW, FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF THE CAST AND CREWS THAT ARE TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

ARE YOU ALREADY RUNNING INTO THAT AND HOW IS THAT SHAPING UP?

>> SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH ARTISTS AS WE ALL ARE AND THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE NINE LABOR UNIONS, ONE OF WHICH REPRESENTS THE ACTORS, FOR EXAMPLE.

THE ACTORS ASSOCIATION, SO ALL THESE UNIONS HAVE PUT OUT GUIDANCE AND WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.

THE THING I WILL SAY THAT IS TRUE OF ALL THESE GROUPS, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO GET BACK TO WORK.

EVERYONE HAD BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR A WHILE, SO IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A PRETTY GOOD -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY PUSH AND PULL, JUST GIVE AND TAKE OF WHAT'S REALISTIC AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE'VE TALKED TO ARTIST AND LOT AND MOST OF THEM, IF NOT ALL ARE GETTING VACCINATED AND THAT HELPS THAT QUESTION.

SO DO WE RUN INTO SOME HICCUPS FROM THE GUIDELINES WE RECEIVE?

YES, AND IT'S EASY -- WELL, NOT EASY, BUT WE CAN'T SAY THAT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE, WE CAN'T PRODUCE THEATER THAT WAY.

THE ROUTE WE'VE SEEN AS THE MUNY IS WE'VE PUT TOGETHER GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS THAT WE KNOW WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT WILL WORK ACROSS ALL NINE LABOR UNIONS AND PREVE VENVENT -- AND PRESENT THAT TO THE CITY AND PRESENT THAT TO THIS GROUP AND IS EVERYONE WANTING TO COME TOGETHER AND PLAY TOGETHER IN A THEATER NIERT, WE CAN BRING IT BACK.

WE TRY OUR BEST TO DO THIS AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONCESSION FROM EITHER SIDE.

AND WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONCESSION FROM THE AUDIENCE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE EXACT THING IF YOU'RE GOING TO SOCIAL DISTANCE FOR A YEAR.

WE CAN PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WOK, WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO ASK.

>> SO HOW WILL PEOPLE BE SPACED THIS SUMMER IF INDEED THEY WILL BE?

>> WE'LL FOLLOW WHATEVER THE MOST CURRENT GUIDELINES ARE.

IF YOU GUYS KNOW, IT CHANGES ABOUT EVERY 48 TO 60 SECONDS AND I DON'T SAY THAT AS A CRITICISM, IT'S JUST THE REALITY.

THERE'S GREAT SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS US TO REMODEL THE HOUSE BASED ON THE RULES.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE IN THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR FINAL DETERMINATION COME MID MAY, BUT WE'RE NOT SCHEDULED TO OPEN UNTIL JULY.

SO THERE'S THAT GAP OF TIME BETWEEN WHAT WE DECIDE AND, AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SLIDING SCALE OF HEALTH.

SO EVERYONE IS TAPPING INTO THEIR BEST CRYSTAL BALL HERE TO FIGURE IT OUT, BUT WE'LL FOLLOW WLAFRT HEALTH GUIDELINES ARE FOR THE CITY AND BY THE CDC AT THAT TIME.

AS YOU ALL SAW, THERE'S SOME REAL MOVEMENT IN OUTDOOR GUIDANCE FROM THE SOCIAL DISTANCE, YOU KNOW -- WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CLEAR.

PEOPLE WILL READ THAT, YOU DON'T NEED A MASK OUTDOORS UNLESS YOU'RE SITTING IN A STADIUM OR LARGE GROUP.

SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EDUCATION AND REEDUCATION WE HAVE TO DO, BUT THE BEAUTY OF IT IS WE'RE NOT TRYING TO REINTERPRET OR REDEFINE SCIENCE.

SCIENCE IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR PEOPLE AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE WITHIN THE CONFINES.

NOT EVEN CONFINES, WITHIN THOSE LANES.

>> ST. LOUISANS AND YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY A ST. LOUISAN, KWOFE, BUT WE GRAPPLE WITH THE LABEL PROVINCIAL AND YET WHEN IT COMES TO THEATER AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARTS AND YOUR COLLEAGUES MIKE ISAACSON, DENNY REAGAN, FOX AND ASSOCIATES, AM I CORRECT IN ASSUMING WE HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROFILE IN THE THESE AT -- IN THE THEATRICAL WORLD?

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT PROFILE ENHANCED AND HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE'RE THE OLDEST AND LARGEST OUTDOOR THEATER IN THE COUNTRY.

JUST BY THAT MERE EXISTENCE, AND LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMPANY.

MIKE HAS PRODUCED INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL ON BROADWAY.

DENNY IS ONE OF THE LONGEST TENURED LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY.

I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL LIFE IN THEATER SOCIETY.

WE PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN MUSICAL THEATER FOR THE PEOPLE OF ST. LOUIS AND THAT REPRESENTS ST. LOUIS ON THE MAP IN THAT WAY.

I THINK THAT WE'RE A DESTINATION FOR THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST STARS OF MUSICAL THEATER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STAGE.

IF YOU'RE A PERFORMER, THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS UNDER THE STARS FOR 11,000 PEOPLE WITHOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS.

AND IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE A WRITER, YOU HAVE A SHOW, THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO SEE YOUR PRODUCTS OR BE PART OF A PRODUCT ON STAGE.

SO AS LONG AS WE KEEP THOSE DOORS AS WIDE OPEN AND WELCOME PEOPLE IN FROM ALL CORNERS TO DO THEIR ART OR PRESENT THEIR ART ON OUR STAGE, I THINK THAT HELPS SIGNIFICANTLY.

I THINK WE'RE PART OF THOSE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT ST. LOUIS.

THOSE OF US THAT ARE HERE KNOW THE GREATNESS OF THIS COMMUNITY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE STORY THAT'S ALWAYS TOLD.

BUT ANY OF US THAT HAVE A NATIONAL PLATFORM THROUGH WHAT WE DO, OURS HAPPENS TO BE MUSICAL THEATER, WE CAN SHOW THAT EXCELLENCE EXISTS HERE AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, KWOFE, I BUY TICKETS FOR A SHOW, LIKE IF THIS SHOW SOUNDS GOOD, I MIGHT BUY TICKETS OR TAKE MY GRANDKIDS TO THE SHOW, BUT ONCE A YEAR, MY WIFE AND I GO WITH PETER AND ANNE REXFORD WHO HAVE SEASON TICKETS AND ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM HAVE SEASON TICKETS AND IT'S FOR LIKE EVERY TUESDAY.

IT'S FOR A DAY.

HOW IN THE WORLD ARE YOU GOING TO DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEASON TICKETS AND THEY SIT IN THE SAME PLACE EVERY YEAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IF YOU CAN'T FILL THE PLACE UP, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TELL SOME OF THE PEOPLE, WELL, YOUR SEASON TICKETS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HONOR THIS YEAR?

>> YES.

NO, SO -- THE PLAN IN REALITY, IF WE GET TO A SOCIAL DISTANCE SCENARIO WHERE WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE CAPACITY, ALL THOSE PEOPLE -- WE'LL GIVE THEM ACCESS, PROBABLY TIER THE SYSTEM SO IF YOU SAT IN THIS SECTION, THAT GROUP WILL HAVE ACCESS ON A CERTAIN DAY TO GO BACK AND PICK NEW SEATS IF WE HAVE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE THROUGH THE SEASON.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS THIS SEASON WILL BE DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT LIKE IF YOU PICK FOR THIS SEASON, YOU THEN -- THOSE ARE YOUR FOREVER SEATS.

NO, IT'S FOR THE 2021 SEASON, SO WE'LL GIVE THEM ACCESS TO DO THAT, TO SELECT THEIR SEATS, BUT OF COURSE, IF THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO OPT OUT AND COME BACK AND GET THEIR REGULAR SEAT.

>> THESE PEOPLE I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE SO PROUD THAT THEY'VE HAD THESE SEATS FOR SO MANY YEARS AND THEY SIT NEXT TO THESE PEOPLE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE THE ONES TO TELL THEM THAT PETER AND ANNE GET TO SIT HERE, BUT ROGER AND SUSIE DON'T.

>> PEOPLE HAVE HAD THOSE FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS.

MY GOAL IS I DON'T WANT TO TELL THEM -- I'LL HAVE TO COME BACK ON THIS SHOW AND YOU GUYS CAN HELP ME.

>> I'VE GOT A SUGGESTION FOR YOU.

CALL THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES THAT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

I GUARANTEE YOU IF EVERY GAME IS PRETTY MUCH SOLD OUT, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT AREN'T SITTING WHERE THEY NORMALLY SIT.

THEY CAN GIVE YOU SOME TIPS.

>> THAT TIERED SYSTEM I'M TALKING ABOUT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

THEY'VE SOLD A MONTH AT A TIME GIVEN ACCESS WHERE YOU TYPICALLY SIT AND YOU GO ONLINE AND PICK YOUR NEW SEATS AND YOU BRING THE NEXT GROUP IN, NEXT GROUP, NEXT GROUP.

THAT'S THE MODEL THAT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IF WE END UP HAVING TO GO THAT ROUTE.

PEOPLE, LIKE WE SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR EVERYBODY.

TO HAVE YOUR SAME SEATS WILL BE DIFFICULT AND YOU'RE 100% RIGHT.

HALF OF THE EXPERIENCE IS YOU SEE THIS FRIEND YOU SEE SEVEN TIMES A SUMMER, TALK TO THEM AND HANG OUT AND GET THE SAME CONCESSION STAND.

THERE WILL BE SOME NEW TEMPORARY TRADITIONS FORMED.

WE STILL THINK THAT'S THE WORTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK.

>> KWOFE, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT PICKING THE SHOWS?

HUE DOES THE MUNY DECIDE -- BECAUSE IT CAN BE A CONTROVERSIAL THING, AS YOU KNOW, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT YOUR PROCESS IS.

IS THIS SOMETHING YOU -- IS IT IN ITSELF ONE OF THE TRADITIONS AND IF SO, OR IF NOT, DO YOU SEE IT CHANGING?

HOW DO YOU ABOUT DOING IT?

>> IT'S A MIX.

IT CERTAINLY PARTIALLY OR MAINLY A TRADITION IN THAT THE AUDIENCE -- THERE'S A SURVEY AND THE AUDIENCE MAKES THOSE SELECTIONS AND I KNOW FAR BEFORE MY TIME -- WE DO THAT IN-HOUSE NOW AND THERE'S A SLIP IN THE PROGRAM.

FAR BEFORE MY TIME, THERE WAS A SURVEY IN THE POST-DISPATCH FOR A LONG TIME.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE COMMUNITY PICKS.

NOW THE 30 OR SO SHOWS THAT END UP ON THAT SURVEY ARE SHOWS WE LOOKED AT THAT WE KNOW WOULD BE PART OF A GREAT SEASON AND ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT COUPLE UPCOMING YEARS.

AS YOU KNOW, WE PRODUCE AND LICENSE THESE SHOWS, SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SHOWS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THAT NEXT YEAR.

THE AUDIENCE FIX WHAT THEY LIKE, WE HAVE A HIGH RANKS OF ONE THROUGH 30, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO FINE SEVEN SHOWS THAT MAKE SENSE TOGETHER.

IF I HAVE "LITTLE MERMAID" AND "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" ON THE SAME SURVEY, THERE'S GOING TO COME IN ONE AND TEAMWORK BUT WE'RE NOT GOING -- ONE AND TWO, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THEM IN THE SAME YEAR.

TO BILL'S POINT, YOU WANT A MIX OF CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY SO YOU'RE DRAWING A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE.

YOU WANT TO TELL DIFFERENT KINDS OF STORIES, SOMETHING LIGHT, SHOWS THAT MAKE YOU THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE, MAKE YOU FEEL A LITTLE MORE, AND YOU ALSO WANT SHOWS THAT MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PRESENTING A REPRESENTATIVE PRODUCT ON STAGE THAT IS INCLUSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF SCIENCE THAT GOES IN IT, BUT THE RANKING HAPPENS AND WE GET IN THE ROOM AND MIKE AND DENNY AND I SPEND A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME IN A ROOM NARROWING THAT DOWN AND WE HAVE A REPERTORY COMMITTEE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WE PRESENT USUALLY A SLATE OF SEVEN OR EIGHT AND THAT'S HOW WE COME UP WITH IT.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE JUST DOING THE SHOWS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO LAST YEAR, SO WE DIDN'T DO THAT THIS TIME AROUND, BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW IT GOES.

>> WELL, THAT LED INTO WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK PERFECTLY.

I WAS ASK YOU, OKAY, ALL RIGHT, YOUR THREE, YOUR THREE FAVORITES.

MR. COLEMAN, YOUR THREE.

I CAN TELL YOU MINE.

WELL, YOU CAN DO "GUYS AND DOLLS" EVERY YEAR, FIRST OF ALL.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE, GOT FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, BUT YOUR THREE.

>> "AIDA" IS ON THERE.

THE LAST ONE WE DID WAS GREAT, BUT THE ONE IN 2005 STICKS IN MY MIND.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME AS A YOUNG KID I WAS REALLY PAYING ATTENTION.

"AIDA" IS ONE AND "LES MIS".

LIKE I SAID, THAT PRODUCTION OF "LES MIS" IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE MAGNITUDE, HOW WE PRESENT SOMETHING ON THE STAINING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AND I THINK "THE WIZ" SPEAKS TO DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL TO DO THAT IN OUR CENTENNIAL.

>> IN 2019 TINA TURNER IN A MUSICAL OPENED ON BROADWAY AND IT WAS CUT SHORT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND IT WILL PROBABLY OPEN AGAIN SOON, BUT IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE MUNY, BECAUSE OF HER CONNECTIONS TO ST. LOUIS, MIGHT MOUNT IT AT THE MUNY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS?

>> IT WOULD ALL COME DOWN TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE LICENSE.

THAT SHOWING WITH TINA IS INCREDIBLY POPULAR AND IT'S IN A SHORT RUN, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT THE POPULARITY OF IT, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A SHOW LIKE THAT THAT'S EITHER RUNNING ON BROADWAY OR TOURS, OUR ABILITY TO GET THAT LICENSE IS SLIM TO NONE AT THAT POINT.

IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, MAYBE NOT, BUT THAT'S ALL A MODEL THAT MAY BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NOW THAT THEY'RE ALL COMING BACK FROM THE SHOWS NOT HAPPENING AND EVERYONE BEING OUT OF WORK.

SO TYPICALLY WHEN YOU GOT A HOT TITLE THAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, ON BROADWAY OR THAT TOUR, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT RIGHT AWAY FOR LICENSING, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A SHOW THAT I COULD SEE ON OUR STAGE AT SOME POINT.

>> ALEC BALDWIN IN AN APPEARANCE ON "INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO" WAS ASKED TO NAME TWO OF THE ACTORS THAT HE HAD HAD THE PLEASURE OF SHARING THE STAGE WITH.

ONE OF THE NAMES HE SHARE WAS KEN PAGE, AND I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED "AIDA" AND I'M SURE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT KEN PAGE.

I AM ONE OF HIS OFFICIAL STALKERS AS MY CASTMATES HERE WILL LET YOU KNOW.

I'VE SEEN HIM AND EMBARRASSED MYSELF EVERY TIME I SEE HIM IN GRAND CENTER AND PROUD TO DO THAT, BUT WE HAVE A REALLY RICH ALUMNI NETWORK, YOU KNOW, BEING LED BY THE GREAT KEN PAGE, DON'T WE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUNY OPERA?

PEOPLE WHO HAVE GROWN UP HERE AND GONE ON TO DO AMAZING THINGS.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT, KWOFE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, SO KEN WILL TELL THIS STORY AND I'VE HEARD HIM SAY BEFORE THAT THIS THEATER WAS HIS INTRODUCTION TO MUSICAL THEATER.

HE REMEMBERS BEING EARNING AN EQUITY CARD HERE.

THE FACT THAT A YOUNG ACTOR CAN BE IN SCHOOL OR HAVE THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY ON THE STAGE OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND THEN IT GIVES BURST TO A CAREER, SOMETHING WE SEE OVER AND OVER, AND IT'S REALLY FULFILLING.

YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE -- BERKELEY GOINS STARRED IN "SINGING IN THE "RAIN" A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

I LOOK AT PEOPLE ON THE VOICE STARTING ON THE MUNY STAGE.

IT'S A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE LOOK AT KIDS AND TEENS FOR EXAMPLE.

THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE IN THESE SHOWS, BUT THEY'RE RYE REHEARSING ALONG WITH BROADWAY STARS.

THEY'RE WORKING FOR BROADWAY DIRECTORS AND CORE RING ON GRAPHERS AND MUSICAL DIRECTORS, SO THEY'RE GETTING A PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AT AN EARLY AGE AND I THINK THAT REALLY GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CATAPULT THEIR CAREERS.

IF NOTHING ELSE, IT'S THE COVERS.

PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME, DO I DID THEATER AS A KID?

NO, I WASN'T BRAVE ENOUGH.

THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING OUT ON A STAGE LIKE THAT, BUT YOU SEE THESE YOUNG GUYS THAT WAY AND IT STARTS CAREERS.

YOU TAKE IT ALL THE WAY UP TO KEN PAGE, WHAT A STORIED CAREER TO HAVE IT BEGIN HERE AND FOR HIM TO BE BACK IN R HERE IN THIS ST. LOUIS AND STILL ON THE STAGE, PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, PART OF THIS THEATER, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO WATCH THAT WHOLE TRAJECTORY AND KNOW THERE'S AN ABILITY TO STILL COME BACK HOME AND DO THAT AS WELL.

I WON'T SAY THAT I'M HIGH ON KEN'S STALKER LIST, BUT WE'RE GOOD FRIENDS AND I APPRECIATE -- IT'S JUST GOOD TO SEE HIM AROUND.

YOU KNOW, HE'S A LEGEND IN THIS TOWN AND IN THIS INDUSTRY AND WE'RE JUST PROUD TO BE A PART OF KEN'S HISTORY IN OUR SMALL WAY.

>> KWOFE, I'M A SENTIMENTAL GUY DID.

>> OKAY.

>> AND I CRIED THE LAST TIME THAT YOU GUYS HAD "MEET ME IN ST.

LOUIS."

AT THE END OF THE SHOW WHEN THE FATHER SAYS WE'LL STAY HERE TILL WE ROT, I THOUGHT HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE CROWD AND EVERYBODY WAS CHEERING AND CRYING.

I HOPE YOU BRING THAT BACK PRETTY SOON, "MEET ME IN ST.

LOUIS."

IT'S PERFECT FOR THE MUNY.

>> IT IS.

SOME PEOPLE JOKE, DID THEY WRITE IT FOR THE MUNY?

>> RIGHT, ON IT.

>> WE DID IT IN OUR CENTENNIAL SEASON.

OUR TAG LINE FOR THAT CENTENNIAL SEASON WAS RIGHT HERE IN ST. LOUIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

WE'RE A THEATER THAT IS MADE FOR AND BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE ARE MOMENTS LIKE THAT THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN -- IT CAN ONLY MEAN A CERTAIN THING WHEN THEY HAPPEN ON THE MUNY STAGE BECAUSE WE FIND OURSELVES INHERENTLY TIED -- IT'S SO STRANGE TO SEE THAT SHOW, IT'S KIND OF SET IN THE PARK, YOU KNOW.

IT'S AN AMAZING THING.

>> BUT I DON'T THINK LIKE "OKLAHOMA" WOULD MEAN THAT TO SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN OKLAHOMA.

>> YOU KNOW, I AGREE.

>> IT WOULDN'T MEAN ANYTHING, BUT "MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS" SPEAKS TO US.

IT WAS JUST AN EMOTIONAL NIGHT.

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, TOO.

THERE'S A SHOW ABOUT ST. LOUIS.

AND AGAIN, I DON'T MEAN TO BELABOR THIS POINT, I THINK SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET THE BEST RAP EXTERNALLY, SO IT'S A MOMENT WE CAN SIT THERE AND TAKE PRIDE IN THE CHOICE OF BEING RIGHT HERE IN ST. LOUIS.

>> RIGHT.

>> RAY.

>> OKAY.

TALK ABOUT THE FINANCES A LITTLE BIT.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OUR SENTIMENTALITY.

I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU HAD A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT I THINK WENT PRETTY WELL.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU'VE BEEN ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNICATIONS SIDE.

WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS, CAN YOU GIVE US ASSURANCES THAT YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT -- BECAUSE IT'S A VERY TRADITIONAL SORT OF FORMAT AND A LOT OF US, I THINK, WOR WORRY, IS IT GOING TO LAST, HOW WELL IS IT GOING TO DO DOWN THE ROAD.

TALK ABOUT THAT, OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY.

>> SURE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, WE LAUNCHED THAT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IN 2017.

WE WEREN'T PUBLIC WITH IT IN 2018 AND IT WAS $100 MILLION CAMPAIGN.

50 MILLION WENT INTO BRICK AND MORTAR, RENOVATION OF THE CAMPUS, AND 50 MILLION THE END DOCUMENT.

WHEN YOU'VE BEEN TO THE THEATER -- WELL, NO ONE'S BEEN THERE LATELY, BUT WHEN YOU COME BACK, YOU'LL SEE THE STAGE IS BRAND NEW.

THE WHOLE CAMPUS HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED AND IN OUR 103rd YEAR, IT'S A BRAND NEW FACILITY ALL OVER AGAIN.

THE SECOND HALF OF THAT, THAT 50 MILLION THAT GOES INTO THE END DOCUMENT, THAT'S THAT RAINY -- ENDOWMENT, THAT'S THE RAINY DAY, THE LONG-TERM FUND.

THAT ALONG WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

FIRST, WE DON'T MAKE IT WITHOUT THIS COMMUNITY.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT OUR FUTURE IS BECAUSE WE ARE SO INEX-TRICKABLY TIED TO THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY GIVEN OUR HISTORY AND THAT RELATIONSHIP, THAT WE FEEL STRONG IN THAT.

THE SUCCESS OF THAT CAMPAIGN, THE SUCCESS OF EVERY SEASON, WE HAVE OVER 22,000 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS.

AS BILL MENTIONED, MANY OF THEM COME BACK YEAR TO YEAR.

WE HAVE A STRONG DONOR BASE, BUT ALL THOSE THINGS COUPLED TOGETHER PUT US IN REALLY -- PRETTY STRONG FINANCIAL FOOTING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE A NONPROFIT.

WE ARE NOT PART OF THE ZMD, SO OUTSIDE OF THE PPP AND HOPEFULLY THE SHUTTERED VENUE GRANTS THAT WILL COME OUT THIS YEAR, WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC FUNDING IN THAT WAY, BUT REMARKABLY STRONG TICKET SALES OVER A CENTURY, WHICH IS WEIRDED TO, BUT OVER A CENTURY, THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

AND REALLY PRUDENT LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE AN ENDOWMENT THAT IS IN GOOD STRONG STANDING AND GOOD SHAPE BECAUSE MY PREDECESSORS AND OUR BOARD HAVE MADE STRONG CHOICES TO KEEP THAT INVESTED PROPERLY AND NOT TO OVERLY DRAW DOWN ON THAT.

SO WE'RE IN A POSITION WE FEEL GOOD GOING FORWARD.

>> 30 SECONDS TO GO.

>> REAL QUICK, IT USED TO BE, I GUESS STILL IS, THE STAGE ITSELF IS ONE OF THE LARGEST, LIKE, IN AMERICA AND ALMOST IN THE WORLD, TOO?

>> 95 FEET.

I DON'T KNOW ANOTHER ONE BIGGER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I DO REMEMBER THAT FROM A BOOK REPORT I DID I THINK IN FOURTH GRADE.

>> I THINK I DID THE SAME REPORT.

>> AND WHEN MIKE ISAACSON GREETS THE CROWD THAT FIRST WEEK, IT'S A LONG WALK TO THE MICROPHONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, KWOFE COLEMAN, FOR JOINING US AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION.

JULY, WE KICK OFF THINGS WITH "SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS," SO IT WILL BE GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY AT THE MUNY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU GUYS.

>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.