>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, CONCERNS OVER THE FUTURE OF A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN.

ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW STUDY SHOWS AN INCREASE IN CANCER RATES AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THEIR 30s.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE ARE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Announcer: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVE NING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

.

CVS TODAY IS STARTED TO RECEIVE THE UPDATED COVID VACCINE WITH SOME PHARMACIES OFFERING VACCINATIONS AS SOON AS TODAY.

CVS EXPECTS ALL PHARMACIES NATIONWIDE WILL HAVE THE VACCINE IN STOCK BY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

THE CDC YESTERDAY SIGNED OFF ON THE UPDATED VACCINE WITH THE AGENCY'S INDEPENDENT VACCINE ADVISERS RECOMMENDING SHOTS FOR ALL AMERICANS SIX YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

THAT COMMITTEE ENFORCEMENT MEANS IT WILL BE COVERED BY PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS.

THEY HAVE BUN UPDATED TO FIGHT OFF THE LATEST VERSIONS CAUSING THE LATEST UPTICK IN COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ALSO OF NOTE, MODERNA SAYS, THE EXPERIMENTAL FLU VACCINE HAS A STRONGER IMMUNE RESPONSE.

THE MODERNA FLU SHOT IS MRNA BASED AND THAT IN ITS PHASE THREE TRIALS THERE WERE FOUR STRAINS OF THE FLU VIRUS.

MODERNA IS MOVING TOWARD FEDERAL REGULATORS.

>>> UTAH SENATOR AND FORMER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION NEXT YEAR.

THE 76-YEAR-OLD SAYS IT'S TIME FOR A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS, ADDING HE WOULD BE IN HIS MID80'S AT THE END OF ANOTHER SENATE TERM.

>> PEOPLE, THE BOOMERS HAVE DONE WELL AND VOTED FOR BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS AND PAID FOR THEM.

I THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING ALONG NEXT WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW WE LEAVE THE EARTH AND HOW THEY PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE IN.

PUT >> Ted: ROMNEY WON ELECTION IN 2018 AND FACES CRITICISM FOR TWO VOTING TO CONVICT THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TWO IMPEACHMENT TRIALS AND RUFFLE FEATHERSING FEATHERS FOR VOTING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY DO WELL AFTER AN IMPEACHMENT PROCESS AND DIDN'T DO WELL IN '98 WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND IT DIDN'T EXPAND IT.

I DON'T SEE IT AS GOOD POLITICS.

>> Ted: THIS FOLLOWS HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY HE WAS AUTHORIZING A FORMAL INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON, HUNTER BIDEN.

>>> CONCERNS ARE GROWING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WICK, A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN.

THE STABILITY OF THE PROGRAM IS IN QUESTION SO MUCH SO THAT SOME ARIZONA COUNTIES ARE CONSIDERING DROPPING IT ALL TOGETHER.

FOR MORE, WE WELCOME WILL HUMBLE HUMBLE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA ASSOCIATION.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THIS PROMISES TO LEAD US INTO WE'VES THAT ARE SO DEEP WE CAN'T SEE THE SUN.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: WHAT IS WICK?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT THE ACRONYM BUT DON'T KNOW.

IT'S A PROGRAM FOR VERY YOUNG FAMILIES, FAMILIES WHOSE KIDS ARE ZERO AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND IT'S A NUTRITIONION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO WAY DIFFERENT FROM FOOD STAMPS WHICH, YOU KNOW, OR SNAP, IS WHAT IT'S CALLED NOW.

YOU CAN BUY ANYTHING, POTATO CHIPS OR WHATEVER.

WICK IS A FORMULA -- THERE'S A LIST OF THINGS TO BUY AS A FOOD PACKAGE BENEFIT ON WICK AND THING LIKE, YOU KNOW, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, A CONCERN AMOUNT OF MEAT.

WHEN I WAS IN THAT DIRECTOR JOB IN 2009, WE OVERHAULED THE MENU WITHIN THE WICK PROGRAM FOR THINGS THAT THE WICK RECIPIENTS CAN REDEEM THEIR COUPONS IN GROCERY STORES.

SO IT'S NUTRITION ASSISTANTS, BREAST FEEDING ASSISTANCE AND IT'S NUTRITION COUNSELING, TEACHING MOMS HOW TO COOK HEALTHIER FOODS FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDING REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE HEALTHCARE COMPONENT.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED REVAMPING THE MENU AND WHO DECIDES WHAT THEY'RE FOR AND WHAT THEY'RE FOR AND HOW THEY'RE DISPERSED?

>> CONGRESS AUTHORIZES THIS AND GOES TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

SO USDA HAS CONTRACTS WITH EACH THE STATE HEALTH DEPTHS AND THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES TO DELIVER THE WICK SERVICES, THE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND IMMUNIZATIONS AND THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTRACTS WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS TO RUN THOSE CLINICS AND THAT'S WHERE YOUNG FAMILIES GO TO GET THEIR SERVICES, TO GET THEIR COUNSELING AND BREAST FEEDING SERVICES IF THEY NEED FORMULA.

THEY CAN GET WHAT THEY NEED FROM THERE AND THEN THEY TALK TO THE STAFF AT WICK, YOU KNOW, AND GET THEIR COUPONS FOR THAT.

>> Ted: IT'S PERSONALIZED?

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: HOW MANY PEOPLE AND IS THAT NUMBER GROWING?

>> IT'S GROWN SINCE I WAS IN -- WHEN I LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, WE HAD ABOUT 120,000 RECIPIENTS IN THE WICK PROGRAM AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S ABOUT 184,000.

ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT QUALIFY FOR WICK ARE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THE WICK PROGRAM NOW, WHICH I WILL GET TO IN A SECOND.

THE GRIEVANCE AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND COUNTIES HAVE IS THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO RUN THE PROGRAM ANYMORE.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, YOU CAN'T MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS AND THE PEOPLE DON'T REDEEM THE COUPONS AND LOSE PARTICIPANTS AND MONEY GOES DOWN.

YOU'RE UNABLE TO MEET THE DELIVERABLES THAT USDA IS ASKING YOU TO MEET.

>> Ted: NOT ENOUGH MONEY AND SOUNDS LIKE CONGRESS AT ANY MOMENT COULD FULLY FUND IT AND SITTING AROUND FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> 13.

IT'S MORE LIKE SEVEN.

SO THE LAST TIME WICK WAS PASSED WAS 2010 AND THAT WAS A FIVE-YEAR AUTHORIZATION, SO THE LAWYERLAW EXPIRED IN 2015 WHICH IS SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO AND ON AUTOPILOT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CALLS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND WE WON'T DEAL WITH THIS PROGRAM BUT FUND IT UNTIL LAST YEAR AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S DYING ON THE VINE BECAUSE IT NEEDS -- I MEAN, INFLATION IS UP 40% SINCE 2010.

>> Ted: IT'S DYING ON THE VINE AND COUNTIES ARE NOW SAYING AND SOME ARIZONA COUNTIES ARE SAYING THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET THIS -- WE'LL GET RID OF THIS ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT DYING ON THE VINE.

>> THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS AND KNOW THAT A FAMILY ENROLLED IN WICK COSTS THE STATE MEDICAID AGENCY ACCESS THREE TIMES -- IT PAYS FOR ITSELF THREE TIMES OVER.

SO THE COUNTIES WANT TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE NOT BEING PAID BY USDA ENOUGH TO DO WHAT USDA WANTS THEM TO DO AND SO, THEY GO TO THEIR BORDER OF BOARD OF SOUPSUPERVISORS.

A COUPLE OF COUNTIES ARE HELPING THE WICK PROGRAMS OUT.

FEMA IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE SAYING, THIS IS A PURELY FEDERAL PROGRAM AND WE WON'T HELP.

>> Ted: BOTTOM LINE, IS WICK IN ARIZONA IN JEOPARDY?

>> NOT TODAY.

IT'S KIND OF DYING ON THE VINE AND THE VINE IS STILL ALIVE.

WHAT WE NEED IS THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL REAUTHORIZE THE PROGRAM ALONG WITH THE MODERNIZATION THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AND THEN REALISTIC ADMINISTRATION EXPECTATIONS AND MONEY SO THAT THE COUNTIES AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS COULD KEEP THE WHEELS ON.

>> Ted: BEFORE YOU GO, I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE NEW COVID VACCINE.

WE'RE HEARING THAT IT WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF THE WEEK AND SOME PHARMACIES BY THE START OF NEXT WEEK.

THIS DOESN'T DEAL WITH WHAT WE DEALT WITH IN PAST BUT THE WHOLE NEW FUTURE OF COVID.

>> YES.

THIS IS A BRAND NEW VACCINE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE VERY LATEST OF THE OMICRON VARIENT AND THE VIRUS THAT'S BEEN CIRCULATING IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE PHARMACIES.

I HEARD THAT THERE'S SOME THAT SAY THEY'RE STARTING NEXT WEEK.

>> Ted: IT COULD START AS EARLY AS TODAY OR BY THE END OF THE WEEK AS SOON AS THEY GET THEM IN STOCK.

>> THERE'S THAT AND PEOPLE WILL START TO SEE OR SEEING INFLUENZA SIGNS FOR THE INFLUENZA VACCINE AND A NEW RSV SHOT FOR PEOPLE OVER 60.

>> Ted: WILL WE SEE PEOPLE GETTING THE COVID AND FLU SHOTS TOGETHER OR COVID AND RSV?

>> SOMEBODY LIKE ME, OVER 60, I CAN GET -- I COULD END UP AND I MIGHT DO THIS, TO GET RSV, THE NEW COVID BOOSTER AND THEN INFLUENZA ON THE SAME DAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DO THAT OR NOT.

I MIGHT, BUT I MIGHT NOT AND SPREAD IT OUT OVER TWO.

>> Ted: THE POSSIBILITIES EXIST, THOUGH.

BUT AGAIN, THIS NEW OMICRON VARIENT AND WE'VE HAD CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THESE THINGS AND FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN, NOT QUITE AS SERIOUS AS PREVIOUS VERSIONS?

>> WELL, HARD TO REALLY SAY.

IN TERMS OF ACUTE ILLNESS, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT, THAT IT'S LESS LETHAL AND A LOT OF IMMUNITY OUT THIS TO HELP YOUR T CELLS.

YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM HAS SEEN IT BEFORE AND PEOPLE DIDN'T GET VACCINATED GOT INFECTED AND HAVE SOME IMMUNITY THERE.

THE QUESTION WITH THE NEWER VERSIONS IS THE LONG COVID AND APPEARS AS THOUGH THE LATEST VERSIONS WHILE LESS ACUTE, IN TERMS OF ACUTE MIGHT BE AND I SAY MIGHT, NOT PROVEN.

THEY TEND TO HAVE MORE LONG-TERM EFFECTS AFTER INFECTION.

>> Ted: WONDERFUL.

SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> JUST GET THE VACCINE, TED.

>> Ted: WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALWAYS A PLEASURE AND ALWAYS GOOD INFORMATION.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, WHAT'S BEHIND THE REPORTED INCREASES IN CANCER RATES AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS.

>> RECENT STUDIES ARE SHOWING A RISE IN CANCER RATES AMONG YOUNGER AMERICANS AND WHAT'S BEHIND THE INCREASES AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

JOINING US NOW IS DR. CHRISTINA GOMEZ, AN ONCOLOGIST.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: UNDER THE AGE OF 50, THERE'S AN INCREASE AND ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THEIR 30s.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> DURING MY TRAINING, THAT WAS ANTIDOTAL.

THAT WAS A CAUSE TO SEND PATIENTS TO GENETICS AND TO DIG DEEP INTO THEIR FAMILY HISTORY.

THOSE WERE THE PATIENTS FOR SURE HAD A LONG-STANDING HISTORY OF GRANDPARENTS, UNCLES, COUSINS WITH MALIGNANCIES AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT NOW.

WE'RE SEEING SINCE THE '90S, A STUDY RATE OF INCREASE AND 2% PER YEAR OF COLON CANCER INCREASE IN PATIENTS LESS THAN 50.

JUST TODAY IN MY CLINIC, SOMEONE 34 YEARS OLD, 28 YEARS OLD.

INITIALLY, WE THOUGHT THEY WERE ANTIDOTES AND NOW THE NUMBERS ARE REAL.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

WE DON'T KNOW.

IT'S NATIONAL, GLOBAL INCREASE, EPIDEMIOLOGICALLY ACROSS THE BOARD, COAL COLON CANCER.

>> Ted: EVEN APPENDIX CANCER.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD GET CANCER IN YOUR APPENDIX.

IS TESTING A FACTOR HERE AND ARE MORE PEOPLE GETTING TESTED AND THUS FINDING OUT THEY'VE GOT IT AT A YOUNGER AGE?

>> SO THAT'S THE WORK WE STILL NEED TO DO.

SO THE DATA IS THAT PATIENTS OVER 50 WITHIN WE 50, WE HAVE A ADDRESS IN COLON CANCER RISK BECAUSE SCREENING HAS BEEN SO DONE.

WELL-DONE, WELL PREACHED AND WELL ADVERTISED.

WE CATCH CANCERS AT AN EARLIER STAGE.

ALTHOUGH RECENT SUGGESTIONS OR RECENT GUIDELINES HAVE TO DO COLON CANCER SCREENINGS, AND WE HAVE TO BE MORE MINDFUL AND AWARE OF SYMPTOMS.

SYMPTOMS THAT PATIENTS MAY SAY, OH, IT'S NOTHING, ABDOMINAL PAIN, CHANGES IN BOWEL HABITS, BLEEDING.

BLEEDING IS NEVER NORMAL.

OH, WELL, IT'S JUST HEMHOROID.

BLEEDING IS NOT JUST BLEEDING.

>> Ted: WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THIS NOW?

INCREASES MORE IN YOUNG WOMEN THAN MEN, ASIAN, HISPANIC, AMERICAN INDIANA AND BEGIN AND A ADDRESS IN BLACK AMERICANS AND WHAT DO WE MAKE OF ALL OF THIS?

>> THERE'S DISPARITIES IN FINDING IT AND MORE AGGRESSIVE DISEASE WHEN WE FIND IT IN CERTAIN POPULATIONS AND LATER-STAGE PRESENTATIONS.

I CAN'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS AS TO WHY CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND HONESTLY, TED, WE DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.

THERE'S SOME DATA THAT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, OBESITY, CHANGES IN OUR DIET.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THE CHANGES.

HIGHER FAT AND OBESE, RICH DIETS INCREASE RISK AND HIGHER DIETS IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLE, WE SEE A LOWER INCIDENCE OF COLON CANCERS.

>> Ted: LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND ONLY AND I NOTICED THAT EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT, BUT DOES THIS CORRELATE WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN AS FAR AS DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD SUGAR AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

WE'VE SEEN AN EXPLOSION AND COULD THIS BE ON THE SAME TRACK?

>> UNCLEAR, RIGHT, POSSIBLE.

BUT MAYBE MOM WAS RIGHT, EAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, SNEAKING IN THE EXERCISE AND DATA CONTINUES TO HOLD THAT ANY FORM OF EXERCISE, ANY MORE THAN WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW OR ANYMORE THAN SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE.

>> Ted: ALCOHOL AND ANY DRINKING, NO GOOD.

>> IT'S THERE, THE DATA AND THE NEWSPAPERS ARENUMBERS ARE THERE AND I HEAR IT IN ALL OF MY SOCIAL HISTORIES.

BUT DOC, I WANT A LITTLE BIT.

STRIKING A BALANCE BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE INCIDENCE IS THERE.

>> Ted: THIS IS NOT JUST AN AMERICAN ISSUE AND SEEING THIS ALL OVER THE WORLD?

>> IT'S GLOBAL.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND I THINK WE HAVE A BIG CALL TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, TO SCREEN, TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT THE HISTORIES ARE SAYING AND THEN RESEARCH, TED, WHAT CAN WE DO?

HOW CAN WE TREAT TEASE THESE CANCERS BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO BE OF A DIFFERENT SUBGROUP?

>> Ted: UNDER THE AGE OF 50, SEEING THESE NUMBERS DECREASING AND UNDER 50, INCREASING.

>> SCREENING SAVES LIVES AND THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

YOUR 30s, 40s AND NOT YET APPROVED BUT AND 45, GET A COLONOSCOPY AND HAPPY 40th 40th BIRTHDAY AND THEN GET YOURSELF CHECKED, YEAH.

IT CAN SAVE LIVES IF YOU CATCH THINGS EARLY.

>> Ted: AND NOT TAKING THAT FIRST DRINK WHEN YOU TURN 21.

DR. CHRISTINA GOMEZ WITH THE CANCER CENTER, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THE BLACK THEATER TROUPE IS SET FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF PERFORMANCES WITH THE FIRST SHOW OF THE SEASON, A COMEDY CALLED "STEAL AWAY" AND WE WELCOME DAVID HEMPHILL AND WALTER BELCHER AND GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: ANOTHER YEAR, HUH?

>> NUMBER 53.

>> Ted: 53?

>> OUR BIRTHDAY IS SEPTEMBER 14th.

>> Ted: OPENING SHOW OF THE SEASON THIS TIME OF YEAR AND LOTS OF ANTICIPATION.

>> YES, YES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OPEN WITH A BANG AND SO WE ALWAYS TRY TO GET A SHOW THAT IS NOT ONLY ENTERTAINING BUT HAS A MESSAGE TO IT.

>> Ted: I'LL TALK TO THE STAGE DIRECTOR OF STEAL AWAY IN A SECOND BUT AS FAR AS STEAL AWAY IS CONCERNED, WHY DOES THIS SHOW OPEN WITH A BANG?

>> I THINK IT ADDRESSES CURRENT ISSUES IN TERMS OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

"STEAL AWAY" THE PLOT LINE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WAS IMPORTANT AND YOUNG LADIES WANTING TO GO TO COLLEGE AND NOT GETTING FUNDED BUT THEY DIDN'T THINK BLACK WOMEN SHOULD GO TO COLLEGE.

SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Ted: I MENTIONED I WAS A COMEDY AND WHAT DO THESE WOMEN DO TO GET THE MUN MONEY IS THUS THE PLOT.

WITH A PLAY LIKE THAT THIS, YOU HAVE TO GET THE LAUGHS AND YOU HAVE HEAVY ISSUES, AS WELL.

HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT?

>> THERE'S A FINE LINE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO STAY TRUE TO, IT'S A FARCE KIND OF GOLDEN GIRLS, LUCILLE BALL IF YOU WILL, IN SOME PLACES AND ADDRESSES SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH CURRENTLY.

SO HAVING THE CAST FIND THOSE PLACES, WHERE THE PHYSICALITY PLAYS A ROLE AND STAYING TRUE TO THE STORY THAT'S THERE FOR PEOPLE TO DISCUSS CURRENT EVENTS.

BUT ALSO, LEAN INTO THE HUMOR.

>> Ted: IT'S CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT THAN THE DRAMA, THAN THE TRAGEDY OR THAN THE MUSICAL.

WHEN YOU'RE SETTING A STAGE FOR THESE PERFORMANCES, COMPARE, CONTRAST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE SCRIPT GIVES YOU A LOT OF CLUES ABOUT WHAT THAT SHOULD BE AND THERE ARE NUANCES AROUND HOW FISCAL LIFE AND COMEDY PLAY AS ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE STORY.

IT TAKES IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF HEIGHT AND WHEN YOU THINK OF LUCILLE BALL, SHE WAS WITH EVERYTHING SHE HAD INVESTED IN SOLVING WHATEVER PROBLEM AND THERE ENSUES THE CRAZINESS TO SOLVE A VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGE.

>> Ted: A SERIOUS CHALLENGE, AND YOU WANTED TO TALK MORE ABOUT "STEAL AWAY."

>> NOT ABOUT "STEAL AWAY," BUT THE PROCESS.

IT'S A LITTLE MORE WORK, SO TO SAY, WITH COMEDIES AND IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE THOUGHT.

MUSICALS ARE EASY AND THEY'RE ENTERTAINING AND YOU KNOW, THE MUSIC JUST DRIFTS OVER YOU AND ET CETERA.

BUT WITH A PLAY LIKE WHAT'S "STEAL AWAY WHAT'SAWAY" YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE MESSAGE TRUE.

>> Ted: IS IT TOUGHER TO KEEP AN AUDIENCE IN THAT TYPE OF PERFORMANCE?

>> YES.

WHEN YOU HAVE MUSIC, IT'S AN INVITATION TO BE INCLUSIVE AND THE CHALLENGE IS GREATER.

>> IF THEY DON'T LAUGH, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.

>> Ted: YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR CRICKETS DURING COMEDY.

DID I SEE WONKA?

>> NOT IN THE SEASON.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE SEASON?

>> OUR NEXT SHOW IS INTERESTING, THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS, WHICH IS A MUSICAL AND SOCRATES MEETS THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE STORIES ARE MYTHS AND THE MINISTER IS A SOOTHE SAYER AND INTERESTING.

>> AND DAVID IS DIRECTING THAT.

[ Laughter ] >> THAT I AM.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU PICK AND CHOOSE AND CURATE AND WHAT IS PERFORMED?

>> WELL, JUST LIKE WALTER SAID, IT'S A FINE LINE.

YOU WANT TO BE ENTERTAINING, BUT WE ALWAYS WANT TO STAY TRUE TO OUR MESSAGE.

WE WERE BORN OUT OF ACTIVISM AND WE WANT TO BRING SOMETHING NEW AND MAKE PEOPLE REMEMBER SOMETHING AND PROVOKE THOUGHT AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO WE CHOOSE PLAYS LIKE THAT AND THE CASH COWS, YOU KNOW.

>> Ted: WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE YOU BACK FOR THAT ONE.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THEATER?

>> I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I WAS SICK SIX YEARS OLD IN OHIO AND AUDITIONED FOR RUMPLESTILKIN.

CHED THE CHURCH HAS A WAY OF LITTLE BITTING THAT.

>> IT'S THE MUSIC.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHURCHES AND SOME THE THINGS YOU REMEMBER IS THE MUSIC AND THE SONG AND YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: WORDS AND MUSIC.

>> WITH A LOT OF DIRECTORS, YOUR PARENTS AREN'T VERY THRILLED WITH YOU TAKING THEIR EDUCATIONAL DOLLAR AND GOING TO THEISM OF A.

[ Laughter ] >> THAT'S WHAT MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME, I'M NOT PAYING FOR YOU TO SING AND DANCE.

>> Ted: SORRY, GRANDMA.

WHERE DO THEY GO AND HOW DO THEY FIND MORE INFORMATION?

>> WWW.BLACKTHEATERTROUPE.ORG OR CALL OR BOX OFFICE OR IF THEY SEE ME ON THE STREET.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: ANY COVID RESTRICTIONS ANYMORE?

>> NO.

WE'RE COMPLETELY LIFTED THE COVID RESTRICTIONS AND JUST THE NORMAL GOOD SENSE ONES.

SO IF YOU FEEL SICK, STAY HOME.

>> Ted: MASK IS OPTIONAL, AS WELL.

>> HAND SANITIZERS EVERYWHERE.

>> Ted: WALTER BELCHER AND DAVID HEMPHILL, "STEAL AWAY" GETTING READY TO START.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!