>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," LATEST INFORMATION ON THE NEW COVID VACCINE THAT WAS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE F.D.A.

AND WE'LL LOOK AT HOW CITIES ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.

AND THE THEATER BREAKING GROUND ON A NEW FACILITY.

THAT'S NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO"ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY WAIVED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN ORDER TO BUILD A NEW SECTION OF THE BORDER WALL.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT AN EASING OF THE REGULATIONS WAS NECESSARY TO BUILD SECTIONS OF THE WALL IN TEXAS WHICH IS SEEING A SURGE IN MIGRANT CROSSINGS AND PRESENTS WHAT THE MANAGESADMINISTRATION CALLS BARRIER ROADS.

THIS IS DESPITE PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDING TO A BORDER WALL.

THEY EMPHASIZED FUNDING WAS APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS.

>> THIS IS NOT NEW AND SOMETHING THAT CAME UNDER THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO THIS.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY BY THE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

>> THE BORDER WALL, THE MONEY WAS APPROPRIATED FOR THE BORDER WALL.

I TRIED TO GET THEM TO REDIRECT THAT MONEY AND THEY DIDN'T.

THEY WOULDN'T AND THEN IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S NOTHING UNDER THE LAW THAT THEY HAVE TO USE THE MONEY FOR WHAT IT IS.

I CAN'T STOP THAT.

>> Ted: THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO TODAY EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION AND AGREED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A BORDER WALL.

>> WE HAVE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WALL AND IT'S A SETBACK BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

THE CAUSES MUST BE ADDRESSED.

>> Ted: THAT SAID, THE U.S. BORDER PATROL ENCOUNTERS 245 MIGRANTS IN A FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDED SATURDAY.

>>> UNDER HEADLINES, DONALD TRUMP'S LEGAL TIME TO DISMISS CHARGES IN THE 2016 CASE AND CITED PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY.

TRUMP'S ATTORNEY ASKED ANOTHER JUDGE TO POSTPONE THE DOCUMENT'S TRIAL INFORM AFTER NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THEY NEED THE TIME BECAUSE THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NOT RECEIVED ALL OF THE RECORDS TO PREPARE FOR TRUMP'S DEFENSE.

>>> ECONOMIC NOTE, OIL PRICES ARE IN A FREE FALL THAT WE COULD BE SEEING AVERAGE PRICES DROP AT $3.35$3.25 A GALLON.

IT PLUNGED TO $84 A GALLON.

CRUDE OIL DROPPED FURTHER WITH ANALYSTS PREDICTING SHARPER DROPS TO COME AND A SIGNIFICANT REVERSAL FROM RECENT SPIKES DUE TO SUPPLY CUTS FROM RUSSIA AND SAUDI ARABIA AND THEY WARN PRICES COULD REBOUND AS REFINERIES STRUGGLE TO KEEP PACE.

>>> A SOLAR ECLIPSE, A RING OF FIRE.

IT SHOULD BE VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND MIDMORNING ARIZONA TIME AND LAST A FEW MINUTES AND THE LAST ECLIPSE UNTIL 2046.

>>> A NEW COVID VACCINE TO REPLACE OUTDATED VACCINES TO TARGET VARIENTS EXPECTED TO CAUSE A RISE IN CASES THROUGH THE FALL AND WINTER.

FOR MORE, WE WELCOME DR. JESSE BRACAMONTE FROM THE MAYO CLINIC, ARIZONA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: WE GOT UPDATED VACCINE AND THIS IS NOT A BOOSTER, IS IT, BUT A WHOLE NEW ANIMAL.

>> IT'S NOT A BOSTONNER BOOSTER AND, BUT IT'S AN UPDATED STRAIN TARGETING THE COMMITTEE AND PROTECTION FROM THE STRAINS THAT HIT THE COMMUNITY MONTHS AGO.

>> Ted: THIS IS XBBVV5 THING.

>> THE NEW YOU FLAVOR AND THIS VACCINE WILL TARGET THAT TYPE OF VARIENT AS WELL AS IMMUNITY OR PREVENT IMMUNITY -- PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO OLDER VARIENTS.

>> Ted: IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A TARGET?

>> AND A LITTLE BIT OF A VARIENT OVER THE VACCINE AND GETS BOTH FLAVORS AND PROTECTIVE FROM THE OLD VARIENT AND DEFINITELY THE NEW ONE THAT'S ANTICIPATED HERE NOW.

>> WE HAVE A PFIZER AND A MODERNA.

ANY DIFFERENCE?

>> THE TWO DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND THE IDEA IS THAT THEY TARGET FOR KIDS ABOUT SIX MONTHS OLD AND OLDER AND TARGETED TO PEOPLE THAT ARE HIGHER RISK AND THE IDEA TO HAVE THE SHARED DECISION-MAKING.

IT'S A MARKETING AND TO FIND OUT WHICH IS AVAILABLE.

>> Ted: IF YOU WENT MODERNA, SHOULD YOU DO THAT?

>> NOT NECESSARILY THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT TALK TO THE PHARMACIST OR CLINICIAN ABOUT WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU AND WHICH ONE IS AVAILABLE, I WOULD SAY.

>> Ted: AVAILABILITY IS THE BEST ONE.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: IS THIS -- HOW LONG IS THIS GOING LAST?

I MEAN, THE PREVIOUS ONES AFTER A FEW MONTHS, YOU KNOW, YEAR WANING ON THIS AND HOW LONG WOULD THIS LAST?

>> A GREAT QUESTION.

NEW FORMS OF THE VACCINE EVERY FALL LIKE THE FLU VACCINE, IS TO BE ANTICIPATED.

WITH THE IDEA IT WILL TARGET THE VARIENT DURING THAT SEASON.

HOPEFULLY THE IMMUNITY IS HIGH WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS TO THREE MONTHS AND IT WOULD BE TRANSIENT AND LAST SIX MONTHS POSSIBLY.

TYPICALLY, THAT'S THE GOAL AND DURING THE MOST OPPORTUNE TIME TO GET YOUR IMMUNITY NICE AND HIGH.

>> Ted: SO WE LIKELY WON'T SEE A BOOSTER FOR THIS?

>> WOULDN'T CALL IT A BOOSTER BUT A VACCINE.

>> Ted: SOUNDS LIKE A FLU SHOT.

>> SIMILAR IN NATURE, AND TO YOUR POINT EXACTLY.

>> Ted: BOTTOM POINT, THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS VACCINE.

IS COVID BECOMING A SEASONAL DISEASE?

>> I WOULD SAY YES.

THE VIRUS HAS TO CHANGE TO SURVIVE.

SO IT WILL HAVE DIFFERENT FORMS AND POSSIBLY LESSER FORMS.

THOSE AT RISK ARE STILL HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE HOSPITALIZATION, ILLNESS AND SEVERE DISEASE FROM COVID-19.

IF YOU'RE HIDING RISK, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IT AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY LIKE THE FLU.

>> Ted: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HIGHER RISK, BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT HIGHER RISK FOR GETTING IT SO MUCH AS YOU'RE HIRE RISK HIGHER RISK FOR GETTING IT BAD.

>> IT MAY GIVE YOUR BODY THE DEFENSE SYSTEM TO FIGHT IT OFF AND PUT YOU AT HIGH RISK FROM BEING HOSPITALIZED AND DEVELOPING SEVERE REQUIREMENT RESPIRATORY CONCERNS OR DEATH.

HIGH RISK, LIKE DIABETES, SIGNIFICANT OVERWEIGHT, LUNG DISEASE, PIT IT HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO PROTECT YOU.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA, SINCE IT'S LIKE A FLU SHOT, JUST THE FLU SHOT AND THE COVID SHOT, SAME DEAL?

I'M SEEING COMMERCIALS SUGGESTING PEOPLE TAKE THAT ROUTE.

>> YOU CAN GET THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME AND I HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH PATIENTS, CONVENIENCE, BOTH AT THE SAME TIME TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNICIPALITITY ANDIMMUNITY.PEOPLE MAY WANT ONE AT A TIME AND I GO WITH WHAT PEOPLE FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR DECISION.

>> Ted: THE FLU, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE FLU HITS LATER IN THE WINTER AND EVEN SPRING.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

FLU IN ARIZONA HITS LATER IN THE WINTER SEASON AND YOU WANT YOUR IMMUNITY UP SO THOSE DEFENSES ARE UP.

SO THE FLU VACCINE, I RECOMMEND THIS TIME INTO OCTOBER.

SO DURING THE HOLIDAYS, WHEN PEOPLE ARE CLOSE AND SPREADING THE VIRALS FROM RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.

>> Ted: SPEAKING OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, RSV, THERE'S A VACCINE FOR THAT, TOO?

>> BRAND NEW ONE, APPROVED FOR PEOPLE OVER 60 AND THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A DECLARED DECISION-MAKING WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN.

IF YOU'RE HIGH RISK, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE HIGH RISK TO CONSIDER THAT VACCINE.

>> Ted: THE SAME DEAL AS COVID AND NOT THAT YOU HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF GETTING IT, BUT ONCE YOU GET IT -- >> SOME PEOPLE HAVE A HIGH RISK OF CONTRACTING COVID AND IF YOU HAVE IMMUNE PROBLEMS, VERY YOUNG, THE EDERLY, THOSE OLDER WITH SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL PROBLEMS ARE HIGHER RISK.

AND SAME THING WITH RSV.

MOST TIMES, IT CAUSES MORE OF COLD SYSTEMS AND PEOPLE FIGHT IT OFF.

>> Ted: THE RSV, I NEVER HEARD OF THAT UNTIL THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 1950'S AND COMMONLY KNOWN AS A HEAD COLD.

REMEMBER THOSE VIRUSES, ALTHOUGH RESPIRATORY AND MOST CASES ARE MILD, IF YOU'RE SIGNIFICANTLY HAVING MEDICAL PROBLEMS, YOU HAVE A HIGHER RISK OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE EDERLY IN NURSING HOMES, HIGH RISK FOR SIGNIFICANT ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION AND, UNFORTUNATELY, DEATH.

>> Ted: GREAT INFORMATION AND DR. JESSE BRACAMONTE, MAYO CLINIC, ARIZONA, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WHAT CITIES ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM.

>> Ted: ARIZONA IS FACING A HOUSING BE AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM AND IS THERE MORE GOING ON HERE AND WHAT CAN CITIES DO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?

TO HELP ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, WE WELCOME THE PRESIDENT OF ROUNDS GROUP AND CHRIS MACKY OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH AND SEE YOU BOTH AGAIN.

JIM, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN ARIZONA, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, LIKE, TEN YEARS AGOING, YOU ANTYEARS AGOING,YOU WANT LESS THAN 35% ON HOUSING.

IT GOT COMPLICATED.

NOW WE HAVE TO SEPARATE OUT HOMELESSNESS ISSUES AND WE HAVE TO SEPARATE OUT WORKFORCE HOUSING FROM GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND IT'S MORE COMPLICATED AND NOT AS AFFORDABLE AS WE USED TO BE AND WE HAVE TO STEP IT UP.

I'M STARTING TO SEE THAT WITH SELECT CITIES LIKE PHOENIX.

>> Ted: SPEAKING OF PHOENIX, DOES THE CITY HAVE TO STEP UP BECAUSE THE STATE ISN'T DO IT?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> THE CITY, WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE PAVEMENT AND THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN OUR STATE AND DETERMINATIONS AND CITIES MAKE PERMANENT DECISIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO IT'S THE CITY WITH THIS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING FOR OUR CITIZENS.

>> Ted: WITH ZONING AND PERMITS, HOW DO YOU AFFORD DEFINE AFFORDABLE HOUSE?

>> THAT 30% OF YOUR HOUSING CAN GO TO YOUR DOMICILE.

>> Ted: THE SAME THING, THEN?

>> IT IS.

>> Ted: WHAT ARE YOU DOING AND WHAT IS THE CITY DOING?

>> THE CITY IS DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

CITY COUNCIL, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGOING CREATED A HOUSING 20/30 PLAN AND TO CREATE NEW OR SAVED HOUSING UNITS BY 2030.

IN JUNE, WE WERE AT 20%, BUILDING NEW APARTMENTS, NEW HOUSING FOR HABITAT THROUGH HUMANITY AND OTHER TYPES OF THINGS.

SO WE'RE GETTING THERE.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THEY TOOK FORWARD ACTION TO ALLOW FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS TO HAVE A MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE AND NOW YOU HAVE A PLACE THEY CAN LIVE.

OR IT CAN BE SOMETHING TO RENT OUT TO PAY FOR YOUR OWN MORTGAGE SO THAT WAS A GREAT THING THAT OUR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT WORKED ON OVER THE SUMMER WITH CITY COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY.

OUR COMMUNITY WAS CONCERNED AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT STRONG PARAMETERS ON THOSE AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE PARAMETERS AND WHAT WORKS, WHAT CAN WORK FOR CITIES THAT AREN'T AS PROACTIVE AS PHOENIX AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ISSUE.

WHAT ARE THE BETTER IDEAS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S NOT SO MUCH A COUPLE OF GOOD IDEAS VERSUS BAD IDEAS AND ONE OF THESE THING IT'S LIKE BASEBALL.

YOU NEED A LOT OF SINGLES.

THE ACCESSORY DWELLINGS, THAT'S ONE OUT OF 20 OR 30 THINGS TO DO.

THERE'S LARGE SCALE OPTIONS WHERE WE COULD TAKE ECONOMIC DISTRESSED AREAS AND FREEZE THOSE AT THE CURRENT RATES AND THAT'S THE INCENTIVE FOR THE DEVELOPER TO COME IN ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE NEED HOUSING FOR THE LOWER-INCOME INDIVIDUAL.

THAT COSTS NOTHING.

SO IF WE BLEND ALL IDEAS TOGETHER, WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AND PAT YOUR HEAD AND 20 OTHER THINGS AT THE SAME TIME AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS AT LEAST.

>> Ted: DO THE DEVELOPER INCENTIVES, REQUIREMENTS, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, DO THEY WORK ON AN ISSUE LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, YOU HAVE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS THAT WORK, THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT WOULD MAKE A PROJECT FINANCIALLY VILE.

VIABLE.

A LOT OF THE TIMES, YOU NEED YOU MIGHT HAVE A CITY RELUCTANT TO GIVE UP COMMERCIAL SPACE BECAUSE THEY THINK IT COULD GENERATE TAX REVENUE.

MY TEAM WOULD ADVISE THEM THAT MAYBE YOU NEED MULTIFAMILY AND WORKERS TO GO TO THAT PLANT YOU'LL BE LOCATING THREE MILES DOWN THE ROAD.

WE'RE SEEING THEM WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS MORE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR, AT ANY ONE TIME, WE PROBABLY HAD THREE OR FOUR PROJECTS WORKING FOR THE DEVELOPMENTERS TO CONVINCE THE CITIES THAT THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT.

NOW IT'S BECOME VERY STREAMLINED AND PUTTING ME OUT OF BUSINESS IN THIS ONE SMALL AREA BUT I'M HAPPY ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY.

>> CITY-OWNED LAND, WHAT HOOPS DO YOU JUMP THROUGH AND WHAT ARE THE PLANS HERE?

>> WE HAVE LAND IDENTIFIED FOR HOUSING, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR MIXED INCOME HOUSING.

WE TAKE THEM OUT FOR A PROPOSAL AND GET BACK AND MOVE QUICKLY.

WE HAVE ONE WE'LL BE RELEASING AT CENTRAL AND COLUMBUS, WHICH IS A LONG COVETED PROPERTY.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE CAN DO.

>> Ted: WITH CITY OWNED PROPERTY, IS THERE A PUSHBACK SAYING ONCE YOU SELL IT IT'S GONE?

>> YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT TO SAY IS THIS LAND BETTER SPENT TO THE FUTURE THAN TODAY AND THIS IS AN EXERCISE WE GO THROUGH WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BENEFIT WHILE IT MIGHT BE WORTH MORE IN THE FUTURE, THE BENEFIT THAT IS PROVIDING TODAY AND HOUSING AND JOBS IS EXPONENTIAL COMPARED TO WHAT YOU MIGHT SELL.

>> Ted: ARE PUBLIC OFFICIALS -- YOU MENTIONED A SHIFT AND THE VIEW OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS, IS THAT SHIFTING, AS WELL?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF ARGUING, BACK AND FORTH, BETWEEN THE CITIES AND DEVELOPERS THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THEY ALMOST CAME TO A CENSUS AND THE BILL FAILED AT THE END.

IT WAS GOOD TO GET US TO THIS POINT.

BECAUSE I THINK THE DEVELOPERS REALIZE NOW THAT SOMETIMES THE CITIES CAN'T CHANGE THE LAND USE BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE A BIG PROJECT PLANNED AND THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT YET.

THE CITIES HAVE TO BE OPEN TO BUILDING AND BOTH NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND I'M SEEING THAT TREND AND EVEN ON THE PUBLIC LAND USE, I THINK THERE ARE BENEFITS LONGER TERM BECAUSE THESE ARE THE WORKERS FOR THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT CHRIS AND OTHERS ARE RECRUITING AND YOU NEED WORKERS AND THE BUSINESSES.

AND YOU REALLY NEED A BALANCE.

ANY CITY THAT LOOKS AT ONE PARTICULAR AREA AND IGNORES ANOTHER, IT'S DESTINED FOR FISCAL FAILURE IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT THE NIMBIES?

>> TIME IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SHARING WITH THEM AND WHY THIS IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY AND REVENUE CREATED?

JIM TALKED ABOUT ONE A MINUTE AGO AT THE RESIDENTIAL SITES WITH THEM BRINGING IN DEMOLITION.

IT IS GETTING THE COMMUNITY TO APPRECIATE THAT AND OUR CITY COUNCIL IS UP FOR THAT CHALLENGE.

>> Ted: GOOD CONVERSATION AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THE PHOENIX NEITHER COMPANY IS CELEBRATING THE 104th SEASON BY UNVEILING A NEW FACILITY AND THE FIRST RENOVATION IN TEN YEARS INCLUDING EXPANDING THEATER CAPACITY AS WELL AS ADDING A LARGER STAGE.

VINCENT VAN-VLEET IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY AND MICHAEL BARNARD IS THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

VINCE, THE PHOENIX THEATER COMPANY, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GEM IN ARIZONA AND WE'RE THE OLDER REGIONAL THEATER IN THE STATE AND THE FIRST ART'S ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

>> Ted: HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN AROUND NOW?

104 YEARS?

>> YES.

>> Ted: WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

>> CENTRAL AND MCDOW.

>> Ted: THE NEW FACILITY BREAKS GROUND THERE, SOMEWHERE ELSE, WHERE?

IT'S ON SITE AND IT IS IN THE PARKING LOT NEAR MCDOWELL.

>> Ted: THE HISTORY, 100 AND THAT'S A LONG TIME.

>> IT STARTED AT THE PHOENIX PLAYERS IN 1920 AND IT WAS A SOCIAL COMMUNITY THEATER AND THEN IN 1923, THE HERD MUSEUM.

SHE MOVED ALL OF HER COACHES AND HORSES OFF AND THE COACH WAS THE RESIDENCE FOR THE THEATER.

THE THEATER HAS BEEN ON THAT SAME PROPERTY SINCE 1923.

>> Ted: WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTION DO YOU WANT THEM TO THINK ABOUT?

STELLAR.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: BUT BEYOND THAT.

>> WE FOCUS PRIMARILY ON MUSICAL THEATER AND WE ALSO DO TERRIFIC STRAIGHT THEATER, AS WELL.

AND IT IS AT THE HOLIDAY TIME, WE DO A FAMILY SHOW.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO DO A CLASSIC AND THEN WE BRING THE AUDIENCE AN ECLECTIC LOOK AT NEW PLAYS AND MUSICALS.

>> Ted: THIS RENOVATION, WHY WAS IT NEEDED AND WHY WAS IT NECESSARY AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A GREAT GREAT QUESTION AND 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING AND WE STARTED FUNDRAISING IN 2008 JUST BEFORE THE FALLOUT.

BUT WE MANAGED THE PHASE THE PROJECT AND WE BUILT A 250 BLACK BOX THEATER IN ALL LOBBY SPACES KNOWING DOWNSTREAM TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WE WOULD FINISH OUT THE SPACE, WHICH IS A FULL 500 SEAT, STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATER AND ALL TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES TO DO A BROADWAY SHOW.

>> Ted: WE'RE LOOKING AT THE THEATER COMPANY RIGHT NOW AND LARGER STAGE.

YOU MENTIONED MORE FACILITIES AND HIGH TECH STUFF?

>> HIGH TECH AND LIFTS IN THE FLOOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE ABILITY TO DO MORE MODERN SHOWS THAT REQUIRE MODERN TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU SEE IN NEW YORK THESE DAYS.

>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION, ARE THERE PRODUCTIONS THAT COULDN'T BE DONE BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT IT WAS?

>> IT'S NOT THAT THEY COULDN'T BE DONE.

IT'S THAT THEY WERE HIGHLY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY COST MORE AND BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THEM IN NOT IN A STREAMLINED WAY.

BUT WITH THE NEW THEATER, WHAT IT DOES DO IS ATTRACT INDIVIDUAL PRODUCERS, ET CETERA, THAT ARE LOCKELOOKING FOR BROADWAY.

THEY WANT TO CREATE THE SHOW OUT OF TOWN AND THEY WANT TO BE ON A STAGE THAT HAS THESE BELLS AND WHISTLES.

SO THIS IS HOW WE MAKE THIS LEAP.

>> Ted: HOW IS ALL THIS FUNDED?

>> WITH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO WE HAVE BEEN FUNDRAISING SINCE 2017.

WE WERE TRYING TO CULMINATE WITH THE 100th ANNIVERSARY IN 2020 AND, OF COURSE, THE COVID VIRUS STRUCK AND TEMPERED THINGS.

WE BROKE GROUND AND RAISED 28 MILLION OF THE 30 MILLION REQUIRED TO DO THE PROJECT.

>> Ted: NAMING RIGHTS INVOLVED HERE?

>> IN THE MARKETPLACE RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: AND THE GRAND OPENING IS SET FOR?

>> WE DON'T HAVE AN EXACT DATE YET, BUT WE ARE LOOKING MID2025 FOR THE GRAND OPENING.

>> Ted: PHOENIX THEATER COMPANY, WHERE DOES IT FIT IN THE LOCAL ART SCENE?

>> AS VINCENT WAS SAYING, THE LARGEST THEATER IN OUR AREA AND IT IS THE -- AND WE EMPLOY MORE ARTISTS PROFESSIONALLY THAN THAN ANY OTHER COMPANY IN STATE OF ARIZONA.

SO WE'RE SORT OF OF, I DON'T KNOW, A MOTHER TO THE CITY.

>> Ted: IS THAT HOW YOU SEE THE THEATER?

>> WE'RE STEWARDING A LOT OF ARTISTS THROUGH OUR STAGE AND THE NEW STAGE TO ALLOW US TO HIRE MORE ARTISTS AND HIGHLY SKILLED TECHNICIANS.

>> Ted: THE COMPANY IS OPEN WHILE THE RENOVATIONS OCCUR?

>> WE HAVE THREE STAGES AND TWO ARE STILL OPERATING.

>> Ted: QUICKLY, COVID CONSIDERATIONS, REAR-VIEW MIRROR NOW?

>> CAUTIONS IN PLACE, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR ARTISTS WHILE PERFORMING AND WE HAVE PRETTY STRICT PROTOCOLS FOR ARTISTS AND, OF COURSE, OUR YENS, WEAUDIENCE, WE HAVE A MAXED AND VAXXED PERFORMANCE OF EVERY SHOW.

>> Ted: GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING SLAM.

♪♪