About the show… Originally created by REUBEN ROMERO and R.V. ROMERO in 2001, “Out & About” has undergone many different incarnations since its birth. At first, the show was intended as a vehicle for Reuben (a surviving quadriplegic of nearly forty years), to explore disability-related services, events, art, humor, and most importantly… to provide a platform to share his unique and inspiring perspective with the world. The two complete “pilot episodes” of Out & About with Reuben Romero became critical successes online and on disc, due in large part to a series of articles published in THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC chronicling Reuben’s struggles to fulfill his lifelong dream of returning to the studio during bouts of chronic infections brought on by nearly four decades of severe disability. Although these episodes (along with additional recordings from the Reuben catalogue) were never broadcast over the airwaves during Reuben’s lifetime, they did provide the fodder and inspiration for a number of characters and original cast members who have appeared on the broadcasts that have followed. In 2006, (two years after Reuben’s passing), the creative team at Finis Productions (The Best Men, A Critical Mass, Don’t Be A Chicken) were presented with an opportunity to resurrect the Out & About concept on the airwaves. It was clear that the mission of the program would be to maintain Reuben’s lifelong message of “advocating for the rights of people with and without disabilities,” and to urge the nation to embrace the concept of “putting people before profits,” in terms of mandating for the reform of the health care industry by creating a single-payer universal health care system in America. During the first fourteen episodes (season one) of “Reuben Romero’s Out & About,” the program featured interviews with people involved in the disability and health care related communities while utilizing a “Tonight Show” format. Coverage included outings to disability-related events, exploration of disability related services, and moments of comedy and dramatic interpretation which were becoming increasingly political and satirical in nature. Writer and Director R.V. Romero took over the role of show host in place of his Uncle, Reuben Romero, and the audience was also introduced to a new co-host (the distinctive voice of Rock Ripley), as well as a bevy of other characters and interpretations new to the program. Season two of the program introduced the listener to the concept of “the Radio Theatre” while also delighting the world with a fresher and increasingly faster-paced program. Delving deeper into the concept of dramatic radio than ever before, these fourteen episodes mixed true-life reporting and commentary on such topics as elections, Presidential visits, torture, immigrant rights, disability rights, and other events, all woven into the tapestry of the feel good variety show alongside creative and dramatic interpretations intended to push the limits of radio broadcasting to the extreme. The third season of “Reuben Romero’s Out & About” was filled with groundbreaking episodes which took the concept of “radio theatre” to shocking and immensely entertaining levels. The final two broadcasts of this season (An Interest of Conflicts, and As Outlandish As It Seems) introduced the audience to the concept of the ongoing radio sitcom, which (in an inadvertent way), set the stage for the future of the program. “Reuben Romero’s Out & About, Season Four, Out of the Box,” (airing August 4 through November 3) takes the concept of the radio theatre sitcom to unprecedented levels of excitement, reality, and intrigue. Set amidst the backdrop of the classic feel good variety show (as established in seasons 1-3), season four focuses on the undocumented life of the people, characters, and icons who create the Out and About program on a week to week, ongoing basis. Themes explored pertain to those who are working to create a peaceful, just, fair, healthy, and sustainable world and economy through the creative use of the radio medium--- their highs, lows, and the challenges that must be overcome as they navigate their way through the mazes of the broadcast, political, social, economic, and health care jungles of America. The program features the vocal talents of the “Out & About Radio Theatre Players;” Cora Blouch, Angie Bobst, Ian Calvin, Mauro Capuletto, Danen Downs, Richard Hopgood, Tracee Rhodee, Rock Ripley, Cris Romero, Reuben Romero, Richard Romero Sr., R.V. Romero, and Jodles Snyder, all performing in a variety of roles and capacities. Special guest stars make appearances from time to time as either themselves or in other cameo roles. “Reuben Romero’s Out & About” is produced by Finis Productions, written and directed by R.V. Romero, produced, edited, and engineered by Cris Romero, and executive produced by Richard Romero, Sr. The show is broadcast on 1480 KPHX every Saturday night at 7PM and runs one hour in length (including commercials). This content requires the Macromedia Flash Player. Get Flash