On Friday night, the Phoenix-based Black Theatre Troupe will begin performances of its latest play, "Lines in the Dust."

It follows the company’s goal of presenting timely, relevant productions that will give audiences a lot to think about. "Lines in the Dust" is about a young mother who takes steps to get her child into a better-performing school.

Here to talk about the goals of Black Theatre Troupe and its challenges is David Hemphill, longtime executive director.