For decades, the Seattle Children’s Theatre has introduced young people from all over King County to the joy and wonder of live theater. 

You can take your little ones to their first play or musical like “Cat Kid Comic Club,” or maybe an interactive dance performance. 

There’s a lot going on there each year. It’s part of what makes the Children’s Theatre such a beloved institution. The theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall.

Soundside talked with Managing Director Kevin Malgesini about what SCT has coming up this season, along with the steps they've taken to keep the theater strong for years to come.

Host Diana Opong also chats with Karan Hanan, Executive Director of the WA State Arts Commission, about the overall health of Seattle's theater ecosystem.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

GUESTS:
Kevin Malgesini - Managing Director of Seattle Children's Theater
Karen Hanan - Executive Director of the Washington State Arts Commission

RELATED LINKS: 
Seattle Children's Theatre
ArtsWA
Washington- National Endowment for the Arts

For decades, the Seattle Children’s Theatre has introduced young people from all over King County to the joy and wonder of live theater. 
You can take your little ones to their first play or musical like “Cat Kid Comic Club,” or maybe an interactive dance performance. 
There’s a lot going on there each year. It’s part of what makes the Children’s Theatre such a beloved institution. The theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall.
Soundside talked with Managing Director Kevin Malgesini about what SCT has coming up this season, along with the steps they've taken to keep the theater strong for years to come.
Host Diana Opong also chats with Karan Hanan, Executive Director of the WA State Arts Commission, about the overall health of Seattle's theater ecosystem.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sct.org/about-us/contacts-staff/">Kevin Malgesini</a> - Managing Director of Seattle Children's Theater</li>
<li><a href="https://www.arts.wa.gov/meet-our-staff/">Karen Hanan</a> - Executive Director of the Washington State Arts Commission</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sct.org/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwxsm3BhDrARIsAMtVz6P7N4vik3su4x6dEsCQ6pGcHaXlfqsZ-WtQvPeYrA5reXWHAqG8jn0aAl11EALw_wcB">Seattle Children's Theatre</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.arts.wa.gov/">ArtsWA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.arts.gov/impact/state-profiles/washington">Washington- National Endowment for the Arts</a></li>
<li></li>
</ul>

Soundside

What it takes for a local theater company to survive 50 years

Back in 2017, President Donald Trump arrived in office touting big promises about immigration.

Remember building a wall and making Mexico pay for it? Or defunding sanctuary cities?

Trump had mixed success fulfilling those pledges, though not for lack of trying. Many of his policy goals couldn’t get past the courts, or Congress.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump made even more immigration-related promises: mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship for some, and tightening the U.S.’s green card application process.

Now, with more experience and savvy, the Trump administration is positioning itself to hit the ground running. 

So are people on the other side of the immigration fight. 

Here to discuss lessons from Trump’s first presidency and preparations for a second term are two Puget Sound-area immigrant advocates.

Matt Adams is legal director for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

And Vanessa Reyes (they/them) is a policy manager for the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network.

American Immigration Council - Mass Deportation: Devastating Costs to America, Its Budget and Economy

New York Times: Judge Tosses Out Biden Program for Undocumented Spouses

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Back in 2017, President Donald Trump arrived in office touting big promises about immigration.
Remember building a wall and making Mexico pay for it? Or defunding sanctuary cities?
Trump had mixed success fulfilling those pledges, though not for lack of trying. Many of his policy goals couldn’t get past the courts, or Congress.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump made even more immigration-related promises: mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship for some, and tightening the U.S.’s green card application process.
Now, with more experience and savvy, the Trump administration is positioning itself to hit the ground running.  
So are people on the other side of the immigration fight. 
Here to discuss lessons from Trump’s first presidency and preparations for a second term are two Puget Sound-area immigrant advocates.
Matt Adams is legal director for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
And Vanessa Reyes (they/them) is a policy manager for the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network.
<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/mass_deportation_report_0.pdf">American Immigration Council - Mass Deportation: Devastating Costs to America, Its Budget and Economy</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/us/biden-undocumented-spouses-program.html">New York Times: Judge Tosses Out Biden Program for Undocumented Spouses</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Advocating for WA Immigrants Under Trump

Election results are still coming in for Washington’s tightest races.

Most of the voter initiatives went down to defeat this year. But one -- Initiative 2066 -- is poised for success.

It targets natural gas regulations by rolling back pieces of a big law forcing Puget Sound Energy to explore electrification and likely knocking down new building codes that makes installing natural gas in new construction harder. 

It’s passing by a slim margin: just over 3 percentage points. 

But not so fast, because opponents of 2066 say they’re gearing up to take the issue of natural gas from the ballot to the courts. They plan to file a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the initiative. 

Soundside was joined by guests from both the YES and NO on 2066 campaigns to hear their thoughts on the election results and where the initiative is headed next.

Guests:
Molly Gallagher, Statewide Poverty Action Network, and Leah Missik, the acting Washington Director of the nonprofit Climate Solutions (No 2066)
Jan Himebaugh, director of external affairs at the Building Industry Association of Washington (Yes 2066)

Related Links:
KUOW - Will natural gas be turned off in Washington state? Voices for and against Initiative 2066
Misleading methane gas initiative barely passes after days of “too close to call” - NO on 2066
BIAW celebrates Initiative 2066 election results protecting natural gas choice - Building Industry Association of Washington

Election results are still coming in for Washington’s tightest races.
Most of the voter initiatives went down to defeat this year. But one -- Initiative 2066 -- is poised for success.
It targets natural gas regulations by rolling back pieces of a big law forcing Puget Sound Energy to explore electrification and likely knocking down new building codes that makes installing natural gas in new construction harder.  It’s passing by a slim margin: just over <a href="https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20241105/measures-all.html">3 percentage points</a>. 
But not so fast, because opponents of 2066 say they’re gearing up to take the issue of natural gas from the ballot to the courts. They plan to file a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the initiative. 
Soundside was joined by guests from both the YES and NO on 2066 campaigns to hear their thoughts on the election results and where the initiative is headed next.
Guests:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Molly Gallagher, Statewide Poverty Action Network, and Leah Missik, the acting Washington Director of the nonprofit Climate Solutions (No 2066)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Jan Himebaugh, director of external affairs at the Building Industry Association of Washington (Yes 2066)</li>
</ul>
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/will-natural-gas-be-turned-off-in-washington-state-voices-for-and-against-initiative-2066">KUOW - Will natural gas be turned off in Washington state? Voices for and against Initiative 2066</a></li>
<li><a href="https://no2066.org/2024/11/08/misleading-methane-gas-initiative-barely-passes/">Misleading methane gas initiative barely passes after days of “too close to call” - NO on 2066</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.biaw.com/initiative-2066-election-results/">BIAW celebrates Initiative 2066 election results protecting natural gas choice - Building Industry Association of Washington</a></li>
</ul>

Post-election, the debate over natural gas access is far from over

Donald Trump has vowed to take a number of actions on his first day in the oval office. He’s promised mass deportations, increased tariffs, and deregulation. 

While some home builders see a potential silver lining in deregulation, other policies could raise the cost of building and that might affect housing supply in an area with a housing shortage. 

Guest:

Heidi Groover, real estate report at the Seattle Times

Relevant Links:

Seattle Times: What Seattle-area housing market should expect as Trump returns

Donald Trump has vowed to take a number of actions on his first day in the oval office. He’s promised mass deportations, increased tariffs, and deregulation. 
While some home builders see a potential silver lining in deregulation, other policies could raise the cost of building and that might affect housing supply in an area with a housing shortage. 
Guest:
Heidi Groover, real estate report at the Seattle Times
Relevant Links:
Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/what-seattle-area-housing-market-should-expect-as-trump-returns/">What Seattle-area housing market should expect as Trump returns</a>

What it takes for a local theater company to survive 50 years

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