From special outdoor performances, to educating the next generation of thespians, summer is a busy time for theaters around the state.

But this month, several Connecticut performing arts spaces received notice that federal grants were being rescinded.

Today, we speak to some of those institutions about what will happen next.

Plus, Connecticut tourism is a $4 billion-a-year business. That’s according to the Connecticut Tourism Office. We hear how this industry has been impacted by federal cuts as well.

GUESTS:
Michael Paulson: theater reporter for New York Times
Chris Freeman: Vice President of Advancement at the Mystic Seaport Museum
Eric Gershman: Interim Managing Director at Long Wharf Theater
Frank Mitchel: President of the Board of Directors for CT Humanities

From special outdoor performances, to educating the next generation of thespians, summer is a busy time for theaters around the state.
But this month, several Connecticut performing arts spaces received notice that federal grants were being rescinded.
Today, we speak to some of those institutions about what will happen next.
Plus, Connecticut tourism is a $4 billion-a-year business.&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/About/Tourism">That&rsquo;s according to the Connecticut Tourism Office.</a>&nbsp;We hear how this industry has been impacted by federal cuts as well.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-paulson">Michael Paulson:</a>&nbsp;theater reporter for New York Times</li>
<li>Chris Freeman:&nbsp;Vice President of Advancement at the&nbsp;<a href="https://mysticseaport.org/">Mystic Seaport Museum</a></li>
<li>Eric Gershman:&nbsp;Interim Managing Director at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.longwharf.org/">Long Wharf Theater</a></li>
<li>Frank Mitchel:&nbsp;President of the Board of Directors for&nbsp;<a href="https://cthumanities.org/">CT Humanities</a></li>
</ul>

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

The show must go on: Connecticut arts and cultural institutions contend with federal cuts

Speaking at the State of the Union, President Donald Trump demanded a full restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has carried out raids in major cities across the nation resulting in mass arrests, violence and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Today, we break down what was said at the State of the Union. Later, experts join us to talk about immigration reform and ICE presence in Connecticut.

GUESTS:
Lisa Hagen: Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and the Connecticut Mirror
Maureen Abell: Staff Attorney at New Haven Legal Assistance Association and Visiting Clinical Professor at Yale Law School with the Immigrant Rights Clinic
Sarah Pierce: Director of Social Policy at Third Way, a national think tank and advocacy organization

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92ekTv_ztHs&amp;t=4804s">Speaking at the State of the Union,</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump demanded a full restoration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has carried out raids in major cities across the nation resulting in mass arrests, violence and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Today, we break down what was said at the State of the Union. Later, experts join us to talk about immigration reform and ICE presence in Connecticut.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/lisa-hagen-1">Lisa Hagen:</a>&nbsp;Federal Policy Reporter, CT Public and the Connecticut Mirror</li>
<li>Maureen Abell:&nbsp;Staff Attorney at&nbsp;<a href="https://nhlegal.org/">New Haven Legal Assistance Association</a>&nbsp;and Visiting Clinical Professor at Yale Law School with the&nbsp;<a href="https://law.yale.edu/studying-law-yale/clinical-and-experiential-learning/our-clinics/legal-assistance-immigrant-rights-clinic">Immigrant Rights Clinic</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thirdway.org/about/staff/sarah-pierce">Sarah Pierce:</a>&nbsp;Director of Social Policy at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thirdway.org/">Third Way, a national think tank and advocacy organization</a></li>
</ul>

Amid DHS funding cuts, is meaningful immigration reform possible?

It’s been four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent peace talks concluded without bringing the region any closer to peace.

This war has displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians. Russian armed forces recently attacked district heating systems leaving thousands of civilians without heat. 2026 has been the coldest winter in Ukraine since the initial invasion.

Today, we get an update on this conflict. We hear from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal about his recent visit toUkraine.

Plus, Connecticut residents with ties to Ukraine have organized to send aid overseas. We hear from them.

GUESTS:
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
Larissa Babij: Connecticut native and writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her book is “A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine”
Carl Harvey: Organizer with the New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund
Myron Melnyk: Organizers with New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund

It&rsquo;s been four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent peace talks concluded without bringing the region any closer to peace.
<a href="https://ukraine.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2026-02/2026-02-16%20HRMMU_Four%20Years%20On_fact%20sheet_1.pdf">This war has displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians</a>. Russian armed forces recently attacked district heating systems leaving thousands of civilians without heat. 2026 has been the coldest winter in Ukraine since the initial invasion.
Today, we get an update on this conflict. We hear from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal about his recent visit toUkraine.
Plus, Connecticut residents with ties to Ukraine have organized to send aid overseas. We hear from them.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Sen. Richard Blumenthal&nbsp;(D-Conn.)</li>
<li>Larissa Babij:&nbsp;Connecticut native and writer, translator and dancer living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her book is&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-kind-of-refugee-the-story-of-an-american-who-refused-to-leave-ukraine-larissa-babij/e83da2acd118dae4?ean=9783838218984&amp;next=t">&ldquo;A Kind of Refugee: The Story of an American Who Refused to Leave Ukraine&rdquo;</a></li>
<li>Carl Harvey:&nbsp;Organizer with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1010601007077501/">New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund</a></li>
<li>Myron Melnyk: Organizers with New Haven Connecticut Ukrainian American Humanitarian Aid Fund</li>
</ul>

Sen. Blumenthal on his recent trip to Ukraine, plus CT residents send aid to the region

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This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.

Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.

Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.

GUESTS:


Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford


Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford 


Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative


Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

This episode originally aired on December 2, 2024.

This hour, we&rsquo;re exploring the history of tap dance in America.
Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill &ldquo;Bojangles&rdquo; Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.
Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hartt/ramsey-kevin.aspx">Kevin Ramsey</a>: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hartt/perkins-ralph.aspx">Ralph Perkins</a>: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Katie Cavenagh: founder of the <a href="https://tapdancectc.wixsite.com/thectc">Connecticut Tap Collaborative</a>
</li>
<li>
Jillian McNamara: founder of the <a href="https://www.americandancecollaborative.com/page1">American Dance Collaborative</a>
</li>
</ul>
Where We Live is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-wheelhouse/id1123069986">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0rdTqFfVu8e6TKMa5lWXsI">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWMwYmU5NjktZDdkZi00NjBjLWE2NmMtYTZmOTAwZTFlYmQxLzI1M2YwNjY4LTA0NjMtNGFiNC04ZWIzLWE5ZmIwMDRjOTdlNy8wOTUwNDBkZS1hZjMyLTQ1Y2UtOTkwZi1hOWZiMDA0Yzk3ZjUvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/dd73c297-450d-4ea5-bb0b-64131d617ee0/the-wheelhouse">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/The-Wheelhouse-p1207903/?topicId=264709829">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-wheelhouse-connecticut-public-radio-mxksbjc_iJI/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This episode originally aired on <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/2024-12-02/a-look-at-the-history-of-tap-dance-in-america">December 2, 2024.</a>

The show must go on: Connecticut arts and cultural institutions contend with federal cuts

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