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Now & Then Podcast Episode 17 – April 2024

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For the past few episodes, we have discussed our special guest Andy McNeilly’s journey from here in Kawartha Lakes to Bali, Indonesia. We learned he moved there, learned a new way of music, fell in love, and built a family for himself. What you might not know is he so quickly learned Balinese, and was so fluent in it, there was a special festival he spoke at in Bali that went viral!

We also hear about what is happening this month in April at the Academy Theatre, from tributes to Led Zeppelin and The Eagles, and two special ones are I.E. Weldon’s Antics are coming back for their second year, and The Stampeders are coming, who recently lost Ronnie King. This will be a sort of tribute.

We lastly hear from a boatload of Odyssey Project alumni. This episode was kind of a reunion between two teachers (me and David Morrison) and the students, all of which have changed so much on the outside but are still their goofy selves on the inside. And David and me? Haven’t aged a bit!

0:00 – Intro

2:33 – Andy McNeilly

15:42 – Craig Metcalfe

19:10 – Odyssey Intro

22:13 – Caelin Morrison

23:49 – Caroline Allen

26:18 – Shelby Clarke

28:32 – Matty Robbins

30:03 – Max Keir

33:04 – Jasmine Plumley

35:07 – David Morrison

37:06 – Outro

Now & Then Podcast Episode 16 – March 2024

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Continuing my story of The Odyssey Project, this is Episode 16!

We have some terrific upcoming shows, including bands The Traveling Milburys and The Sheepdogs.

We also continue Andy McNeilly’s story, of how he ended up moving to India to pursue a life in Gamelan music. He tells us who introduced him to the work when in university.

Our two special guests are Connor Stephen, drummer, and James Barker, lead, of the James Barker Band. The two of them started locally as colleagues and then accidentally started performing together, over a dodgeball game, believe it or not! And had humble beginnings in The Odyssey Project. Now, their band has won a Country Music Award and they’re off to play at a world famous theatre in Tennessee!

We also have on several old Odyssey Project members from several time periods, to explain their roles, what the band meant to them, and some cool stories like a theatre sleepover.

0:30 – Randy Intro

1:32 – Academy Schedule

2:55 – Andy Mcneely

13:13 – James Barker Band

25:28 – Odyssey

26:33 – Akalia 

27:49 – Danny Allen

29:46 – Ryan Railey

31:49 – Katherine

33:24 – Graeme Morrison

35:18 – Outro

Now & Then Episode 13 – November 2023

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Welcome to our anniversary show of Now & Then, and this episode’s a doozy!

Craig Metcalf discusses the upcoming attractions, including the Hotel California band, the Rod Stewart Experience featuring Doug Varty, the ultimate Ozzy show, the big James & The Giant Peach, and more. Speaking of James & The Giant Peach, I also got to say Hello to Rory O’Neill, the 8th grader from Central Senior School who’s playing the lead role of James in the highly anticipated James & The Giant Peach. She’s also starred in productions of Annie, The Little Mermaid, Matilda and Mary Poppins!

Also, I had our main historian Ian McKechnie on, who tells a fascinating story about how for decades, nurses were being taught at the Ross Memorial Hospital, and then had their graduation ceremonies at, you guessed it, the Academy Theatre. Also, during the first world war, Canada had a special election in 1917 where certain women were allowed to vote for the first time, and the nurses were seen as icons of hard work and value.

Next, I have my producer Warren Frank on, to tell his story about his first experience at the theatre, when he was 11. He booked the lead role as Ebeneezer Scrooge for a play, and he was terrified on opening day, but pulled through. He reveals what that experience was like.

I also have my friend Kate Imrie on to discuss her stories about growing up with the theatre, and a superb song to conclude it from our one and only Mary The Ghost!!

00:29 – Intro

01:05 – Craig Metcalf

03:00 – James and the Giant Peach

06:13 – Iain Mckechnie

14:00 – Warren Frank

19:39 – Kate Imrie

25:51 –  Outro/Mary Song

Now & Then Episode 12 – October 2023

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You won’t want to miss this! There are some upcoming attractions coming fast for the rest of this month at the Flato Academy Theatre, and I discuss them with Craig Metcalfe. They include Grease: The Concert on the 15th, a country music concert on the 18th with Canadian musical artists Michelle Wright, Dogwalker, and Jason McCoy. There will also be a 50’s and 60’s revival show on the 23rd, and tributes throughout the month to all sorts of artists and bands like Johnny Cash, The Tragically Hip, and more. We also talk in detail about the upcoming James & The Giant Peach next month, with a preview of one of the many lovely songs they are working hard rehearsing.

We also have a new guest; back in the 1960’s, the theatre was actually on the brink of shutting down, and a foundation was formed that saved it. The wives of those on the board also stepped in to create the Women’s League, a group dedicated to getting the theatre back into shape with decorations, functions, and even plumbing. One of the first of the group, Barb Truax, who was on the committee for decades, joins us. We also have a revisit of one of our guests Marion Puffer from Episode 6, talking about the many jobs she has had over the years at the theatre and what she has seen and been a part of. Hope you enjoy!

0:30 – Randy Intro

1:34 – Craig Metcalf

4:01 – James & The Giant Peach Song

7:04 – Barb Truax

17:06 – Marion Puffer

Now & Then Episode 11 – September 2023

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Our September episode has some fabulous treats. For one, we’re introducing the voice of Mary The Ghost, who will also be reading us a fictional but historically accurate tale of a little scavenger who finds himself in Lindsay at the theatre and meeting some real life people.

We will also be joined by Craig Metcalf to hear about some of the cool concerts happening this month.

We also have some new guest stars: Stephanie Harwood-Jones and her daughter Sydney Harwood-Jones. Stephanie and Sydney both have a long history with the theatre, since Stephanie moved here to Lindsay in 2001 and Sydney was just a baby. Stephanie has been behind the scenes on a lot of past and upcoming productions, with stories of seeing Mary The Ghost herself, and some of her family generations back being some of the first Vaudeville performers.

Also, our historian Ian D. McKechnie will be sharing a fascinating story about how 100 years ago, telegraphy was to the world what social media is to us now, an important and influential way of communication. Apparently the theatre was a place that trained and educated a lot of telegraphers at one point.

We also recognize a fine man, Jim Brown! We hope you enjoy!

0:00 – Intro

1:59 – Renée Bio

3:08 – Craig Metcalf

10:06 -The Harwood Jones’

16:41 – Renee Story

23:10 – Ian McKechnie

33:46 – Outro/ Recognizing Jim Brown 

Now & Then Episode 10 – August 2023

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In this episode marking double digits for the podcast, we are going to be talking with our historian Ian about some misadventures faced 100 years ago, such as a train crash that caused the delay of a film reel in 1923 and how special effects were incorporated in silent films. We are also going to talk with him about how he got involved with the theatre and his journeys as a local historian. We also have a new guest, Jessie Kennedy, who had a big part in creating the book “Front Row Centre”, a book on the Flato Academy Theatre and its history. The book was published in 2018 to commemorate the theatre’s 125th anniversary. It is a slow month production wise, but that simply means a whole bunch more in the coming month!

0:00 – Intro

1:54   – Ian McKechnie Bio

5:17- Jessie Kennedy

15:35 – Ian McKechnie “The Movie Years”

28:40 – Outro

Now & Then Episode 7 – May 2023

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Did you know the theatre almost got turned into a parking lot? How sad would that have been? This episode we’re going to be talking with the Academy Theatre Foundation Chair, Michael Piggott, on what it takes to run the century-old building. Did you know it takes about $800-1,000 just to keep it open?!! We also talk about what it was like having the theatre renamed and what it has meant for the building since.We also talk with General Manager Craig Metcalf on what life is like on the job these days, and who they’re looking towards booking in the near future.Lastly we’re talking for the last time (for now) with the other Randy Read, the one who has toured the world and has spoken with us in past episodes. For this episode, he’s revealing why and how he became a casting director and eventual Founding Artistic Director with Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre! We will also be discussing auditions for the upcoming Matilda Musical!! You’re not going to want to miss out on any of it!

0:00 – Intro

01:56 – Michael Piggott

12:33 – Craig Metcalfe

17:47 – Randy Read

28:51 – Matilda Auditions

31:36 – Outro

Now & Then Episode 6 – April 2023

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With this new, exciting episode, we’re going to be talking about how the Flato Academy Theatre was once investigated by paranormal seekers. Ghostbusters, if you will, explained by Marion Puffer. We also hear from Linda Thomson, who was once part of a fashion show in the mid-1950’s at that theatre when she was a kid. We also get a return from the other Randy Read, who tells us an amazing story of traveling the country as a professional actor, as well as some sad talks about how he hadn’t come out yet and was in a world where he had to suppress his identity, and that dishonesty had shown in auditions, but he was able to persevere. In addition, we hear what’s happening lately from the manager Craig Metcalf, and we introduce a family who are going to be part of this podcast in the near future!

0:00 – INTRO

02:08 – MARY

04:05 – MARION PUFFER

16:50 – LINDA THOMSON

20:40 – RANDY READ

28:41 – CRAIG METCALF

30:22 – IMRIE FAMILY

38:58 – OUTRO