Tag Archives: Podcast

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 9 – July 2023

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On the July episode (Happy Canada Day by the way) we have three new guest stars.

We start off with a regular, Claire Imrie, a teacher and actress who was key in creating the Triple Threat Theatre, talking about the upcoming Matilda musical, premiering on July 28th, as well as other productions coming up from Triple Threat.

We then have two appearances by my team, Warren Frank and William McGinn. Warren produces the show and puts it together, and William helps upload the episodes and get the word out.

We also have Beth Wilson, who directed the Seussical play last year, talking about how another Roald Dahl adaptation, James & The Giant Peach, is coming out soon.

We have a fascinating story from Ian D. McKechnie about the times Hi Meehan was the sole manager of the theatre, way back in the 1920s, and how in the 1930s there was a redesign, at the height of the stock market crash when so many lost their income.

And finally we have Jim Higgins, a long time friend of mine who operated a country music show at the theatre for TEN WHOLE YEARS. It was called Grand Old Country where he and his friend Danny McDonnell would bring in country music stars on a monthly basis to play and sing. It was so successful, it sold out on its first month, and selling out became a regular thing.

0:00 – Intro

2:46 – Claire Imrie

7:22 – Warren Frank

10:46 – William McGinn

12:56 – Beth Wilson

23:37 – Ian McKechnie

28:51 – Jim Higgins

40:47 – Outro

Now & Then Episode 8 – June 2023

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For this nice and hot new month, we’re interviewing a Maestro, and a retired high school Music teacher; David Morrison of the Kawartha Lakes Concert Band, an orchestra of dozens of musical geniuses. The band has a concert at the FLATO Academy Theatre June 24th at 7 p.m.! We’re also reuniting with the Imrie women; Alana, Claire, and Mama Kate, talking with us about what it’s like to program gigs at theatres and dance studios and audition processes. Our historian Ian McKechnie will be bringing us back through time when Dennis Sweeting and Hi Meehan commandeered the theatre, and how they revolutionized how the theatre was seen and how Hi liked to play movies on the big screen there. We also hear from board member Tom Collver, who is one of the founders of the Triple Threat Theatre group to talk about the upcoming Matilda play, and what it’s like being involved in the Academy’s art programs and owning a design agency.

0:30 – Intro

0:59 – Academy Schedule

2:25 – David Morrison

6:40 – Imrie Women

18:40 – Iain McCechnie

26:50 – Tom Collver

38:36 – Mary

40:54 – 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

Now & Then Episode 5 – March 2023

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In this episode we have some new guests, both under the name Read. The first is some tunes from my late father Alexander “Ragtime” Read who would’ve celebrated his 100th birthday this month. And the other is another Randy Read who’s the artistic director of the New Stages theatre company in Peterborough. Who would have guessed two people with the same name also love the same industry?!!

00:27 – Intro w Mary

02:55 – Alex Read

05:18 – Doug Tangney Interview

32:19 – Randy Read Interview

41:18 – Ian McKechnie

46:51 – Craig Metcalfe

48: 17 – Mary’s Song/Outro

Now & Then Episode 4

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Our newest episode has some familiar voices; the theatre’s general manager Craig Metcalf, our historian Ian D. McKechnie and former theatre president Ray Marshall. But that’s far from all! Ian is going to be discussing legendary Lindsay actor and producer Dennis Sweeting. A local who moved here from Calgary and lived from 1915-2000, he was once the president of ACTRA (The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) and the former revee of Lindsay. Also with us is Doug Tangney, a Canadian actor who has been in local theatre for over 40 years. He and Ray have teamed up to discuss their fondest and funniest memories. Also, our dear Mary the Ghost is back, recording out of British Columbia, to sing us a lovely Valentine’s Day song. Which reminds me, Happy Valentine’s Day!!

  • 0:00 Intro
  • 1:47 Craig Metcalf
  • 4:21 Ian McKechnie
  • 10:13 Ray Marshall
  • 34:00 Doug Tangney
  • 37: 49 Mary Song
  • 40:00 Outro

Now & Then Episode 3

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This episode has us with Ray Marshall and Jim Brown, two Flato Academy Theatre veterans who have represented the institution for generations! It was incredible talking to them and there’s so much more conversation to be had in the near future with them!

TIMECODES

0:00 – Intro/Mary Convo

7:07 – Jim Brown Pt. 1

12:49 – Ray Marshall 

30:14 – Jim Brown Pt. 2

41:45 – Upcoming Events

43:30 – Outro

Now & Then Episode 2

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Excited to have the next episode with you today! (A timeline will be coming up!)

For this episode we will be talking to some of our previous guests; Craig Metcalf, Ghost Mary, and Ian McKechnie. In addition, we are talking to Pete Paquette of Paquette Productions, who is bringing his Christmas Spectacular here to Kawartha Lakes soon. We also have Jeff Gutteridge from the band Looking for Heather!!!

0:25 – Introduction

1:57 – Craig Metcalf

6:00 – Jeff Gutteridge

10:27 – Allyssa Adams

16:22 – Ian McKechnie

25:02 – Vaudeville

29:43 – Pete Paquette

34:04 – Outro

Now & Then Episode 1

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Thank you for tuning in! This is the first episode of my very first podcast, and I am delighted to be sharing it with you today.

I have a big handful of people who I interviewed for this episode; a local historian, the manager of the Pie Eyed Monk, the manager of the theatre, some of the cast and crew of the upcoming Seussical musical set to take the stage November 25th-27th, and a little someone named Mary the Ghost!

BREAKDOWN

0:00 – Introduction

3:05 – Mary the Ghost

6:07 – Ian McKechnie

21:35 – Craig Metcalf

31:48 – Vaudeville

36:16 – Erastus Burley

39:31 – Seussical

43:43 – Outro