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PODCAST

Now & Then

A podcast unveiling the history of Kawartha Lakes’ Flato Academy Theatre, a 125-year-old building of stories and mysteries, as well as what misadventures are happening right now. The first season is set to have ten episodes, one a month, and will feature new guest stars every episode. Hosted by Lindsay, Ontario’s Randy Read.

arts performing arts

All Episodes

30:26

Now & Then Episode 30 - Elf The Musical Behind The...

Now & Then ·

2026/10/02

For this Fall Episode on Now & Then, we interview the director of the upcoming Elf The Musical! Tickets are selling out very fast! She talks about putting it together, and all it took to be able to get the rights.We also have some breaking news about the Academy Theatre itself, with some questions in the air about its future (but at least the certainty it will continue to run for years to come.) We hear from the Acting General Manager Vangie Patton about what else to expect this October,

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35:24

Now & Then Episode 29 - June 2026 - Open Mic, Warren...

Now & Then ·

2026/06/16

00:00 - Intro00:54 - Upcoming Events03:26 - Quote from The Creative Act04:37 - Warren Frank10:58 - Showcase Finale12:11 - Ian McKechnie24:02 - Vaudeville Look Back29:13 - Ron Sharman33:43 - Shrek The Musical34:25 - OutroIn this brand new episode of the Now & Then Podcast, may I start by saying Thursday, June 18th at the Flato Academy Theatre, starting at 7 p.m. is the last Showcase Open Mic where a bunch of local comedians do improv. In fact, this has been a little competition, and the six

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36:59

Now & Then Episode 28 - Back In Time 100 Years Ago &...

Now & Then ·

2026/04/13

The Now & Then podcast is back, but in addition to telling new stories, we're also going to take a look back into our jar of treats. Our very first episode was three and a half years ago, when we got in contact with Mary the Ghost, and we're going to reminisce about her stories of haunting and practical joking.The highlight of the podcast, though, is a special event next Sunday, April 26th, which will take us all back in time when the theatre specialized in silent films, and not just displaying

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64:29

Now & Then Episode 27 - Autumn 2025

Now & Then ·

2025/10/11

00:00 Intro01:15 Linda Brown05:20 Open Mic11:26 Ian McKechnie23:24 David McMillan31:51 Dylan John Garton37:34 Jess Spagnolo40:24 Victoria Sheppard49:18 Beth Wilson55:56 Ron Sharman1:03:14 OutroWelcome to our episode for Fall 2025, and Happy Thanksgiving! We have an array of guests this time with some wonderful stories.We have Linda Brown, who co-hosts Open Mic nights at the Academy Theatre with me, and we reveal a fun opportunity to record a song of your very own for free at a legit studio. We have

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47:14

Now & Then Episode 26 - With Erica Ehm - August 2025

Now & Then ·

2025/08/13

For our second summer episode, we have a bunch of goodies, but a standout is the super-famous Erica Ehm.She has been in the entertainment and music industries for 40 years now. She started by booking shoots for the show "The New Music" back in 1982 for Much Music, and then Much Music became a national channel and Erica was the host. She's released a book, done multiple interviews for artists, musicians and cultural leaders, and she started a show called "Yummy Mummy" and a website called the "Yummy

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47:48

Now & Then Episode 25 - June 2025

Now & Then ·

2025/06/01

This is our first episode back after a hiatus, and we’re excited to have it out for you!For starters, we hear from the brand new General Manager of the Flato Academy Theatre, Victoria Shepherd, and the fascinating journey of her life that landed her here. We also give a tribute to her predecessor, Craig Metcalf!Next we hear from Operations Manager Alan Cottreau about future events coming to the theatre.Third is the owner of the Olympia restaurant, Nicki Dedes. You’d be surprised how the restaurant

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32:09

Now & Then Episode 24 - December 2024 - Two Year...

Now & Then ·

2024/12/11

For this very special episode, we are going to be looking back at some of our best moments on this podcast.Before that, we have our dear friend Craig Metcalf, updating us on not just this month's shows but some exciting ones to look out for in not January but February! Hmmmm!We hear from Mary The Ghost, who talks about her secret identity for the world and sings us a lovely Christmas carol!We have our producer Warren Frank, discussing what it is like being the one to put the podcast together over

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21:46

Now & Then Episode 23 - November 2024 - Wizard of Oz...

Now & Then ·

2024/11/08

Well, the month has arrived for the big Wizard of Oz play! In which my granddaughter is voicing a Munchkin. I talk about that with director Beth Wilson.I also find an article from 1892 about the construction of the theatre, three weeks before its grand opening. Fun fact about it: The chairs were brought in from Hamilton, and there are names mentioned of the Federation that had a big part in Flato Academy Theatre’s construction.I also talk with Craig Metcalf about a big list of attractions for this

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33:34

Now & Then Episode 22 - October 2024 - With Steve &...

Now & Then ·

2024/10/23

Thank you for joining me for Episode 22 of Now & Then!We start this episode with me continuing my journey through the archives of the theatre, and finding out how people advocated for a hall that would honour our future town of Lindsay. I also talk about the history of Oktoberfest, the famous beer festival and traveling carnival, especially its significance in Kitchener, plus a little song celebrating the event. We also hear from my granddaughter McKenna, who’s going to be in the Wizard of Oz

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22:48

Now & Then Episode 21 - September 2024 - with Linda...

Now & Then ·

2024/09/12

In this delightful episode, having returned from the summer holidays, I have some fun updates for you. Ian McKechnie and I got to recently go to the theatre's attic, and we uncovered some incredible old artifacts of the theatre, including a copy of the Lindsay Daily Post from the 19th century, a playbill from the Great Depression age, and more.Craig Metcalfe and I discuss upcoming shows, including one for tomorrow, September 13th, the metal band Anvil, the monsters of rock who were on top of the

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47:12

Now & Then Episode 20 - July 2024

Now & Then ·

2024/07/09

Welcome to the July 2024 episode!Auditions recently took place for The Wizard of Oz, and I got to attend the first night. For the first part of this episode, you get to hear some footage from then. Some includes my granddaughter who’s been accepted as a Munchkin! And this was her first audition! I’m so proud of her!We also have our historian Ian McKechnie, back after a little while, discussing how he’s now a published author, and talking about his book, “Reflections on Old Victoria County: In

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34:52

Now & Then Episode 19 - June 2024 - The Wizard Of Oz

Now & Then ·

2024/06/13

This month, we have some exciting upcoming events!One is the 11th Annual Inspired 2 Dance Recital on June 15th, and a week later, on the 22nd, we have a collaboration between the amazing Kawartha Lakes Concert Band and the Weston Silver Band, which is a British-style brass band. The concert will involve a lot of music from the other side of the ocean. Scottish, Welsh, English, etc. Also, between then, on the 17th, auditions will start for the upcoming Wizard of Oz! And we have our good friend Beth

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43:41

Now & Then Episode 18 - May 2024

Now & Then ·

2024/05/13

Episode 18 is out!In this one we have some very talented guests - Rob Barg, a talented musician, a board member of the theatre, and the chairman of the Program Committee, of which I am a member too. We talk about what the primary function of the committee is - to advise the management and the board of the shows we arrange ourselves and the ones we rent to, and how the theatre industry is leaning more and more towards tribute shows of old bands that might not be around anymore and dipping into the

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38:22

Now & Then Episode 17 - April 2024

Now & Then ·

2024/04/10

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

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36:16

Now & Then Episode 16 - March 2024

Now & Then ·

2024/03/04

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

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38:40

Now & Then Episode 15 - February 2024

Now & Then ·

2024/02/09

This new episode is the first of a look back at a Kawartha Lakes band that was School of Rock come to life! Anyone remember The Odyssey Project? It was an amalgamation of local schools in the area!First we get a visit from Alan Cottreau, Flato Academy Theatre's operations manager discussing some fun upcoming performers and bands for the month of February and March!Then we hear from my longtime friend David Morrison, who started the band alongside me, Eric Smeaton and a few others, but he was the

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31:40

Now & Then Episode 14 - December 2023

Now & Then ·

2023/12/13

We may as well call this episode The Morrison Show, because my main guests are three members of that family, all of which are performers of their own.First we have General Manager Craig Metcalf talking to us about not just upcoming attractions but how the theatre operates with contract deals, how they negotiate, and how they adapt to different requests from different guests who rent the stage.Then I talk to David and Colleen Morrison. David and Colleen are both from the Kawartha Lakes Concert Band

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28:02

Now & Then Episode 13 - November 2023

Now & Then ·

2023/11/03

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

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22:12

Now & Then Episode 12 - October 2023

Now & Then ·

2023/10/13

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

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36:30

Now & Then Episode 11 - September 2023

Now & Then ·

2023/09/09

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

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