Now & Then Episode 29 - June 2026 - Open Mic, Warren Frank, & Shrek The Musical

00:00 - Intro

00:54 - Upcoming Events

03:26 - Quote from The Creative Act

04:37 - Warren Frank

10:58 - Showcase Finale

12:11 - Ian McKechnie

24:02 - Vaudeville Look Back

29:13 - Ron Sharman

33:43 - Shrek The Musical

34:25 - Outro

In 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 finalists will all be there! Feel free to come to this event! It’s free!

Also in this episode, we will be talking about some big upcoming events, including Shrek The Musical with the Triple Threat Theatre’s cast gracing the stage, tributes to some great ones like Simon & Garfunkel & Bruce Springsteen, Foreigner Meets Journey, and much more!

I also interview our producer and friend Warren Frank, about what it’s like for him to write and produce music, and how his band The Kents are getting back together for a 10th anniversary tour this summer!

Our historian friend Ian McKechnie also looks back with us about a story from 95 years ago, in 1931, when these special outfits were given to the ushers, projectionists and volunteers as an addition to a big renovation that took place. Ian also reminisces about what it was like to volunteer at the theatre and educate high schoolers when he worked at the Olde Gaol Museum.

We also look back at what we talked about in Vaudeville with Mary The Ghost, all the way back in Episode 2 back in 2022, and some cool things our dear friend Ron Sharman has recently seen at the Theatre!