The 59-minute show will be produced by Madwood Pro-Motion, a production company owned by Ric Gillman: renowned Madeline Island musician/songwriter/scriptwriter/vocalist and humorist. His support staff/cast of characters includes a troupe of multi-talented and “lake affected” islanders whose insights and “take” on island life allows us to laugh out loud.

Musician/thespian Liz Woodward is the show’s host for the evening; music and vocals by “Chance” (Ed Willet and Cheryl Leah), the show’s cast of players in various skits, a cameo performance by comedian Jarrett Waite, two cents worth by Bayfield’s own Tom McMullen, short segments by Ted and Marcie Gephart and a gripping narration about the tragic shipwreck of the Lucerne, directed by Tom Mitchell. 

The Madeline Island Radio Hour is community radio at its best, both relevant and outrageous, Gillman said. The content of the show has been evolving over the last three years with a solid base of stock characters such as “Donna Askme,” “The Voice,” and “The Lake Affected Players” who have become centerstage to the show’s unique blend of humor, history, and drama.

Gillman said striking the balance between lighthearted, poking-fun-at humor with factual and/or fictionalized history pieces is the backbone of the show’s script. Throw in performances by a plethora of local musicians and original jingles written for the show, plus featured hosts for each segment, you’ve got an alternative and irresistible genre of entertainment.

One of the main reasons the show has generated so much interest, Gillman believes, is because it takes an overall look at small-town community life (in this case, island life) and colors it  with tongue-in-cheek humor, told by those in the know. 

“Each episode of The Madeline Island Radio Hour is hosted by a local insider. Who better to tell our story than those who know us well and possibly too well,” Gillman said. “We seek hosts who won’t give away our inner secrets but have no fear in relaying our madcap antics.”

“The shows feature talents from and around Madeline Island; including “The Voice,” our very own carpenter, Carl Brooks (who should never give up swinging the hammer), The Lake Affected Players tackling radio skits and dramas written by me, Lois Carlson, Howard Dallin and Julie Stryker North.

“The Lake Affected Players are definitely lake affected. They also join in the Donna Askme Show, a call-in show addressing the most frequently-asked inane questions and controversial issues facing island life. Donna’s take on island life is with loving fun, but with a bite. The frosting on the cake of every show is the uncanny abundance of musical talent found here in the northland.

“If small town life is of interest, our issues are personified by the sound of waves from every direction that you walk, and at times, waiting for the ferry boat to get away from it all,” Gillman said.