Wisconsin Hybrid Theater, Milwaukee’s source for live radio drama, is teaming up with WMSE’s Frontier Radio Theater this summer to bring you the “Best of Radio WHT,” rebroadcasts from two of their favorite past programs. On July 1st between 8-9am, WMSE (91.7FM) will air the first installment, “Dangerous Hospital.”
On the first Sundays of July and August, Frontier Radio Theater host (and station manager) Tom Crawford will be joined in the studio by the voice of WHT Jack Farwell and the infinitely perturbable Ira Hampton to introduce the “Best of Radio WHT.”
“Dangerous Hospital” was originally aired on February 19, 2012. The cast consists of Jack Farwell (Randall T Anderson), Ira Hampton (Jim Owczarski), Deb Burnham (Beth Lewinski), Olive Hampton (Karen Estrada), Msoe Wells (Ruth Arnell) with sound effects by Chris Knapp (Charles Sommers), and music by Seymore Muchmore.
“Dangerous Hospital” puts a comedic spin on the classic melodramatic novel, Dangerous Liaisons reimagined as a mid-century soap opera, Lonely Hearts of Sacred Heart Hospital. The title first appeared in Jack Farwell’s bio in 2009’s Radio WHT Presents Dracula, and the concept was later improvised by Beth Lewinski and Vince Figueroa (as Russell Downer) on the premier episode of Frontier Radio Theater in September 2010.
Best of WHT will return with their second popular performance on August 5th – “Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte – the Western!”
Wisconsin Hybrid Theater was founded in 2007 by Charles Sommers, and has performed in several venues around Milwaukee, notably the Alchemist Theatre in Bay View. The Shepherd Express calls Radio WHT “brilliantly written and directed” and “delightfully inspired silliness” while WMSE says, “Radio WHT is the best in the business (anywhere) at writing and producing live radio dramas.”
Frontier Radio Theater – Beginning in September 2010, WMSE 91.7FM has aired one hour of the best in “Old Time Radio” programming on Sunday mornings from 8 to 9. Wisconsin Hybrid Theater has been along for the ride, beginning with that very first episode and returning on the first Sunday of every month to present an original radio-play.