Our Story
In the summer of 2013, Mike Werckle transformed a dilapidated beauty salon into the vibrant West Side Show Room at 410 Mulberry Street, Rockford, Illinois. Since its opening in December 2013 with the production of 'Vampire Lesbians of Sodom,' WSSR has become a cornerstone of the local arts scene, producing numerous plays and engaging with community arts programs. Officially incorporated as a nonprofit in March 2015, the organization expanded its mission to ensure that performing arts are accessible to all, culminating in the opening of a new performance space in 2019.