New York Streets are Alive and Well in Fresh Wisconsin Air as West Side Story Rumbles into Fort Atkinsons Fireside Theatre

A play of legendary proportions, born of the New York City streets, is doing quite nicely in the fresh Wisconsin country air. West Side Story has arrived full-force in Dairyland with all the intensity, romance and unforgettable music brimming with excitement. The play is now being staged in full Broadway style with professional actors and musicians at the GEMmy Award-winning Fireside Theatre of Fort Atkinson, in the heart of Wisconsin where the biggest rumble usually comes from farm machinery. It runs through May 15,2005.

West Side Story’s Sharks are right at home in Dairyland When West Side Story hit Broadway in 1957, it was hailed as “A superlative musical; a chiller, a thriller, as up-to-the-minute as tomorrow’s headlines.” Another reviewer wrote, ” The most dynamic, vital, electric musical ever seen.” It was created by four of the giants in theater – acclaimed director-choreographer Jerome Robbins; award-winning playwright Arthur Laurents, and the great composers Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.

The Fireside production is Directed by Ed Flesch, original Choreography reproduced by Kate Swan and musical direction by Mary Ehlinger. The play stars Sierra Boggess as “Maria”, Michael Buchanan as “Tony”, Michael Haws as “Doc, Glad Hand” , Danielle Dickert as Graziella and Jessica Greely as Rosalia.

The Fireside is an exceptional dinner and theatre experience that features gourmet dining before the show in the spectacular Fireside Restaurant. After dinner patrons move to the 650 seat theater in-the-round for an electrifying performance.

Located in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, The Fireside Theatre has presented Broadway quality professional theater in the very heart of Wisconsin’s dairy country since 1978. It was first opened in 1964 as a restaurant by the Klopcic family who still greet guests at the door today. More than 350,000 people per year attend plays and dine at the Fireside. It is the state’s largest year-round group travel attraction. Fort Atkinson is a short and scenic drive from Milwaukee, Janesville, and Madison, Wisconsin as well as the Rockford, IL and the Greater Chicago Area.

The Fireside is also a favorite stop for area shoppers. It has elaborate gift shops loaded with collectibles, specialty gifts that match show themes and hard to find art and jewelry items. The Fireside also has a bakery and lounge with dining for more than 1000.

Following West Side Story, the Fireside will present:
- Beauty and the Beast – May 19-August 14, 2005
- Damn Yankees – Aug. 18 – Oct. 16, 2005, and
- A Fireside Christmas -Oct. 20- Dec. 23, 2005

The Fireside Christmas Show features a variety of Christmas music and seasonal stories and has become so popular that most seats are sold out early in the year.

In the year 2000 Fireside was presented the prestigious GEMmy Award by the Midwest Travel Writers Association honoring the dinner-theater as an outstanding, family-oriented travel destination. The award is presented to “attractions, historic sites, events, accommodations, restaurants drives, walks and excursions that exemplify the very best of travel experiences”.

For a free 2005 Fireside season brochure phone toll-free 1-800-477-9505.

Visit the Fireside Theatre online at www.firesidetheatre.com

March 21, 2005   Posted in: United States Central