Steep Theatre Ensemble Welcomes Ashleigh LaThrop and Joel Reitsma

Steep Theatre is thrilled to announce that actors Ashleigh LaThrop and Joel Reitsma have joined the company as its newest Ensemble Members. LaThrop and Reitsma appeared on Steep's stage in the company's 2013 hit production of Simon Stephens' MOTORTOWN, directed by Robin Witt. Both actors received Jeff Nominations for their work in Motortown.

"We're overjoyed that we can now officially call Ashleigh and Joel members of the Steep family," said founder and Artistic Director Peter Moore. "As we approach our 15th anniversary, these two are not only exactly the sort of artists we hope will lead us in our next 15 years of growth, but also the type of human beings who will fuel the spirit of our company going forward."

Ashleigh LaThrop (pictured, above) is honored to be a new company member with Steep Theatre. She was last seen at Steep in Motortown, for which she received a Jeff nomination for best supporting actress. Other Chicago credits include: Balm in Gilead (Griffin Theatre - Jeff Nomination, Outstanding Actress in a Principal Role), Metamorphoses (Lookingglass Theatre Company), Yellowmoon (Writers Theatre), In the Continuum (Pegasus Players), The Twins Would Like to Say (Dog and Pony Theatre Company), Cooperstown (Theatre Seven), and Comedy of Errors (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Regionally she has appeared in Metamorphoses (Arena Stage), A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep) Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Renaissance Theaterworks & Uprooted) as well as two seasons at American Players Theatre. TV credits include Chicago PD and Sirens. She is currently in Puerto Rico filming Mad Dogs, which will premiere on Amazon in January 2016.

Joel Reitsma is very excited to call Steep his artistic home. He is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, where he received his BFA in Theatre Performance and has been working in Chicago theatre, film, voice over, and solo performance ever since. Chicago theatre credits include Airline Highway (Steppenwolf Theatre); Cole Theatre's inaugural production of Ecstasy; Tennessee Williams's Vieux Carré (Raven Theatre); Love and Understanding (Redtwist Theatre); Motortown (Steep Theatre Co.; Non-Equity Jeff Award nomination - Outstanding Actor in a Principal Role); and The Brig (Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.). Joel is also a part of The LIVINGroom; a monthly solo performance showcase for which he is Technical Director and ensemble member. Joel is happily represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.

Steep Theatre has become known as a home for hard-hitting, finely tuned ensemble work. With each production, the company has shepherded a growing community of audiences and artists into bold new territories of story and performance. Over the years, Steep productions have been named in TimeOut Chicago's Top Ten Shows of the Year list five times, the Tribune's Top Ten List twice, the Tribune's Best of the Fringe list twice, the Sun Times' best of the year list twice, and WBEZ's Top Ten Shows of the Decade. Steep has received 24 Jeff Nominations and has won the 2009 Jeff Award for Best Ensemble, the 2010 Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, the 2011 Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the 2015 Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Steep was named the 2010 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award Winner.