Joel Reitsma News

The LIVINGroom announces the lineup and details for the November installment of its 2016 solo performance series at Stage 773. Solo artists Sarah McCarten and Emily Nikfar return to The LIVINGroom, joining ensemble member Abigail Phelps on Sunday, August 14. Rory Beckett, Kearney Fagan, Sam Hurwitz, Mary Lumley, and Elianna Stone perform with the LIVINGroom for the first time and round out this month's cast. The performance is directed by Tyler Anthony Smith.

Steep Theatre will kick off its sixteenth season in September with the world premiere of Alex Lubischer's Bobbie Clearly, directed by Josh Sobel. 

Nobody from the town of Milton, Nebraska ever gave much thought to Bobbie before the tragedy in the cornfield. Two years later, it's hard for them to think of much else. In the darkly comic Bobbie Clearly, a community opens up about life in the aftermath and making sense of senseless violence.

Steep Theatre will kick off its sixteenth season in September with the world premiere of Alex Lubischer's Bobbie Clearly, directed by Josh Sobel. 

The Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave) announced today two special events that have been added to the "Solo Celebration!" series.

The LIVINGroom announces the lineup and details for the August installment of its 2016 solo performance series at Stage 773. Solo artists David Stobbe, Billy Sullivan, and Hilary Williams return to The LIVINGroom, joining ensemble members Carly Jo Geer and Megan Powell on Sunday, August 14. The performance is directed by LIVINGroom ensemble member Joel Reitsma.

The LIVINGroom announces the lineup and details for a special performance on Sunday, July 31, offered in addition to its monthly residency at Stage 773. The LIVINGroom: Playlist is created in collaboration with Jeff Award-winning sound designer Jeffrey Levin. Solo artists and LIVINGroom ensemble membersAbigail Phelps, Megan Powell, Ian Randall, Joel Reitsma and Laura Reitsma will perform in The LIVINGroom: Playlist, which is directed by Laura Reitsma. 

The Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave) announced today two special events that have been added to the "Solo Celebration!" series.

The Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave) announced today two special events that have been added to the "Solo Celebration!" series.

The LIVINGroom announces the lineup and details for the July installment of its 2016 solo performance series at Stage 773. Solo artists Mike Haverty, Jennifer Kiehl, Sarah McCarten, Tyler Anthony Smith, David Stobbe and Anna Wolfe return to The LIVINGroom. Kyle Hamlin joins the LIVINGroom lineup for the first time on Sunday, July 10. Live music by Van Ferdinand will underscore the performance, which is directed by LIVINGroom ensemble member Abigail Phelps.

Wayward Productions is pleased to announce complete casting for the May 20th opening of Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars. Wayward ensemble members Jill Oliver and Megan See (Burn the Black Dog) return, along with newest ensemble member Laura Reitsma (The Living Room at Stage 773) in Wayward's first production of 2016. Eric Loughlin, Tony Jaksha and Jasonn Rose (Burn the Black Dog), are joined by Christopher Marcum (Richard III) and Riso Straley (Bonfire, Space Fight) in returning to the Wayward stage. Wayward is joined for the first time by Allison Cain (Lifeline Theatre), Angie Martinez and Johnny Moran (Factory Theater). Rounding out Wayard's first-time cast members are Joel Reitsma, Stella Rothenberg, Beau Forbes and Nikki Greenlee.

Michael Menendian, Producing Artistic Director of Raven Theatre, has announced casting for A Loss of Roses, the infrequently produced drama by William Inge that premiered on Broadway in 1959 and launched the career of a young Warren Beatty. Raven's production will be the play's first professional staging in the Chicago area since early 1999. The Raven production will run on the company's West Stage from February 17 to April 2, 2016 under the direction of Raven Associate Artistic Director Cody Estle.

Steep Theatre is thrilled to announce that actors Ashleigh LaThrop and Joel Reitsma have joined the company as its newest Ensemble Members

Eclipse Theatre Company, the only Midwest theatre company to feature oneplaywright in one season, concludes their 23rd anniversary, 2015 Terrence McNally season with The Lisbon Traviata, with Eclipse Ensemble Member and Goodman Theatre Artistic Associate Steve Scott directing.

Mike Leigh connoisseur Shade Murray, who directed the Jeff Award-winning Abigail's Party for A Red Orchid in 2010, will direct Cole Theatre's inaugural production, Mike Leigh's Ecstasy. The production will star Boyd Harris, Maura Kidwell, Layne Manzer, Lauren Pizzi, Michaela Petro and Joel Reitsma.

The newly formed Equity Cole Theatre presents its inaugural production, Mike Leigh's Ecstasy, running August 21-September 28 in Old Town. An intensely naturalistic and darkly comic portrait of gloom and joy, violence and romance, Ecstasy is the story of six sharply drawn characters and their struggle against despair one evening in a run-down London flat.

The newly formed Equity Cole Theatre presents its inaugural production, Mike Leigh's Ecstasy, running August 21-September 28 in Old Town. An intensely naturalistic and darkly comic portrait of gloom and joy, violence and romance, Ecstasy is the story of six sharply drawn characters and their struggle against despair one evening in a run-down London flat. The production stars Boyd Harris, Maura Kidwell, Layne Manzer, Lauren Pizzi, Michaela Petro and Joel Reitsma. Mike Leigh connoisseur Shade Murray, who directed the Jeff Award-winning Abigail's Party for A Red Orchid in 2010, directs.

Mike Leigh connoisseur Shade Murray, who directed the Jeff Award-winning Abigail's Party for A Red Orchid in 2010, will direct Cole Theatre's inaugural production, Mike Leigh's Ecstasy. The production will star Boyd Harris, Maura Kidwell, Layne Manzer, Lauren Pizzi, Michaela Petro and Joel Reitsma.

Raven's revival of this later play by Tennessee Williams that was 'rediscovered' in acclaimed productions in London and New York is an autobiographical play that Williams first began writing around the time he started The Glass Menagerie. It concerns a young writer who in 1938 moves to a ramshackle French Quarter rooming house that's home to an assortment of desperate and eccentric characters. The New York Times said Vieux Carre is, along with The Glass Menagerie, Williams' other autobiographical memory play, one of two 'critical bookends' to Williams' career. Scroll down to see a trailer for the production!

Raven's revival of this later play by Tennessee Williams that was 'rediscovered' in acclaimed productions in London and New York is autobiographical play that Williams first began writing around the time he started The Glass Menagerie. It concerns a young writer who in 1938 moves to a ramshackle French Quarter rooming house that's home to an assortment of desperate and eccentric characters. The New York Times said Vieux Carre is, along with The Glass Menagerie, Williams' other autobiographical memory play, one of two 'critical bookends' to Williams' career. Scroll down to see some pictures of the cast in action!