Joel Reitsma in “Birdland” (Photo: Lee Miller)

Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumnus Joel Reitsma ’08, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Acting program, has earned another rave review for his starring role in Birdland, British playwright Simon Stephens’ drama about a rock star. The play is receiving its U.S. premiere at Chicago’s Steep Theatre.

Chicago Reader critic Justin Hayford’s review praises “director Jonathan Berry‘s compelling, carefully shaded production,” then calls Reitsma “a thrill to behold: exacting yet impulsive, rigorous yet unrestrained. If this isn’t the performance of the season, I can’t imagine what could be.”

As reported previously in this blog, Reitsma was also saluted by Chicago Tribune critic Chris Jones for his “spectacularly charismatic performance.”

Birdland runs through May 12 at Steep Theatre, located at 1115 W. Berwyn, in Chicago’s Edgewater Theatre District. For tickets, call 773-649-3186 or click here.