THEATRE EXILE CONCLUDES SEASON WITH PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF R. ERIC THOMAS’ GLITTER IN THE GLASS
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PHILADELPHIA, PA- May 20, 2025 – South Philadelphia-based theatre company Theatre Exile (1340 South 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147) concludes its adventurous 2024–25 season with the East Coast premiere of Glitter in the Glass, a wildly funny and thought-provoking new play by award-winning writer R. Eric Thomas, directed by Ontaria Kim Wilson. Previews begin May 29 and Glitter in the Glass opens on June 5. Due to popular demand, the production has already been extended through June 22. Tickets are available now at theatreexile.org.
When the city of Baltimore removes a Confederate monument from the park across the street from her childhood home, Chelle (Jennifer Nikki Kidwell), a mid-career Black artist, sees an opportunity. She secures a major grant to design a replacement, but as the weight of expectation builds, so does the surreal scope of her ambition. Caught between the past, the present, and an uncertain future, Chelle is launched into a journey that begins before the Middle Passage and spirals beyond the bounds of Earth.
Glitter in the Glass is an unflinching and imaginative look at legacy, pressure, and the spaces in between. Kidwell returns to the Theatre Exile stage as Chelle, delivering a powerhouse performance that anchors this genre-bending story. She is joined by returning Exile actor Kishia Nixon and newcomer Danny Wilfred, rounding out a formidable cast that brings depth, wit, and electricity to Thomas’ visionary world.
Glitter in the Glass is the latest chapter in R. Eric Thomas’ long and meaningful relationship with Theatre Exile. An award-winning playwright, television writer, and bestselling author, Thomas workshopped Glitter in the Glass, originally titled Nightbird, through Exile’s Studio X-hibition series, which supports new work through public readings. In 2021, Theatre Exile commissioned his play The Ever Present, marking the beginning of a creative partnership that continues to grow.
His memoir Here for It, or How to Save Your Soul in America, was a national bestseller, and his young adult novel Kings of B’more was featured on Today and named a 2023 Stonewall Honor Book. His biography of Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Reclaiming Her Time, co-written with Helena Andrews- Dyer, was praised by the Washington Post for its energy and flair. His most recent essay collection, Congratulations, The Best is Over, is a USA Today bestseller lauded as “unfailingly entertaining” by Publishers Weekly. A writer for television (AppleTV+’s Dickinson, FX’s Better Things) and long-time host of The Moth in Philadelphia, Thomas is also the author of multiple plays and a recipient of the Lambda Literary Award, the Barrymore Award for Best New Play, and the Dramatists Guild Lanford Wilson Award.
“This play is a cosmic mirror,” said Deborah Block, Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Exile. “Through Chelle’s journey, R. Eric Thomas invites us to reflect on what it means to create art under pressure, toconfront the ghosts of history, and to imagine new futures. It’s hilarious, searing, and deeply theatrical— a perfect conclusion to a season that’s asked us all to reconsider how we see the world, and most importantly, how art helps us see it.”
A central force behind Glitter in the Glass is Theatre Exile’s collaboration with Monument Lab, the Philadelphia-based nonprofit public art, history, and design studio dedicated to advancing justice by reimagining monuments as spaces for belonging, learning, and healing. Known nationally for their work transforming how monuments are created, interpreted, and experienced, Monument Lab brings deep expertise in truth-telling and public memory, making them a vital partner for this production.
On June 18, Monument Lab presents post-show programming featuring Director and Co-Founder of Monument Lab Paul Farber and Glitter in the Glass playwright R. Eric Thomas. The discussion will explore the play's themes through the lens of contemporary monument culture, artistic responsibility, and community engagement. This dynamic partnership reflects a shared commitment to using art as a catalyst for dialogue and change and to centering artists and local changemakers in the process.
Director Ontaria Kim Wilson is a multi-hyphenated artist and Philadelphia native who holds a BA in Acting/Theatre and an MFA in Directing from Temple University. Her credits include roles in Half God of Rainfall (Wilma Theatre); Moreno (Interact Theatre); Nation (Williamstown Theater Festival); Wine In The Wilderness, Ramayana, The Ways of White Folks, Les Blancs (EgoPo Classic Theatre); School Girls or The African Mean Girls Play (Arden Theatre); Fences (PA Shakespeare Festival); American Fast (Interact Theatre); For My Man (TV ONE); As You Like It (Shakespeare In Clark Park)
Jennifer Nikki Kidwell is making her Theatre Exile debut and has been seen regionally in Those with 2 Clocks, Eternal Life Part 1, Antigone, Fat Ham (2021 film), (Wilma Theater); Superterranean, Fire Burns Hot: Little Reno!, I Promised Myself to Live Faster and 99 Break-Ups (Pig Iron Theatre Company), we come to collect: a flirtation, with capitalism (The Flea Theater/UTR Under Construction, Woolly Mammoth Weissberg Commission), Underground Railroad Game (2017 Obie Award for Best New American Theatre Work; 2018 Edinburgh Fringe First Award).
Kishia Nixon is a Barrymore award-winning actress/performer from Philadelphia and member of the Tony Award-winning Wilma Theater HotHouse Company. She is returning to the Exile stage, having performed as the lead Jess in the Michael Hollinger production, Sing, the Body Electric. Recent theater credits include Holy Grail of Memphis, The BFG, and Clyde’s (Arden Theater Company); Amsterdam (Theater Ariel) Green Eyes, The Strange Play (Tennessee Williams Festival); Say it ain't so (Revolution Shakespeare); Fabulation or the Re-education of Undine, The Comedy of Errors (Lantern Theater Company); and The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare in Clark Park).
Danny Wilfred is thrilled to make his Theatre Exile debut. Performance credits include: The Appointment (Fetus/Michael), WP Theatre. Regional: Gay Mis (Parmesan) Jaffe St Queer Productions; Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto (Mean Flower) People’s Light; Cabaret (Emcee), A Funny Thing... Forum (Lycus) Highlands Playhouse; Sister Act (Eddie Souther) Media Theatre; Shrek (Donkey) Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center; A Chorus Line (Richie Walters) John W. Engeman Theater.
The creative team for Glitter in the Glass includes Set Designer Christopher Haig, Costume Designer LeVonne Lindsey, Lighting Designer Natalie Robin, and Sound Designer and Composer Liz Atkinson. Nana Nimako is the Props Designer, Nick Wacksman is the Master Electrician, and Natali Merrill is the Audio Engineer. Philly Scenic Works serves as the Technical Director for the production.Glitter in the Glass is made possible through the generous support of Honorary Producers Susan & Ed Hoffman and Dirk Allen & Glenn Sykes, whose commitment to bold new work and Philadelphia’s creative community helped bring this powerful East Coast premiere to life. Dedicated support is provided by The Charlotte Cushman Foundation. Additional support is provided by Associate Producers Gayle & David Smith and The Brothers Network, whose advocacy and leadership continue to champion diverse stories, artists, and audiences across the region.
Special events during the run include Young Exile’s Night on Tuesday, June 4; Industry Night on Monday, June 9; and a special post-show discussion led by Monument Lab on Wednesday, June 18, Additional post-show discussions will take place Saturday, June 8, following the 3:00 p.m. matinee, Tuesday, June 11, after the 7:00 p.m. performance, and Wednesday, June 12, following the noon show. Tickets for Glitter in the Glass are available now at www.theatreexile.org.
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About Theatre Exile
Theatre Exile is a three-time 2023 Barrymore Award-winning non-profit theater company dedicated to enhancing the cultural experiences of Philadelphians by staging works that engage the imagination since it was founded in 1996. Theatre Exile strives to reach new audiences throughout the community by presenting new works and established plays, often reinterpreted in original ways. These productions emphasize freedom of expression through innovation, exploration, and provocation. At the same time, Theatre Exile provides a safe and creative environment where local artists can grow, experiment, and find their voice. Learn more about Theatre Exile’s 2024/25 season, purchase tickets, and more by visiting www.theatreexile.org.
About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, provide inclusive and equitable public spaces and arts and culture experiences, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.
