The Wilma Theater debut an avant-garde legacy of a 20th-century queer artist well ahead of her era through the debut of “HILMA,” running from June 4 to 23.
“HILMA” delves into the narrative of Hilma af Klint, a Swedish artist and spiritualist renowned as one of the pioneers of modern abstract art. Born in 1862, af Klint remained relatively obscure for much of her life, a fact forgivable given her involvement with “The Five,” a collective deeply immersed in theosophical ideologies. Her artistic inspiration stemmed from messages purportedly channeled from seances and otherworldly sources, adding a mystical dimension to her groundbreaking paintings.
The Wilma’s final production of the season officially opened on Friday June 7, where theatergoers enjoyed an after party with the cast.
Darnelle Radford, Director of Operations @ Theatre Exile and Matthew Mastronardi, actor
Along with the world premiere of its first-ever opera and the contemporary sound of ‘HILMA‘ — based on the life of LGBTQIA art heroine Hilma af Klint, running now through June 23 — the Wilma is busy celebrating a cherished Tony Award. On June 16, the Wilma’s cohort of artistic directors will head to New York City to pick up its 2024 Regional Theatre Tony, the first theater in Pennsylvania to ever receive this prestigious totem, reported by AD Amorosio at Metro Newspaper.