The Pilon
The Pilon is a stage play by American playwright Zach Barr which premiered in 2025 at Red Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The play follows baseball card collectors' chance encounter with a transgender teenager. For the play, Barr won the 2025 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award.
Plot
The play follows Rhonda, a transgender woman, and Corbin, her cis nephew, who co-own Wax Harvest Card Shop, which collects baseball cards among other collectibles, in Seattle. Chaos emerges when Griffey, a transgender eighth-grade boy, pulls a rare card from a pack, and the two scramble to get the card.
Production history
2025 Chicago premiere
The play had its world premiere at Red Theatre in Chicago, Illinois in 2025, running from October 25 to November 23, 2025. Directed by Jessica Love, the production starred Delia Kropp as Rhonda, Rio Soliz Ragazzone as Corbin, Jo Tannous as Lex, Josh Razavi as Marc and Harper Levander as Griffey.
The production received critical acclaim for its writing and depiction of queer love and intergenerational transgender friendships. In a positive review, Chicago Theatre Review called the play "excellent," praising the "ongoing, nuanced conversation around identity and belonging." For the play, Barr won the prestigious 2026 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award from the American Theatre Critics Association, along with a $25,000 prize. The production was also nominated for seven 2025 Jeff Awards.
Cast and characters
Character |
Chicago 2025 |
|---|---|
Rhonda |
Delia Kropp |
Corbin |
Rio Soliz Ragazzone |
Lex |
Jo Tannous |
Marc |
Josh Razavi |
Griffey |
Harper Levander |
Awards and nominations
2025 Chicago production
Year |
Award |
Category |
Work |
Result |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 |
American Theatre Critics Award |
Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award |
Zach Barr |
||
Jeff Awards |
Outstanding Production - Play |
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Outstanding Ensemble - Play |
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Outstanding New Work |
Zach Barr |
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Outstanding Director - Play |
Jessica Love |
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Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role - Play |
Delia Kropp |
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Outstanding Scenic Design |
Manuel Ortiz |
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Outstanding Artistic Specialization |
Chas Mathieu (Props) |
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