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Poor Judge

Pig Iron Theatre Company

September 11-22, 2024


75 mins

$35

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Presented in association with The Wilma Theater and WXPN.

An original work of dance-theater cabaret is born from the discography of alt-rock iconoclast Aimee Mann.

Dreamed up by Philadelphia’s beloved Dito van Reigersberg, this live music mixtape is part Hollywood audition, part woeful tale of lost loves, and part spy story—all performed by a local supergroup of actor-musicians.

Through vignette and song, Poor Judge offers glimpses of an inviting, seductive Los Angeles and also its shadow: the frightening underbelly of the American success story. Be prepared for a night of lonely California highways, movie theater breakups, and sly acoustic reimaginings of Aimee Mann’s haunting catalog.

Created by Pig Iron Theatre Company. Directed by Eva Steinmetz. Featuring Emily Bate, Josh Machiz, izzy sazak, Jackie Soro, and Justin Yoder. Multi-instrumentalist and music director Alex Bechtel anchors the ensemble with sly new arrangements of Mann’s songs. Directed by Eva Steinmetz.

Performance Information

September 11–22, 2024

September 11 at 7pm
September 12 at 7pm
September 13 at 7pm 
September 14 at 8pm 
September 15 at 2pm + 7pm
September 17 at 7pm
September 18 at 7pm
September 19 7pm
September 20 at 7pm
September 21 2pm + 8pm
September 22 at 2pm + 7pm

Pricing

$35 Standard
$15 Students & 25-and-Unders
$2 FringeACCESS

FringeArts Member discounts & benefits available

Venue

The Wilma Theater
265 South Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107

About the Artists

Pig Iron

Pig Iron began as a “dance-clown-theatre” ensemble in 1995, and their innovative productions garnered rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and then in the burgeoning arts scene of their hometown of Philadelphia. Now, over 25 years later, Pig Iron has emerged as part of a movement of alternative theatre makers who seek to resituate how audiences encounter performance. The company is at the forefront of the “devised” theatre movement, a practice of performance-making in which an ensemble of actor-creators begins its work in the studio rather than from a script. Pig Iron has developed a method of co-authorship that springs from focused improvisation, discussion and innovative collaborations. Pig Iron engages in collaborations with visionary artists who push the ensemble in new directions. Collaborators have included: legendary director Joseph Chaikin; playwright Toshiki Okada; designers Mimi Lien (Macarthur “Genius”) and Machine Dazzle; the Grammy-winning choir The Crossing, indie rock outfit Dr. Dog, and filmmaker Josephine Decker. Pig Iron has toured to 15 countries on four continents with notable appearances at the Public Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, the Humana Festival, TR Warszawa and TPAM (Tokyo), among others. The company has won two OBIE Awards (NYC) and 10 Barrymore Awards, with over 45 nominations in Philadelphia.

Creative Team

Created by Pig Iron Theatre Company
Directed by Eva Steinmetz
Dito van Reigersberg
Performer/Creator
Alex Bechtel Music Director, Arranger, and Performer/Creator
Emily Bate Performer
Josh Machiz Performer
izzy sazak Performer
Jackie Soro Performer
Justin Yoder Performer
Alexis Howland Assistant Director
Emmie Parker Stage Manager
Kate Sparacio Production Manager
Chelsea Murphy Choreographer
María Feuereisen Set Designer
Maria Shaplin Lighting Designer
Chris Sannino Sound Designer
Nikki Delhomme Costume Designer

Photos (c) Bob Sweeney

Supporters

Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation.

Festival Star Producers
Tom and Linda McCarthy

Festival Co-Producer
Marty Maynard

Accessibility

Wheelchair/Limited Mobility Seating and Assistive Listening Devices. Select Open-Caption and Audio Described Performances.

Health & Safety

Masks are optional, vaccines are not required. More information about FringeArts COVID policies can be found here.

Philly Fringe 2024

This event is presented by FringeArts as part of the 2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. To browse programming curated by FringeArts, click here.

The 2024 Philadelphia Fringe Festival runs from September 5–29, and features more than 300 participating artists and companies in venues across the city. Join us all month long for audacious, adventurous, astonishing art.

Be Part of the Story

Help FringeArts present world-class, contemporary performing arts that challenge convention and inspire new ways of thinking.

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