Poor Judge

Overview

Presented in association with The Wilma Theater & 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.

SUPPORT
Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation.

Festival Star Producers
Tom and Linda McCarthy
Festival Co-Producer
Marty Maynard

Photo: Bob Sweeney

About the Artist

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.

Credits