Clockwise from top right: I Promised Myself to Live Faster (photo by Jason Frank Rothenberg), Poet in New York (courtesy of Pig Iron), Pig Iron Benefit 2024 (photo by Wide Eyed Studios), Zero Cost House (photo by JJ Tiziou)
We are heartbroken to share with you that Dito van Reigersberg, co-founder of Pig Iron and creator of so much joy here in Philadelphia and all the places he traveled, has passed away the evening of June 1, 2026.
Dito was part of the very life blood of Pig Iron. So much we have accomplished, so much we are proud of, is due to Dito’s incomparable spirit, creative spark, and irreverent humor. He was a marvel in life—onstage, offstage, in rehearsal, in the classroom, on walks in the woods, sitting in his garden, making Spanish tortillas or singing his heart out…A supernova of joy and generosity, he was an endless fountain of inside jokes and sweet, personalized birthday wishes he sent to his countless loved ones.
From 2021 to 2023 Dito battled not one but two kinds of cancer—the second a rare blood cancer that required a bone marrow transplant. In 2024 he began a remarkable and triumphant recovery, performing sold-out Martha Graham Cracker concerts, co-creating and leading the luminous Poor Judge, and performing in Heather Christian’s Oratorio for Living Things. He was passionate and joyous and courageous as he devoured this new lease on life, singing with such heart and abandon in these amazing performances.
In January, complications from the transplant started to emerge. Since then, Dito has been in and out of the hospital, with fevers and low oxygen. His oncology team wasn’t able to pinpoint what exactly caused all of this, but last week they landed on a diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease, a grave complication from some transplants.
On Sunday, the doctors explained there was little more they could do for him, and he and his family made the decision to transition to hospice care.
The circle of people who love Dito is staggering, enormous. Family and friends poured in to say a few words of farewell, to sing the Indigo Girls and Aretha Franklin at his bedside, and to absolutely violate all the hospital’s rules for visitors. He was, as ever, a beacon of courage and good humor, nodding off and waking up to joke with people, give a little kiss to someone, and indulge in a funny voice when he was able to.
His beloved husband Matthew has been by his side throughout this ordeal. Both Matthew and Dito’s mother Stephie have spent these days murmuring sweet messages to him and loving him as he moved through these last stages of life.
We are grieving with Dito’s friends and family, who are just beginning to plan a memorial and ceremony to say farewell. There is no way to sum up or fully encompass the love force that was Dito’s life; you can be sure there will be several gatherings to honor Dito and to grieve together, some small and some large. We will be in touch when we are able to share any details.
In love and grief,
Dan, Quinn, Jasmine, Eva, and Pig Iron
We find there are many different ways to grieve the loss of Dito. Over the last two and a half months, we have read Dito's poems and remembered his singular voice (as singer and writer). We have been moved by hundreds of tributes to his joyous and meaningful life. We have found quiet moments to hold onto his warmth and humor, as well as his deep ability to see what is unique in each person he knew. It has been painful to lose such a bright light and dear friend, and yet we are also deeply grateful to have had the rare opportunity to collaborate with such a brilliant artist for Pig Iron's 30 years.
We invite you to join us, along with the Martha Graham Cracker Band, Bearded Ladies, FringeArts, and Ensemble Arts, for two special events on September 27 to remember Dito. Though there is no easy way to fully acknowledge your and our grief, we hope that in gathering together, we can honor this friend, this artist, this relative, and this Philadelphia legend through song, poetry, dance, and remembrances.
There are two events, both at the Miller Theater. At 3pm, there will be a Memorial Service, guided by Chaplain David Dubbledam, with memories from Dito's husband Matthew, sister Alexia, and close friends from many eras of Dito's remarkable life. At 7:30pm, many artists who worked closely with Dito and with Martha Graham Cracker will perform songs, dances, and undefinable performances to let Dito's spirit continue to glow through their cabaret acts.
The two events are ticketed separately. The Memorial Service is free to attend and the evening performance has PWYC tickets ranging from $10-$250. All net proceeds will be donated to Blood Cancer United.
We expect many of you will want to come to both events, and we certainly encourage this if your schedule allows it. We feel a need for some time to honor Dito's spirit in a quieter manner and some time to honor Dito's spirit in a wilder and more exuberant manner.
3:00pm — Celebration of Life
A time for remembrances, poems, and reflections from family and friends. This is mainly a quiet service for those who wish to mourn Dito and reflect on his legacy in a contemplative setting.
General Admission seating. Tickets are free, but reservations are required.
A Day Remembering Dito
September 27, 2026
at the Miller Theater
(250 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102)
7:30pm — Tribute Cabaret and Concert
A performance hosted by Pig Iron, FringeArts, The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret, The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Ensemble Arts, and friends. Collaborators from contemporary dance, clown, and cabaret will share the stage in an evening of singing and magic and poetry, as we seek to evoke a little bit of the wild, heartfelt energy that Dito brought to so many performances.
Assigned Seating. Tickets are PWYC starting at $25, with a limited number of $10 tickets available.