Pig Iron is thrilled to announce the upcoming premiere of Poor Judge, a genre-blending work of concert theater featuring the witty, haunting music of Aimee Mann. Dreamed up by legendary drag queen and Pig Iron Co-Founder Dito van Reigersberg, and directed by Pig Iron’s new Artistic Producer Eva Steinmetz, Poor Judge will feature an ensemble of beloved Philadelphia performer-musicians who sing stories of heartbreak, road trips, and the painful allure of the silver screen.
Lost in an America shaped by myths of fame and romance, the ensemble unearths a diversity of reflections on love, fame, queer dreams, and growing up—all to the tune of singer-songwriter Aimee Mann’s sly, poetic pop music.
American singer-songwriter Aimee Mann has been a fixture of the LA music scene since she decamped for California from Massachusetts in the 90s. Like so many Americans who hope to make it in LA, she found a potent cocktail of possibility and heartbreak. Mann has an extensive catalog of self-aware songs and folksy bangers that are perfect for long angsty drives or boring days at work. She’s our patron saint of loneliness in the Hollywood Hills, casting a gimlet eye on fame and fortune, and giving voice to all the misfit toys that wash up on our Western shore. For those just discovering her for the first time, a treasure trove of sardonic poetry, melody, and guitar pop awaits. Pig Iron recommends starting with the soundtrack to the movie Magnolia, or her 9th solo album, Mental Illness.
The piece features Dito van Reigersberg as Aimee Mann, and the ensemble cast includes the talents of Emily Bate, Alex Bechtel (Bechtel also serves as the Music Director and Arranger), Josh Machiz, izzy sazak, Jackie Soro, and Justin Yoder. The powerhouse production team includes Maria Feuereisen (Set Design), Nikki Delhomme (Costume Design), Maria Shaplin (Lighting Design), and Chris Sannino (Sound Design).
SHOW DETAILS
Poor Judge runs September 11-22, 2024 at The Wilma Theatre, (265 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19107).
Performances for Poor Judge are:
- Wednesday 9/11 at 7pm
- Thursday 9/12 at 7pm
- Friday 9/13 at 7pm
- Saturday 9/14 at 8pm
- Sunday 9/15 at 2pm and 7pm
- Tuesday 9/17 at 7pm
- Wednesday 9/18 at 7pm
- Thursday 9/19 at 7pm
- Friday 9/20 at 7pm
- Saturday 9/21 at 2pm and 8pm
- Sunday 9/22 at 2pm and 7pm
TICKETS
Tickets will be $35, with student/25-and-under, artist, and FringeArts membership discounts available.
INVISIBLE INK
Coinciding with the our upcoming performance Poor Judge, patrons will also be able to view and interact with Invisible Ink,* an immersive artwork in the Wilma’s studio space, featuring first-person love stories from Philadelphia’s queer community. Artist Aubrié Costello (creator of THE EROTIC PROJECT) alongside Dito van Reigersberg met with 14 brave humans, inviting them to get vulnerable about love. Together, they offered the opportunity to chronicle the experiences that queer people, creatives, and lovers in Philadelphia encounter.
Invisible Ink invites patrons to explore relics from those interviews documented by Costello, Rosie Simmons (photographer), and Gabriel Rosario (videographer), and to contribute pieces of their own personal experiences, fostering empathy and aiding in the discovery of synchronicity across generations.
Invisible Ink will be FREE and open to the public in the Wilma Theater’s Studio space September 13-22 for the hour prior to each Poor Judge performance.
LEAD SUPPORT
Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation.
We extend our gratitude to our Producer’s Circle for their generous support.
- Jim Caiola
- Amey Hutchins & Dylan Steinberg
- Marc Machiz
- Sandi Foxx Jones
- Michael Wax & Christine Frost Red
- Wyncote Foundation
- Anonymous
Thank you also to our Key Supporters for their support and encouragement.
- Ricki & Andrew Eisenstein
- Helen Fox & Rex Robinson
- Alan Jacobson & Barb DaCosta
- Mark & Bernadette Langdon