GOOD NEWS!!!

We're so proud to announce a few tidbits of pretty-wonderful news for Pig Iron's future:

Thanks to the Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative, a program of the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, we've received a $150,000 Catalyst grant to fund the launch of the Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training, a new two-year program in physical and ensemble-created theatre based in Philadelphia.  More updates are coming on this huge moment in Pig Iron's always-interesting evolution, but suffice to say that we're extremely pleased.  A list of grant recipients is here.

We've also received a grant from the Independence Foundation New Works Initiative to support developmental work on three (!) new lines of inquiry: our upcoming dark fairytale Cankerblossom; a collaboration with playwright Toshiki Okada (the author of Enjoy, which Pig Iron co-founder Dan Rothenberg directed in its English-language premiere this spring); and an exploration of the world of Douglas Sirk's '50s and '60s melodramas.  We're also so pleased that New Paradise, Philadelphia Live Arts/Philly Fringe Festivals, and People's Light all received grants; congrats to them all.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch: tickets are ON SALE to the aforementioned Cankerblossom.  You can buy them here.  Some fun Cankerblossom facts: 1) Pig Iron regulars Alex Torra and Hinako Arao are joined in this one by human Swiss Army knife Beth Nixon and David Sweeny (maybe you know him better as Johnny); 2) Christ Church Neighborhood House has air conditioning and an elevator now, so compared to past Pig Iron shows, we're basically living in the lap of luxury; and 3) we're developing this work in part with La Jolla Playhouse, who've been great to us throughout this project.