Original One-Woman Show BOTHER LINE To Premiere at Punto

On November 17 and 18, 7 p.m., performer Gio Mielle and theater director Debora Balardini will officially premiere Bother Line, an original one-woman performance produced by Nettles Artists Collective (NAC). With topics befitting contemporary gender-based issues, Bother Line's solo performance is an original piece created and conceptualized by Gio Mielle.

After two successful invitation-only developmental performances earlier this year at the Tank's 2017 Lady Fest and an invitation-only preview at PUNTO, Bother Line continues to explore humanization versus dehumanization and the daily impact it has on our bodies and identities through the writing of Helen Palmer, also known as famed Brazilian author Clarice Lispector.

Balardini, who is known for her approach to multidisciplinary work, cultivated and developed the piece by meticulously gathering audience insight on the topics, the themes, and the overall piece. "We have added more elements based on the small audiences that attended early, exploratory incarnations of Bother Line. We've arrived at a piece that embodies the deep artistic process and the insight shared with us by our audience and supporters. Our commitment is to continually question ourselves about how to convey our ideas as best we can, as director and performer, and grow with the piece. Working with Gio has been a true collaborative process. Between us and the select audience that has already seen it and participated with their critiques, the piece has reached completion. We are ready.

"Our awareness has definitely become more heightened as we delve into the subject of the show. We are more aware of the heart of the piece-what Gio wants to say and how she wants to say it. Bother Line is a magnifying glass of sorts. It is less and less apologetic and more in tune with the reality that our society presents. We explore how our thoughts and ideas about ourselves aren't trivial but, rather, are magnified to the extent it hurts our bodies, our behaviors, our culture, and society. The way we see ourselves in the mirror, the way people see us, and the way we really are can become convoluted and toxic."

Although Bother Line takes on a broader audience during its official two-day premiere, Balardini and Mielle still consider the audience a character in and of itself. As with most of Balardini's directorial work, "the audience is a big part of shaping the performance."

The Bother Line invitation can be viewed here: https://botherlinepremiere.splashthat.com/.