Original One-Woman Show BOTHER LINE To Re-Emerge At The Tank

On March 8-18, Bother Line, an original Nettles Artists Collective (NAC)-produced one-woman performance created by actress Gio Mielle, will re-emerge at the Tank. Bother Line will have a seven-show stretch and will kick off Women's History Month on International Women's Day. The solo performance shines a light on the microaggressions that weaken and destroy women and culture.

Mielle, along with director Debora Balardini, premiered the piece, which explores gender-based identity distortions in late 2017. The performance gives voice to Helen Palmer, the pen name of renowned author Clarice Lispector, who challenged gender bias and marginalization of women.

The non-traditional solo performance received two 2018 Brazilian International Press Award nominations for Best Local Production in Theater and Best Female Theater Actor. Bother Line took its initial strides with performances in early 2017 at the Tank's 2017 Lady Fest. It was followed by an invitation-only preview at PUNTO Space, an event and performance space with a mission to nurture social good, philanthropy, and innovation in the arts. Bother Line persists in examining subjective, impossible, and often cruel societal projections of what defines womanhood and femininity and, in turn, how they are internalized. Balardini and Mielle join Lispector in challenging the way women are trivialized.

Balardini, a 30-year veteran in the performing arts and co-founder of three enterprises, shaped the provocative piece carefully to support Mielle's vision by first exploring it and finally cultivating audience insights on the topics it touched and inspired. Through the process of continually questioning themselves and Mielle's intended vision through Lispector's work and Balardini's direction, the two accredit the collaborative process to the re-emergence and success of the show. The timing of the piece, according to Balardini, was something of a coincidence: "The Tank gave us a few days to pick from, and we picked our opening day by chance. It seems the universe has its own way of showing support when our hearts are in tune with the message we want to send. I am grateful and honored for the re-emergence of this piece on such an important day as International Women's Day to raise even more awareness surrounding womanhood."

The Bother Line invitation can be viewed here: https://botherline.splashthat.com/. To learn more about the Tank, visit TheTankNYC.org.

About Debora Balardini (www.deborabalardini.com):

Debora Balardini is the co-founder of PUNTO Space, Nettles Artists Collective, and Group.BR. With 30 years of unwavering commitment to the arts, expression, and movement, Debora Balardini (La Frontera - The Border) has traveled beyond craft to her calling as a global performer, educator, director, and producer. She is also one of the newest members of the League of Professional Theater Women and is currently a Brazilian International Press Award 2017 Best Actress nominee for the production she co-created, co-produced, and performed, Inside the Wild Heart, as seen in IR tv, Industry Rules, The Miami Herald, The Story Exchange, Cheapism, Trendy Trippin', Mushaka's Motivational Monday/Huffington Post blog, On Deck with Lucy, and Business News Daily.

About Gio Mielle (https://www.giomielle.com/):

Gio Mielle is a Brazilian actress, theater producer, and journalist. She has been acting since 1999 and has a degree in theater from Brasilia University, a place where she also acted and worked as a producer for Cometa Cenas Festival. In 2003 Giovanna won an award for best actress for The Cannibal, which led to many other roles in various productions around Brazil. She worked as an actress for big projects at Galpão Cine Horto, such as Arriscamundo, Sonho de uma Noite de São João, and Ensaio de Mentiras. Since moving to New York, Gio has worked as an assistant producer for groups such as Sister Sylvester, Elevator Repair Service, and La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. She was part of the cast for Sorry Robot, Mike Iveson's project for Elevator Repair Service. She performed at the latest Nettles Artists' show, The Dark Side of the Woods, and at Sister Sylvester's The Maids, the Maids. She was also a swing actress at the critic choice immersive theater, Doomocracy, which gave her a nomination to the International Brazilian Press Award 2017.

Nettles Artists Collective, Producer (http://nettlesartists.com/):

Nettles Artists Collective (NAC), which was founded by Debora Balardini and Sandie Luna, is a New York-based group of artists, performers, and producers with a mission to imbue the American performing arts scene with authentic global voices and universal vision. For ten years the award-winning organization has worked to create an approach to theater that is transparent, permeable, and constantly changing. Instead of fighting against prejudice, they celebrate differences. NAC is currently a resident at PUNTO Space.