"SO VISUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SATISFYING THAT IT DEFIES DESCRIPTION." - THE WEE REVIEW

WINNER 2019 Barrymore Award Outstanding Original Movement/Choreography

2019 Fringe Forward Award Assembly Festival xoxo

2019 Barrymore Award Nominee Oustanding Original Music moongirl 2019 Barrymore Award Nominee Outstanding Overall Production A C R I T I C A L L Y A C C L A I M E D

A U T O B I O G R A P H I C C I R C U S F A N T A S I A w w w . t h e a l m a n a c . u s

Almanac Dance Theatre blends physical theater, world class circus aerial performance, and audience interaction in xoxo moongirl. Magical realism and true events intersect as solo performer Nicole Burgio navigates her family's home, plagued with domestic abuse and complicated relationships. Featuring live original music by Barrymore Award Winner Mel Hsu, xoxo moongirl is simultaneously hilarious, heart-wrenching, and breathtaking.

This is not traditional circus or theater. This is the new wave of storytelling.

"xoxo moongirl might be the best piece of physical theater I've ever seen." - Terry Brennan, Tribe of Fools

"An exquisite aerial display and a hauntingly beautiful piece of storytelling that is both heartwarming and wrenching." - Ed Fest Magazine

A little bit about the show...: xoxo moongirl blends physical theatre, live music, world-class circus, aerial performance and audience interaction in a hilarious, heart-wrenching and breathtaking story of one woman processing a family life riddled with domestic abuse. This full-length solo show features Nicole Burgio and award-winning composer Melanie Hsu in a semi-autobiographical and acrobatic exploration of escaping the gravitational pull of trauma, navigating complicated relationships, and always believing you'll end up on the moon. features: Live acoustic and electronic music Static Brief audience participation Dance Autobiographical storytelling booking information: [email protected] SPACE REQUIREMENTS

xoxo moongirl can be performed in both large and intimate spaces.

Requires at least 12' x 15' performance space with 18' ceilings (4m x 5m with 5.5m ceiling height).

20' x 20' of performance space with 20' ceilings are preferred, if possible. xoxo moongirl tours with three to four people and can be performed in English and Spanish.

Video projections. which are mapped to an turned projection screen, are an optional part of the show.

Lighting Requirements 2 - Source 4 26 degrees 575w 10 - Source 4 36 degrees 575w 22 - Source 4 50 degrees 575w 1 - Source 4 Par MFL 575w 14 - Source 4 Par WFL 575w 46 dimmers @ 1.5K (NOTE: This is the minimum number of dimmers needed. XOXO only needs 46 dimmers if Channels 11, 12, 13, 24, 31, 33, 42, 44 are all twofered in the air.)

ETC Element, Ion or Geo

****NOTE: Substitutions in the instrumentation may be made as long as the substitution has the beam and wattage equivalent to what is listed above.**** Rigging Requirements xoxo moongirl showcases aerial silks and at crucial moments of storytelling. Almanac endeavors to be flexible with venues about rigging and can orient apparatuses in a variety of configurations to fit in various spaces.

Aerial components require a minimum ceiling height of 18ft, with a minimum of two rigging points (static trapeze and aerial silks). Three rigging points are preferred.

Below are the minimum required distances between apparatuses and from ceiling to floor.

VIDEO LINKS

Edinburgh Trailer 1

Edinburgh Trailer 2

Full Length Show: xoxo moongirl at Assembly Festival (2019)

Full Length Show: xoxo moongirl at Christ Church Neighborhood House (2018)

xoxo moongirl can be performed in English and en Español

WHAT THE PRESS THOUGHT

EDINBURGH REVIEWS

“xoxo moongirl at Assembly Checkpoint is a stunning and explosive mixture of spoken-word and circus skills, physical theatre, illusion and magic.” - The Wee Review *****

"With bold, visually stunning directing by Ben Grinberg, powerful music composed and played by Mel Hsu, and a clever but streamlined set design, XOXO Moongirl strikes just the right chord with audiences hungry for vulnerable storytelling and unblinking action. -CircusTalk *****

“The closing routine, in which she lives out her escapist fantasy of flying to the moon, before facing up to the realities of adult life, is a glorious tumble through space.” - The List "Nicole makes excellent use of props and the space on stage throughout her performance. She is an amazing acrobat.” - One 4 Review ****

“What’s better than a one-woman show? A one-woman show with a trapeze hanging from the ceiling, like Chekov’s gun over the mantelpiece.” - Broadway Baby

“High above us, her body wraps around the ropes while her dress billows from the air below, tiny pieces of paper swirling around her. It’s a truly beautiful sight, and one which indicates just how talented an artist Burgio is.” - The Scotsman

PHILADELPHIA REVIEWS

“Candid and gripping." -Broad Street Review

“Burgio so innovatively tells the story of her tumultuous family dynamics, both as an all- seeing child and as an all-knowing adult." -Emma Elsmo, The Dance Journal

"As a performer, Burgio is lively, animated and funny... In this moment of transcendence, she seemed amazed at what she could do – and sitting in the audience, we were in awe too." -Jane Fries, The Dance Journal

"From start to finish, the audience reacted as if at a sporting event, with uninhibited exclamations: “Ooh,” “Ahh,” “No way!” and “Oh, holy crap!” The audience wasn’t limited by theatre conventions of holding applause and watching in silence. They were moved enough to respond in real time, which is true evidence of moongirl’s immediacy and relevance." -thINKingDANCE MEET THE TEAM

Nicole Burgio (co-creator, performer) is a Philadelphia-based circus artist and teacher. A nationally ranked USGA level 10 gymnast until the age of 18, Burgio is a graduate of Temple University and holds a Masters Degree in Clinical and Counseling Health Psychology from the Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also a 2013 graduate of the New England School of Circus Arts, where she majored in trapeze and minored in acrobatics. She has been an Almanac Company Member since 2014. With Almanac, she served as an acrobatic consultant on Communitas (2014) before joining the company and creating and performing in Leaps of Faith and Other Mistakes (2015), Exile 2588 (2016), Fronteras: An Homage to Whatshername and Fronteras: A Door in the Desert (2017), as well as countless smaller projects.

A Note from Nicole: “I come from a broken home, where chaos, domestic abuse, and fighting was a daily routine. Women’s stories of all kinds need to be heard now more than ever. This is how I’m choosing to use my voice in an era where sexism, bullying and abuse is rampant. I believe art about tough topics doesn’t have to be grim. It can be uplifting. Bad things happen and they don’t have to define you. This is for the underdogs, the under-heard, and the improbable."

Mel Hsu (composer and musician) is a sonic painter of impossible worlds. As a multi- instrumental composer and performer, Mel lives in the blurry place between cacophony and stillness. A restless musical soul, Mel often ventures from her classical cello roots into unexpected realms of jazz, folk, neo-soul, rock and ethereality. Mel's creative journeys are rooted from her time at Wesleyan University, where she was lured in by the contagious and electric energy of the multi-disciplinary artistic community. Mel won a 2018 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Original Music for her first collaboration with Almanac, Leaps of Faith and Other Mistakes. Currently, Mel is the Community Organizing Director at Girls Rock Philly, where she works to amplify the voices of girls, trans and gender non-conforming youth through the radical process of unapologetic sound-making. She has been a teaching artist for Spiral Q, Play On, Philly, and ArtWell. She composes and performs for film, theater, dance, poetry and epic neighborhood parades. Her work has been debuted at the SXSW Film Festival, Poetic License Theater Festival, Source Festival, Fringe Festival, NY Indie Theatre Film Festival and the BAM "Puppets on Film" Festival. Mel travels along the East Coast as musical support for various ensembles and projects. When Mel and her cello need a healthy break from one another, Mel can be found dancing around the bass, the guitar, the piano, or any kitchen appliance that can be played with a durable spoon. www.melaniehsu.com

Ben Grinberg (director and co-creator) is a Philadelphia-based performing artist, director, and educator working at the intersection of and ensemble dance theatre. He is the Artistic Director of Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, a Barrymore award-winning and internationally touring physical performance ensemble, and the Artistic Coordinator and Theatre Instructor at Circadium, the nation’s first certificate granting program in contemporary circus performance. Grinberg’s work has been presented by FringeArts, New York Live Arts, Bill T. Jones, the Mexico City International Festival of Contemporary Dance, Ars Nova ANT Fest, 171 Cedar Arts, and more. A graduate of the Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training and of the University of Pennsylvania, he is on Faculty at the Pig Iron/UArts MFA in devised performance and has often collaborated with Pig Iron Theatre Company, Theatre Horizon, Eiko Otake, and Jaamil Kosoko. WORKSHOPS WE CAN OFFER

AlmanAcro Capacity: Up to 25 Participants Duration: 90 minutes-120 minutes Requirements: Flexible; a space that is at least 64 square meters with access to gymnastic mats and ceilings of at least 4m is preferred.

Almanac's signature workshop is an all ages, all levels community workshop and open ensemble acrobatics gymnasium which focuses on play, non-verbal communication and physical trust. Using games and tools for structured improvisation, and embracing every body as it is as an entry point for acrobatic movement and performative self-expression, AlmanAcro leaves participants flying high, surprised by what is possible when groups of people work as one. What can we do together that we can't do by ourselves?

Finding Character Through Movement Capacity: Up to 15 participants Duration: 120 minutes Requirements: Flexible; a space that is at least 64 square meters with a smooth surface floor is prefered

How can the body disclose personality traits? How does the way we use our bodies determine the choices we make and our modes of expression? What are the differences between the way I use my body and the way my character uses their body? Students investigate these questions and focus in on the differences in physical use between their characters and themselves. They will dig deep in order to assess anything inside of their bodies that gets in the way as they practice whole body communication within character portrayal.

Hand to Hand and Group Acrobatics Capacity: Up to 12 students Duration: 120 minutes Requirements: Acrobatic mats and crash pads, a studio at least 20' x 20' with 14' ceilings

Hand to Hand & Group Acrobatics is designed for artists interested in learning or advancing their partner acrobatic skills. The workshop is open to all levels: beginner, intermediate, or advanced students. All are welcomed. Having a partner is a plus, but not required. Hand to Hand & Group Acrobatics is great for individuals in the acro/yoga community, gymnasts, handbalancers, circus artist, or anyone who is just a little bit curious. In the Hand to Hand & Group Acrobatics Workshop we will focus on: mastering basic partnering skills, progressions to more advanced movement, improving technique and stability, how to practice dynamic skills safely, and how to create new movement with your partner. You will leave this workshop with new skills and new ways to grow and work together in a partnership.

Additional workshops are available in: -Musicality of movement -Static Trapeze -Advanced Partner Acrobatics -Red-nosed -Musical Discovery and Improvisation -Composition -Movement technique -Combining text and movement

Contact us for more information! SAY HELLO

If you’d like more information about booking us for your space, please contact Sonya on:

[email protected]

You can follow our adventures to the moon on:

Instagram - @almanac_us and @xoxo_moongirl Facebook - /almanacdct and /xoxomoongirlphilly Twitter - @almanac_us