Laugh Your Heart Out: Bittergirl – the Musical Offers Hilarious Journey to Happiness at St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre This Fall
September 18, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Three women. Three breakups. One hilarious musical! Who knew going through a breakup could be so much fun? Gather your girlfriends, co-workers, sisters, daughters, and mothers, and celebrate the gospel of moving on at Bittergirl: The Musical at the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre, on stage from October 4 to December 24.
Relive the highs and lows of heartbreak in this hysterical romp through the lives of three accomplished women who have been scorned – and the men who dumped them. This cathartic and catchy musical charts the evolution of love gone wrong, from romantic bliss to total breakup, devastation, and the journey back to happiness. Along the way, this funny and touching journey to independence is fueled by an arsenal of girl group doo-wop hits like “Be My Baby,” “And Then He Kissed Me,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Where Did Our Love Go?” and many more.
“We are so excited to bring this hilarious hit musical to the stage in St. Jacobs,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. “Bittergirl: The Musical is a show that reminds us to find the humour in life, even in difficult situations, and to laugh at ourselves a bit. Creatively combined with classic songs that everyone knows, it’s the type of show that will mend even the most jaded heart!”
This cheeky, intelligent, and universally relatable production that celebrates female empowerment will be helmed by Director Mary Francis Moore. Moore is an original “bittergirl" and one of the co-authors, and she’s the current Artistic Director of Theatre Aquarius who has directed numerous plays in Canada, the US, and the UK. Working alongside her is Choreographer/Associate Director Robin Calvert, Music Director Melissa Morris, Set Designer David Boechler, Costume Designer Jessica Pembleton, Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser, Stage Manager Charles Russell, and Assistant Stage Manager Nadene Riehl.
The three “Bittergirls” will be played by Lauren Bowler, Sara-Jeanne Hosie and Keely Hutton.
Lauren Bowler appeared in this summer’s hit production of Rock of Ages at the Huron Country Playhouse, and previously appeared in Drayton Entertainment’s 2018 production of Out of Order. She has appeared in multiple productions with the Arts Club Theatre Company, Matilda at the Citadel and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and in The Drowsy Chaperone at the Vancouver Playhouse, Citadel Theatre, and National Arts Centre.
Sara-Jeanne Hosie has been seen on stage for Drayton Entertainment in All Shook Up, Damn Yankees!, and Vaudeville!. Elsewhere, she has appeared in numerous pantos with Ross Petty Productions, and at the Arts Club Theatre, Mayfield Theatre, 1000 Islands Playhouse, the Musical Stage Co. and the Charlottetown Festival.
Keely Hutton has appeared in many Drayton Entertainment productions, including this season’s hit musical Kinky Boots, as well as We’ll Meet Again, Anything Goes, Evita, Me and My Girl, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Keely has also appeared in Escape to Margaritaville on Broadway and was a part of the National Tour of Miss Saigon, and appeared in two seasons at the Stratford Festival.
Mark Harapiak bravely takes on the roles of each of the women’s partners: the husband, the live-in boyfriend, and the romantic fling. Harapiak appeared in this season’s production of Rock of Ages and The Prom, and has previously appeared in The Sound of Music, Mamma Mia!, along with many other Drayton Entertainment hits. An accomplished actor, he has also appeared in several seasons at the Stratford, Shaw, and Blyth Festivals, in Man of La Mancha with Mirvish, and in the North American Tour of Mary Poppins.
Originally a play, Bittergirl was written by Annabel Fitzsimmons, Alison Lawrence, and Mary Francis Moore in 1999, after the three met in Toronto. One divorced, one recently dumped, and the other facing the failure of yet another romance, they turned their experiences into onstage hilarity, selling out three runs in Toronto before touring to London, England, and playing off-Broadway in New York City. In 2005, the three writers authored the popular follow-up book, “Bittergirl: Getting Over Getting Dumped”. In 2015, the play was adapted and set to a knockout soundtrack of girl-group hits from the 60s and 70s, creating Bittergirl: The Musical, which made its debut at the Charlottetown Festival, and has since been produced across the country.
Bittergirl: The Musical is proudly sponsored by Home Hardware. The Media Sponsors are City News 570, Country 106.7, CHYM 96.7, Zoomer Radio, and the Waterloo Region Record. The Season Media Sponsor is CTV. Bittergirl: The Musical is on stage at the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre from October 4 through December 24.
Regular performance tickets are $55 for adults, $34 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for select Discount Dates and groups of 20 or more are $45, and small groups of 10-19 are $50. HST is applicable to all ticket prices. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 519-747-7788 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online instantly at www.draytonentertainment.com.
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For more information, please contact:
Samareh Jones, Marketing and Development Associate
(519) 621-5511 ext. 256
samareh@draytonentertainment.com