What is Bittergirl?

In 1999 three writers and actresses, Annabel (Griffiths) Fitzsimmons, Alison Lawrence, and Mary Francis Moore, met in Toronto – one divorced, one just dumped by her long time live-in and one facing yet another failed short term romance. Quicker than you can say “It’s not you, it’s me” bittergirl the play was born! The girls took their outrageous and sometimes unbelievable experiences of getting dumped and turned them into onstage hilarity in what has become the smash-hit play bittergirl. The original bittergirls toured the show to London, England,  to New York City for showcase performances at the John Houseman Theatre off-Broadway, and had three sold-out runs in Toronto. Now they’ve passed the torch to a new generation of bittergirls, with productions worldwide. 

On Valentine’s Day 2003, the bittergirls met an agent for coffee to talk about writing a book. And that’s how BITTERGIRL the book was born. BITTERGIRL: Getting Over Getting Dumped was published by Penguin Canada in January 2005, Penguin U.S. in September 2005, and Distribuidora Brazil in 2009. 

The bittergirls have been covered extensively in the media, appearing in numerous publications and television shows. Highlights include: features in Elle magazine, Bust, Glamour, and Complete Woman, and appearances on NBC’s The Today Show. They have offered advice on television, radio, in line at the grocery store and the waiting room of their OB/GYN.

Once the book was published there was continued interest in the play, and the concept of Bittergirl - the Musical surfaced. Bittergirl - the Musical offers the best of bittergirl the play, concepts from the book and the sweetest girl-group music from the 60s and 70s.  After being workshopped across Canada, including at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Bittergirl - the Musical made its debut at the Charlottetown festival in June of 2015 and has since been seen in productions right across the country.