Queer musical artist Bitch has been an opening act for Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco. She has also appeared in. John Cameron Mitchell’s film Shortbus, and co-wrote a song with Margaret Cho. Bitch is now taking the stage with the world premiere of B*TCHCRAFT: A Musical Play at New York’s wild project starting February 7 through March 1.
Directed by Margie Zohn, B*TCHCRAFT puts Bitch’s talent on full display as it tells the story going from a quiet child from suburban Detroit to beloved queer artist Bitch. The show is a wild musical broomstick ride through Bitch’s childhood, feminist awakening, indie rock stardom and subsequent brush with cancel-culture.
Read our interview with Bitch below.
How long did you have the idea for B*tchcraft: A Musical Play before you put pen to paper to make the show happen?
I had the idea in 2021, upon meeting Margie Zohn, my co-writer and director. I knew I wanted to tell my story and had no idea how, or where to begin. This is one of Margie’s gifts–to be able to work with an artist and help them draw out their story. We started when I got a few dates opening for Indigo Girls. A 30 minute set. I knew I wanted to cast a spell in the beginning, and then bring the audience into a slice of Bitch in childhood. I tried it, and it really worked! We built it from there!
What was one of the challenges of telling your story?
I named myself Bitch in the late 90s. It was an armor against the patriarchal world I saw all around me. It made me never want to show vulnerability. I’ll be Bitch, and nothing will harm me. So going into the vulnerable parts of me and my story and sharing them was the biggest challenge. I’ve been so pleasantly surprised how much it resonates with people when you let down some of those shields!
Without question, we are in divisive times. LGBTQ rights are being taken away and the lives of the disenfranchised and those who live in the margins are in danger. How has the need to tell your story changed compared to when you first started?
I definitely never thought or wanted to think I would be doing this play in a Chump America. Everything feels more vital now. Just us as queer people gathering in a room, feels like an act of resistance and self-preservation. I need to tell my story now more than ever, because we are here, queer and not going anywhere no matter how much you try to strip us of our rights. Our power is our power.
What did you learn about yourself from this experience?
That I love beaver! (Come to the show and you’ll get it!)
What do you hope people take away from the show?
I want people to feel inspired to write their own stories. For women to take up more space. For people to be more themselves, more witchy, more colorful.