MIAMI – Fresh off a sold-out, award-winning run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Tim Murray is WITCHES combines stand-up and original comedy songs, celebrating Tim’s favorite pop culture witches! Murray has performed stand-up across the U.S., including at SF Sketchfest, The Brooklyn Comedy Festival, and DragCon. His upcoming sketch comedy TV show Wish You Were Queer, produced by Trixie Mattel, debuts in 2024. Tim Murray is WITCHES earned glowing 5-star reviews at Edinburgh Fringe, was nominated for an Off-West End Award, and won Best Musical Show from Entertainment Now.
Tim’s childhood fascination with pop culture witches—starting from The Wizard of Oz to Buffy the Vampire Slayer—influenced his work and perception of Witches. He shares how characters like Willow from Buffy and the witches of Hocus Pocus shaped his view, even linking them to queer identity. Tim draws a strong parallel between how witches and queer individuals have historically been marginalized and treated as outcasts. His show, which he says maps witches onto queerness, explores this shared experience of exclusion, control, and ultimately, liberation.
Before his upcoming show on October 4 at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, Murrays sat down for a conversation with The Wild Hunt.
Editorial Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Stacy: Tim Murray! Welcome to The Wild Hunt!
Tim: Hello. Thank you so much for having me.
Stacy: You and your mullet grew up in Ohio, right?
Tim: Sure did. Sure did. Yeah.
Stacy: Whereabouts in Ohio?
Tim: Sandusky. OH, like where Cedar Point is.
Stacy: Were witches brought up while you were growing up? And if so, what were you told about them?
Tim: Honestly, not really other than pop culture-wise, which is why I’m so obsessed with pop culture witches. The Wizard of Oz obviously was like my big intro to witches, and they would do the Wizard of Oz, at local theaters that my parents would take me to see.
I remember we saw one at school one time and I was thinking, “Oh, that Witch is so cool.”
I want to know more about her and then I was very lucky in that my parents kind of let me watch whatever I wanted. I was young and they exposed me to like a lot of different types of art. So I watched shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Stacy: Willow is one of the best witches.
Tim: The ’80s movie came before the TV show, and while it didn’t have witches, it was still magical and super queer. It has an otherworldly vibe which I love. I watched it before the TV show aired, and I remember being in 5th or 6th grade, feeling excited because I already knew about it from the movie. I became obsessed!
‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ was a big deal for me, and so was ‘Hocus Pocus.’ I also loved watching ‘Bewitched’ and ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ on Nick at Night. That’s how I got into all these magical shows. Later, when I was in high school, my sister actually worked for the United Nations and dealt with modern-day witch trials, which I found fascinating.
This was in Liberia and Sierra Leone for a while, but especially in Liberia, where they had modern-day witch trials. Women were literally put on trial based on things like someone dreaming that they were a witch. That was enough to accuse them, and these women had to fight for their rights. My sister was involved in defending them, which I found so wild. Later, when I visited Edinburgh, Scotland, people told me about the witch trials that happened there hundreds of years ago. Those trials were horrifying but still a significant part of their history. It made me realize how deeply rooted these events are. I didn’t know much about witch trials growing up, but I’ve tried to learn as much as I can as an adult.
Stacy: That’s great! It’s crazy that witch trials still happen in modern times. A lot of them are happening in places like Liberia and Nigeria. We actually cover these stories at The Wild Hunt. Our correspondents in Africa and Europe keep tabs on what’s going on, and there’s a movement trying to get Witchcraft laws repealed in those countries. But it’s slow because these beliefs are so deeply entrenched. So would you say that here, which is where some of your sheroes growing up?
Tim: Oh, for sure, big time. I was obsessed.
Stacy: Witches are usually seen as the villain or the butt of the joke, or somehow seen as other and are excluded. So why did you decide to make witches the focus of your show?
Tim: I think that’s exactly how I felt as a kid. The whole point of the show is drawing parallels between witches and queerness. It’s funny you mention the butt of the joke, because I often think about that. When I was growing up in Ohio, RuPaul was introduced to me as the punchline to everyone’s jokes. It was the go-to insult back then. If people weren’t saying, ‘That’s so gay,’ they’d say something like, ‘What, do you think you’re RuPaul?’ whenever something seemed negatively effeminate.
This idea has stuck with me for a long time. I think witches are often treated the same way as queer people—like the freaks, the outcasts, the weirdos. That’s why I’ve been drawn to telling the story of how queer people are treated, almost like a witch hunt.
Stacy: Right, because it wasn’t so long ago that there were actual witch hunts for queer people.
Tim: Exactly. And even now, there are states where if you’re a teacher and want to be open about who you are, it can feel like a modern-day queer witch hunt.
Stacy: In your act, from what I’ve seen on YouTube (thanks for posting so much of it!), it seems like you portray witches as a little secretive at first, but then they emerge and find some redemption in society. That journey really resonates with the experience of many queer people. Is that overlap intentional?
Tim: Definitely. I think it’s a beautiful message in so many pop culture stories about witches. They start off shunned, wanting to hide who they are, and eventually learn to embrace what they once saw as a weakness. There’s often this moment where a witch says, “I want to be anything other than a witch,” which is a line I use in my show. Growing up, I saw more effeminate kids being bullied and thought, “I wish I could be like that witch, embracing who they are.” But the message I got was, “Be anything but yourself.”
Stacy: Right. So, why do you think society feels the need to control people it sees as “other,” like witches or queer folk?
Tim: I’ve always found that so strange. I was lucky to have very liberal parents who taught me to mind my own business, which aligns with what Tim Walz has been saying lately. I think control is a natural human instinct. People want to feel like they have control over their own lives, and they think controlling others—especially those who are marginalized—gives them more control over everything. But they don’t realize you can’t control other people’s lives and bodies. We have laws for boundaries, but ultimately, we should have autonomy over ourselves. It’s all about power, and that’s why marginalized groups need to rise up, work together, and form their own “coven” to resist being controlled.
Stacy: Totally. So, here’s a fun question: How did you choose which witches to include in your show? Were there any you were sad to leave out?
Tim: Great question! I started by listing the ones I love the most—probably around 16 witches in total. Then I picked the ones I had a strong point of view on. There used to be a song in the show called Caregiver Witches about mom witches wanting to let loose and stop being caregivers for a while. I’d pull women from the audience to share their biggest fantasies, which were usually innocent, like wanting to read a book without being interrupted by their kids. I’d then pretend they said something wild and improvised, a song from there. It was fun, but I had to cut it for time when I performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, where the show had to be exactly an hour.
Some witches who didn’t make the final cut include Samantha from Bewitched, the aunties from Sabrina, and the fairies from Sleeping Beauty—Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. I also had Maleficent in the show, but she got cut, though I’ve written new songs over the years, like one about Ursula. The Hocus Pocus witches definitely get referenced, and so do the witches from Practical Magic, Sandra Bullock, and Nicole Kidman.
Stacy: Iconic.
Tim: Totally.
Stacy: So, when you put on your Wicked Witch of the West drag, do you feel different? Is it liberating to perform in killer green makeup and heels?
Tim: Oh, absolutely! If I’m feeling nervous before a show, I’ll look in the mirror and think, “Wow, look at you! You’re painted green, in a huge wig, and about to give these people a show!” It’s a reminder to enjoy the moment because there aren’t many times in life like this. It’s liberating because I know I’ve worked hard, and the audience will have a great time. But funny enough, the first time I did drag, I actually hated it.
I tried it at a local competition for drag first-timers in New York. I had no intention of doing it again—just wanted to try it once before turning 30. I’d worked with drag queens and wanted to understand it more. But when I did it, I didn’t enjoy it at all. I talked to my therapist about it and realized I’m not someone who loves attention unless I’m on stage with a purpose. It’s the Midwesterner in me, I guess. I felt shy and kind of scared the whole time. I think it brought up a lot of internalized homophobia. But doing this show has been great exposure therapy. The more I do it, the more confident and excited I feel.
Stacy: Do you have a favorite song in your show? And is it one the audience usually connects with?
Tim: My favorite changes from time to time. Right now, it’s probably Hot Sluts, which is my song about The Craft and how witches in the ’90s were portrayed as liberated and sexy. But usually, my answer is Dillamond’s Lament, which is based on Doctor Dillamond from Wicked. A lot of people love both of those songs. Recently, people have been really into the new Ursula song, which is exciting for me since it was scary to write and include something new. Another song audiences love is I Hate Kids. It’s more of a broader song and touches on how some people think we shouldn’t have drag or openly gay teachers around kids.
Stacy: I can’t wait to hear them all. I’m so excited! Since we’re talking about songs, I have to ask: Do you have a favorite Elphaba?
Tim: Everyone asks this! My answer is Idina Menzel. I saw her when I was 18, and she’s just a star. She has this charisma and epic quality that reminds me of Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz. Lots of other women have been amazing in the role, but Idina had something truly special.
Stacy: Yes, she was my first Elphaba too, so I feel the same way. So, other than yourself as Elphaba or Eglantine Price (obviously the best), who is your favorite pop culture witch?
Tim: Probably Sabrina from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. It came out at a very specific time in my life. I was young, and the ’90s fashion and humor just hit perfectly. I’m obsessed with the ’90s, and I loved the mix of comedy and magic.
Stacy: Sabrina influenced my witch aesthetic too! So, do you know any practicing pagans or witches in real life?
Tim: Oh yeah, I know a ton, especially living in Los Angeles. A lot of people tell me after the show that they’re practicing witches.
Stacy: Very cool. I’m assuming you’re not a witch though?
Tim: No, I don’t really have any spiritual practice. I grew up Catholic, but I’ve left that part of my life empty for now. I’m open to whatever comes my way, but I haven’t made the choice to dive into any specific religion or way of life. I don’t spend much time on it, to be honest.
Stacy: Well, you’re busy teaching and representing Witches across the country, so it’s understandable! Speaking of traveling, how’s your comedy being received, especially in places with “Don’t Say Gay” laws like Florida?
Tim: It’s been amazing! The reactions have been incredible—from Edinburgh and London to Toronto and Vancouver. One of my favorite shows was in Nashville, which was surprising considering the rhetoric in Tennessee. I did the show last year in Fort Lauderdale, and it was really well received, so I’m excited to bring it to Miami.
This Miami show is going to be special. It’s at the Arsht Center, which I’m so excited about! I went to college in Miami, so I’d always drive by the Arsht on my way to South Beach. I saw Patti Lupone perform there when I was in college, so it’s amazing to be performing there now.
Stacy: You must be stoked to perform on the same stage where you saw Patti Lupone. That’s incredible!
Tim: Yeah, it’s going to be really cool.
Stacy: So, if you were a witch, what kind of witch do you think you’d be?
Tim: I’d be a fun witch! A bit of a prankster, causing some mischief, but also helping people.
Stacy: Speaking of manifesting, if you could cast one spell that would come true, what would it be?
Tim: Ooh, this is deep for a Monday morning, but I would cast a spell to help people overcome addiction. That’s what I do—teach in rehab centers—and I see how much people suffer. I’d love to help release them from that.
Stacy: That’s beautiful! That was also my last big question! What’s the best way for my witchy fam to connect with you on socials?
Tim: You can find me on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube at TMurray06.
Stacy: We’ll make sure to include links when we post the interview. Thanks so much, Tim! I hope you get to New York soon—I’ll light a candle for you.
Tim: Thanks, Stacy! See you at the show in Miami.
Tim Murray by Kim Newmoney [Courtesy
From The Craft and Wicked to the Sanderson Sisters, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Anjelica Huston’s Grand High Witch, Murray honors iconic witches throughout “herstory,” using their stories as a parallel to the queer journey and the ongoing struggle against societal witch hunts.
The WITCHES dates of the tour are listed on Murray’s Instagram post.
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Here is a teaser of the show:
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