Sprung from the playful perspectives that result from gay kids trying to metabolize their place in the world — and fresh from a triumphant turn at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival — Tim Murray Is Witches is a musical comedy extravaganza built on a different kind of joy, as well as the joy of difference. Tim Murray tours relentlessly, both on his own and with longtime comedy partner/social media video impresario Michael Henry, and he spoke with the Scene in advance of bringing Witches to the Third Coast Comedy Club.
I know an aspect of this show is rooted in your love for the show Wicked, so I’m sure you’ve got thoughts on the upcoming film version. And I was in a production of Godspell when I was 17, so I understand what a Stephen Schwartz score can do.
I mean, if you have not done a production of Godspell, have you ever been in the theater? I also did Godspell in high school and loved every second of it. Yes, the inspiration for this show was to examine a gay person’s obsession with pop culture, and mine happens to be Wicked. It came out at a formative time for me when I was hiding my gayness but secretly gagging for Idina Menzel at home on my boom box. The show is a love letter to queerness and the way we obsess over the things we love. If you like Wicked, you will freak out for this show. If you know nothing about Wicked, you won’t miss anything — I make it a very accessible comedy show, and hundreds of people who have never seen Wicked tell me they still laughed their butts off.
What is it about witches that resonate with you? Is it the freedom, the opposition to institutionalized fundamentalism, or something else entirely?
There is so much about witch culture that fascinates me, but the most direct parallel I can make is that witches often have to hide who they are from people who do not understand them. They are hunted and feared for being “different.” But once they discover their powers are what makes them special, and they find their coven of other witches, they start to embrace and love themselves.
Is it safe to say that The Wizard of Oz really is one of the primary texts that the modern imagination is built on?
Absolutely. It is one of the greatest films of all time. The structure is so clear, the actors are iconic, and the creativity of that world is so special. Harry Potter wishes! I think most of the fantasy we read and watch today is because of the magic that The Wizard of Oz created. A movie made in the 1930s is still able to hold the attention of children in 2024. That is so incredible, and because of that movie so many queer kids want to be witches — no offense to the farm girl.
As the show has been evolving, what do you notice about your audiences?
The audiences have started to lose their minds for the show, and it is overwhelming and amazing to experience. People cheer the entire time. They yell stuff out at me. They cry at the end. They often leap to their feet. I can’t believe it. It’s been so gratifying and beautiful, and I feel so lucky. Millennial women and LGBTQ people, of course, have a particular love for the show and feel very seen by it. But people of all ages have been discovering it and telling me afterwards how much it means to them. A 63-year-old man showed me a picture of himself as a witch for Halloween when he was 9 years old, and I teared up. Every show there have been more and more straight men, and I think that’s been the most thrilling and exciting thing. That if you make something specific to you and it is good enough, it will transcend its niche corner and expand to people who just like to see something special. Five straight Scottish men wandered into the show in London because they had heard of the comedy club before, and afterwards they were raving to me that it was “the funniest show they have ever seen.” I could cry thinking about it. It was amazing.
What’s your preferred instrument for when you’re writing songs?
I play piano and guitar, but I only came up with the vocal melodies for these songs and sent them as voice notes to my incredible composer friends Zach Reino, who wrote the music for the opening song, and Henry Koperski and Matthew Patrick Davis, who each wrote four songs for the show. They’re all amazing musical comedy composers, and I feel so lucky to be working with the best in the business. Their musicality and understanding of humor has made this show so incredible, and I am not at all shocked that people have been asking for an album, because those boys are all genius songwriters.
What’s it like to play Joe’s Pub at New York’s Public Theatre?
It’s the greatest experience in the world. Playing there last year was the second best day of my life, second only to my wedding day. I’ve loved that venue for so long. I used to go see Bridget Everett and Cole Escola there, thinking “I hope I can be up there one day.” Then when I did play it, the sold-out crowd gave me a minute-and-a-half of entrance applause. We had to hold the show. I could cry just thinking about it. That entire operation and the people who work there are incredible. And it’s not lost on me that across the hall is where I saw Hamilton before it came to Broadway. It’s such an amazing place.
Are you and Michael Henry working on any new material?
Always! We just finished filming something very exciting that I can’t reveal yet, but let’s just say it will be coming to your screens within the next year! After the Witches tour ends in November, Michael and I will head out on the road together again with some new stand-up material. And that boy is always creating new videos for YouTube every week. I’m endlessly impressed with his output, and we have so much fun together. I love doing Witches, but I do miss having a partner in crime on the road.
I once dated a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, so my last question for you is this: How do you keep the green off everything around you?
Oh my God, that’s incredible. And the answer is I do not. My husband is so patient, but it is truly everywhere. It’s on all my clothes, and spoiler alert there is also confetti everywhere. This show does not come without some sacrifices.
