Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to be in Seattle as Tim Murray taped something truly special — and yes, you heard that right: I was in the audience. That performance has now been crafted into Tim Murray Is Witches, a comedy special full of spellbinding laughs and heartfelt moments (now available online). 

The show’s premise is deceptively simple: Witches have always belonged to the Gays. From the rebellious teens in The Craft to the misunderstood green heroine of Wicked, from the camp chaos of the Sanderson Sisters to Anjelica Huston’s deliciously menacing Grand High Witch, Murray builds his hour around these sorceresses who shaped so many Queer childhoods. These weren’t just characters — for many in the audience, they were the first figures on screen who felt like outsiders wielding power rather than hiding it. 

What really makes Tim Murray Is Witches stand out, though, is the music. It’s where the magic truly comes alive. 

“I Wanna Be Witches” opens like a memory. Murray sings about growing up in Ohio, pretending to be a witch while straight boys played superheroes. It’s funny and specific, but beneath the humor, there’s a truth that resonated with everyone in the room: that many of us built entire imaginary worlds just to feel like the magic was ours too. 

Then there’s “I Hate Kids,” a gleefully wicked number. The crowd loved it — they howled. Murray has a real gift for taking those mean-spirited little thoughts we’d never dare say out loud and turning them into a sing-along. 

And the showstopper? That’s “Dr. Dillamond’s Lament.” Tim gives the forgotten professor from Wicked his moment in the spotlight, and what starts as a clever premise turns into something genuinely moving.

Of course, none of this would work without Murray’s comedic talent and his ability to engage the audience. His special has earned five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and fueled a sold-out, 18-city tour across the US and Canada, selling more than 32,000 tickets. That’s no small feat. 

Offstage, Tim’s résumé reads like a fever dream of everything fun in entertainment. He was part of the writing team behind the 2025 and 2026 Tony Awards — yes, including that viral Lady Marmalade opening with Pink and Megan Thee Stallion. You might have seen him acting in HBO’s The Other Two or in the film Swan Song alongside Jennifer Coolidge. With over 300,000 followers, he’s become one of the most beloved LGBTQ+ comedic voices online. 

If you caught the show in Seattle, you understand why this project is the one he’s most proud of. It’s where every part of him — the writer, the performer, and the kid from Ohio — finally shares the stage. 

After watching the advance screening of the special and reflecting on that memorable night, I reached out with a few questions. Here’s our conversation: 

Frank Gaimari: You filmed Tim Murray Is Witches in Seattle. What attracted you to our city, and did anything about the crowd surprise you once the cameras started rolling? 

Tim Murray: I have always loved playing Seattle. It’s the perfect combination of an artsy, theater town, with lots of Queer people and audiences who enjoy something a little offbeat. Whenever I perform there, I have a blast. My director Brent Driscoll and producer Frank Spadafora both live there and found our incredible venue in this old church. It felt very right. 

FG: Much of your comedy stems from personal experience. Growing up Gay in Ohio, you faced bullying as a child. How did those experiences influence your comedic voice? 

TM: I think all Queer people have an inherent sense of self-defense from the playground growing up. That’s why we’re all so good at reading each other. As a kid, I knew that if I wasn’t good at football, I could at least make everyone laugh. Being the Gay one sharpened my skills and gave me a point of view on the world, which is vital for comedy. You must have an opinion. You must be saying something. My bullies gave me something to say. 

FG: You sold out 18 cities across the US and Canada. What do you love most about life on the road, and what’s the part about touring nobody warns you about? 

TM: I love showing up in a new city and figuring out what to do and see! And most importantly, what to eat. The thing nobody warns you about is that airline travel is now dead, and we’d all be better off traveling by horse and buggy. Ninety percent of my flights have been delayed. That’s not me exaggerating — that’s literally what happens. Something has shifted, and flying is not what it used to be. Maybe it’s because we used to have a Gay guy running the Department of Transportation, and now we… well… don’t? I’m not sure, but I know I must fly to every city the day before a show, because I can’t risk (insert any airline) losing my bag full of drag or straight-up not getting me there. 

FG: Now that this project is complete, do you have another special in the works? 

TM: I am slowly developing a show about my mom, whom we lost the week after I filmed the special. She was incredibly funny, gregarious, warm, and deeply extroverted. She made so many people feel loved that 735 people attended her funeral. Susan has a story, and I have a lot of comedy to mine as well. She was truly one of a kind, and one day I’ll have a show ready about her. In the meantime, I’m writing some comedy musicals for the theatre that will be announced soon. 

FG: The show centers on finding your “coven.” When did you first feel you’d found yours, and how did that experience change you? 

TM: I found my coven in the neighborhood girls I grew up with. Then I lost them for several years — the period when I hid myself and pretended… not to be a witch. When I went to college, I came out of the closet, and my coven started to reform naturally. One of those neighborhood girls is my best friend again. We talk every day. Finding your people is everything. I think that’s why we’re alive. I mean, I’m not gonna watch Drag Race alone! 

FG: What message do you want LGBTQ+ youth to take away from your show? 

TM: I want them to know that we understand it will always be hard to be us, but because we have each other, we get to experience something incredibly special in this life. Having a Queer coven of friends is a gift you can only get by being LGBTQ+. If growing up feels tough, it will all be worth it — and then some. 

Tim Murray’s special arrived on September 17 and is available for $20 at timmurraycomedian.com. Watch it for an hour of comedy that will have you laughing until you cry. If you’re looking for your coven, this is the perfect place to start.

Copyright ©️2026 by Frank Gaimari