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Comedian, actor and writer Tim Murray, famed for his sharp-witted TikToks and stage work that blends Broadway flair with queer culture, is on his way to Orlando. Murray is bringing his solo show Witches!, a dazzling mix of stand-up, music and drag, to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to mark the spooky season with a comedic Halloween cabaret.
“It is exciting and I am pumped to do it again,” Murray tells Orlando Weekly. “But, I want this to be the last time because I really want to write a new show. It is a big production and a lot of work with costumes, makeup, wigs, props and prep for the show.”
In just over an hour, Murray blends storytelling, musical comedy, improv, drag and crowd work, seamlessly combining all of his passions, topped off with a perfectly pointy hat. He belts out parody songs and riffs with audience members about their personal favorite witches all while dressed in his Wicked Witch of the West best.
First staged in 2022 as a one-off Halloween show, Witches! quickly grew into a phenomenon. Murray toured the show across multiple U.S. cities before taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he refined it for international audiences.
“I want people to experience the feeling of celebration with their friends and to grow up and feel proud of being queer,” Murray says. “Going to Fire Island, trying on wigs, playing dumb games — it’s about the joy of finding your people.”
On his journey with Witches!, Murray has created a coven of fans. One fan gave him a VHS copy of The Worst Witch after he joked about not knowing the film during a set. An Orlando local named Patty was so moved by the show’s message of finding your coven that she had Murray’s face tattooed on her arm.
“I want people to feel frivolity and joy, especially in this current time we’re living in,” Murray says. “I just want people to be able to turn their brains off for an hour and laugh and leave feeling refreshed and like they can party for a little bit.”
For Murray, the project is personal. He grew up obsessed with witches, from Bewitched and Sabrina the Teenage Witch to Buffy’s Willow and Hocus Pocus. As a queer performer, those spellcasters embodied power, transformation and community. That throughline becomes the show’s message, urging audiences to “find your coven.”
“I have always felt like I loved being creative, but I had a hard time finding my path,” Murray says. “So, this show felt like a way to get 10,000 hours doing all my favorite things in one show.”
This fall, Murray will finally capture Witches! on film for an upcoming comedy special as a final document. Beyond that, he has his eyes on new creative horizons, including writing Broadway musicals and plays. He’s also set to perform in the 10th anniversary of I Put a Spell on You, a star-studded Halloween concert event in New York.
But for now, he’s savoring the chance to share his witchy world live with audiences one last time.
“I’ve wanted to bring this show to Orlando for a long time,” Murray says. “The fact that it’s finally happening on this last tour is thrilling. I just love that city, I always have a great time there.”
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