Magpie Artists' Ensemble
About Us
Magpie Artists’ Ensemble is a collective of Queer artists who are passionate about collaboration, representation, accessibility, and creative storytelling.
BriarRose
BriarRose is the age-old story of a fairytale Princess banished by an evil Queen, with a twist: the “Princess” is actually Briar, a young trans man just discovering his identity.Now available to stream free on YouTube after our June 2023 run at Theatre Off Jackson.
FABLE
tales from another world
Cross the mystical border to the land of FABLE - “a world not unlike our own,” where magic and mystery await.
FABLE was a 6 hour immersive worldbuilding experience, performed only on June 29th, 2024 at Theatre Off Jackson.
The FABLE show book, with tales from the land of Fable and commentary by the writers and performers, as well as copies of Death's divination deck, are now available for purchase.
The Myth Cycle
In this powerful series of retellings of the Greek canon, the Magpie ensemble takes on the roles of Gods and mortals, heroes and villains, as they explore themes of identity, belonging, and Pride - or hubris.
About Us
Magpie Artists’ Ensemble is a collective of Queer artists who are passionate about collaboration, representation, accessibility, and creative storytelling.Mission: Our artistic mission is to push the boundaries of print and performance mediums, bringing diverse stories to life in exciting and accessible ways.Vision: Magpie is building a community of intersectional Queer artists and audiences, connecting them across all barriers. We give Queer stories a voice and create opportunities to be seen for those who haven't heard their own stories told before.Magpie produces two live or filmed productions a year, as well as at least one staged reading of a new work by a local playwright. Our original works are always recorded for streaming, and tickets are consistently low-cost, with free tickets/streams available to community members who may not be able to access live performance otherwise.As part of our commitment to making the arts accessible to artists as well as audiences, each project has technical and performance roles reserved for local artists who have not had access to formal training in their field, who get on-the-job instruction while receiving the same compensation as their professional peers.Magpie is proudly Powered by Shunpike. Make a tax-deductible donation today to support our boundary-breaking work!
james t. washburn
James T. Washburn (he/him) is a gay, trans, and disabled Storyteller-Activist born and raised in Seattle. A highly collaborative artist, his work is predicated on the idea that a story is best told with many voices. He is deeply inspired by his Queer, artistic, and Polish communities, and his experiences at the intersection of marginalized identities.Washburn is a multi-hyphenate artist, with works spanning from the immersive epistolary novella Sealed with Honey to Achilles + Patroclus, a chamber opera commissioned by the Seattle Opera. He takes inspiration from folklore, mythology, and queer history; his work focuses on discovering queerness in traditional stories and reimagining familiar tropes and archetypes through a queer lens.
When he's not playing with actors, you can usually find him in his office taping drafts to the wall murder board-style, or dancing with Syrena Seattle Polish folk dance ensemble on stages around the country.Washburn is resident director and playwright at Magpie, and currently serves as Founding Artistic Director.
jae kinsman
Jae Kinsman (they/them) is a Seattle-based jack-of-all-trades. Graduating from Cornish College of the Arts in 2020 with a BFA in musical theatre, they helped found Magpie Artists' Ensemble amidst the artistic chaos of the pandemic. Their work at Magpie and with other collaborators has found them onstage, on both sides of the camera, and folding and shipping hundreds of Victorian-style handwritten letters every month.Jae is a Founding Core Company Member, fulfillment coordinator, and resident DP at Magpie.
alexandra angelova
Alexandra Angelova (she/her) is a Bulgarian American stage manager and event coordinator based in Seattle. She has been stage managing James' crazy ideas since 2016, when she co-founded their first company, Bellevue Teen Productions. Favorite projects include the NYE festivities at the Space Needle and Magpie's BriarRose.Alexandra is a Founding Member and resident stage manager at Magpie.
michelle marais
Michelle Marais Goodwin (she/they) is a Native American (Ojibwe) actor, painter, and costume designer. Originally from the rural Midwest, she studied theater and visual art at the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, MN, graduating in 2016. In 2020, Michelle received her BFA in Theater from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA, where she presently resides.Michelle is a Founding Core Company Member, resident costumer designer, and visual artist at Magpie.
rowan gallagher
Rowan Gallagher (they/them) is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts where he majored in Original Works with a focus on Directing. He wears many hats in the Seattle theatre community as an actor, dramaturg, fight choreographer, dialect coach, writer, and director.His recent projects include dialect coaching for The Whickhams at Taptroot Theatre, assistant directing for Born Yesterday at Theatre 9/12, Dramaturgy for Hello Girls at Taproot Theatre, and most recently acting in Monstrous Regiment at Latitude Theatre as a part of their inaugural production.
Rowan has been involved with Magpie since before its official formation, as he participated in several generative theatre projects which would help lay the groundwork for what Magpie would become. Rowan is overjoyed to be an official member of Magpie Artists’ Ensemble and looks forward to creating amazing art with exceptional people moving forward with the company.
Neena Malcom
Neena (they/them) is thrilled to be working with a company that celebrates queerness so lovingly.Neena recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in dance from PLU in Tacoma.
Their recent credits include Lady Brunhilde in "BriarRose" with Magpie, Agnes in "She Kills Monsters" with Alpha Psi Omega, Rachel in "Reckless" and Ensemble in "Pippin" with PLU Theatre and Dance.
Neena is a core ensemble member at Magpie.
Rust
RUST is a tense, claustrophobic exploration of the cycles of patriarchal violence and what happens when tradition and a mythologized past cloud our understanding of the present. Hamlet and Macbeth meet Gormenghast and The Woman in Black (+ homoerotic swordfights) in this haunting supernatural revenge thriller.
Cast & Crew
The Myth Cycle
In this powerful series of retellings of the Greek canon, the Magpie ensemble takes on the roles of Gods and mortals, heroes and villains, as they explore themes of identity, belonging, and Pride - or hubris.
ICARUS FALLS
One of two world premier Ensemble-generated works. Icarus Falls is a heartwrenching love story that explores generational tensions and the complicated grey area between Pride and Hubris.MEDUSA'S BLESSING
The second world premier Ensemble-generated piece. Medusa's Blessing reimagines Medusa's origin story to become one of empowerment and connection between queer women in the face of patriarchal violence.PHOENIX RISING
A fresh addition to the Greek canon, Phoenix Rising follows a "forgotten" child of Zeus as he dares to defy his father and live as the man he knows himself to be. Drawing inspiration from other mistreated mythological figures, he finds the strength to rise again in the face of adversity.BONUS: ACHILLES + PATROCLUS [Workshop Documentary Performance]
An intimate retelling of Achilles & Patroclus’ relationship from childhood to the Iliad, exploring the nonlinear nature of relationships & memory. Achilles + Patroclus deals with themes of fate and choice, and the intersections of loyalty, grief, and sacrifice.
Past Projects
RUST (2023)
RUST: A Ghost Story is a tense, claustrophobic exploration of the cycles of patriarchal violence and what happens when tradition and a mythologized past cloud our understanding of the present. Hamlet and Macbeth meet Gormenghast and The Fall of the House of Usher (+ homoerotic swordfights) in this haunting supernatural revenge thriller.
Magpie Artists' Ensemble produced RUST as a unique and magical "musical in concert-style" spin on a staged reading on November 12th, 2023 at 18th&Union.
Sealed With Honey (2021-2022)
If you’ve ever spent your days gazing wistfully out the window, awaiting the evening post (or you’ve wished you were expecting a letter so you could); if you love to imagine yourself in the kinds of stories the Brontes and Jane Austen wrote; if you love queer romances written by queer people, then Sealed with Honey is for you.
Sealed with Honey is a queer epistolary* romance novel set in Victorian times, but it’s also much more than that. Instead of a traditional book, you get to experience each event along with the characters, at the same pace they do - every two weeks, one of their letters will be delivered to you in the mail.*Epistolary - adjective | (of a literary work) in the form of letters. "an epistolary novel"
Phoenix Rising Zine (2020)
Phoenix Rising is the epic story of a forgotten trans child of Zeus, dealing with themes of identity, intersectionality, and resistance. The ten-minute play was first workshopped for O!Fest 2019 at Cornish College of the Arts, and was featured in Third Citizen Theatre Company’s Digital Dionysia in December 2020.
The Phoenix Rising zine included a fully illustrated copy of the script, along with three brand-new illustrated short stories about the mythological figures Phoenix is inspired by: Echo, Prometheus, and Hephaestus. Backers also had the option to order additional prints and stickers designed by the contributing artists.
Cross the mystical border to the land of FABLE - “a world not unlike our own,” where magic and mystery await.Guests are invited to explore the world of FABLE at their own pace, moving through spaces inhabited by storytellers, gods, and beings less easy to define - all orbiting the endless, cosmic love story of the Sun and Moon as it plays out across time.While FABLE is rooted in our own world (featuring tales and figures drawing on Filipino, Slavic, Celtic, and Ojibwe traditions, among others), it exists in a unique time and space, with its own rules and mythologies to discover. Listen to the legends and creation myths of the world as told by its inhabitants in the Storytelling Room, consult with the Diviner to learn untold secrets, or pass a milenia watching the Sun and Moon chase each other across the cosmos.
More About FABLE
FABLE is a unique, experimental production that explores the nature and power of storytelling, especially oral traditions. It runs continuously for 6 hours, during which guests can come and go as they please, spending as much time as they'd like exploring each location within the world.Guests may consult the mysterious Diviner and her deck of cards for a unique tale improvised for their ears only; listen to storytellers reciting creation myths and legends from the land of FABLE; tell their own stories to the infamous Copyist, and hear him retell them with his own embellishments; or simply sit and watch the more "traditional" theatrical performance of the Sun and Moon's endless romance. They'll also be able to meet and interact with characters from some of the stories they've heard, who will be wandering the space alongside the audience - some more obvious than others.The show is a beautiful blend of the cultures and identities of not just the curators (Kyle Morrow and James T. Washburn), but every artist involved. Join us in a lovingly crafted a world that's deeply familiar yet full of surprises, where queerness is woven into the very fabric of the universe.
Cast & Creatives
Information on the incredible artists who built the world of FABLE!
If you particularly enjoyed a story or interaction tonight, we encourage you to tip the artist directly via the link beneath their photo.
James T. Washburn | Creator, Writer, Director, The Warrior
James T. Washburn (he/him) is a gay, trans, and disabled Storyteller-Activist born and raised in Seattle. A highly collaborative artist, his work is predicated on the idea that a story is best told with many voices. He is deeply inspired by his Queer, artistic, and Polish communities, and his experiences at the intersection of marginalized identities.
Washburn is a multi-hyphenate artist, with works spanning from the immersive epistolary novella Sealed with Honey to Achilles + Patroclus, a chamber opera commissioned by the Seattle Opera. He takes inspiration from folklore, mythology, and Queer history; his work focuses on discovering queerness in traditional stories and reimagining familiar tropes and archetypes through a Queer lens.
Kyle Morrow | Writer
Bio Coming Soon
Michelle Goodwin | The Moon, Costumes, & Divination Art
Michelle Marais Goodwin (she/they) is a Native American (Ojibwe) actor, painter, and costume designer. Originally from the rural Midwest, she studied theater and visual art at the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, MN, graduating in 2016. In 2020, Michelle received her BFA in Theater from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA, where she presently resides.
Michelle is a Founding Core Company Member, resident costumer designer, and visual artist at Magpie.
Rowan Gallagher | The Sun
Rowan Gallagher (they/them) is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts where they majored in Original Works with a focus on Directing. They wear many hats in the Seattle theatre community as an actor, dramaturg, fight choreographer, dialect coach, writer, and director.
Rowan has been involved with Magpie since before its official formation, as they participated in several generative theatre projects which would help lay the groundwork for what Magpie would become. Rowan is overjoyed to be an official Core Ensemble member of Magpie Artists’ Ensemble and looks forward to creating amazing art with exceptional people moving forward with the company.
Jae Kinsman | The Sun
Jae Kinsman (they/them) is a Seattle-based jack-of-all-trades. Graduating from Cornish College of the Arts in 2020 with a BFA in musical theatre, they helped found Magpie Artists' Ensemble amidst the artistic chaos of the pandemic. Their work at Magpie and with other collaborators has found them onstage, on both sides of the camera, and folding and shipping hundreds of Victorian-style handwritten letters every month.
Jae is a Founding Core Company Member, fulfillment coordinator, and resident DP at Magpie.
Alexandra Angelova | Stage Manager
Alexandra Angelova (she/her) is a Bulgarian American stage manager and event coordinator based in Seattle. She has been stage managing James' crazy ideas since 2016, when she co-founded their first company, Bellevue Teen Productions. Favorite projects include the NYE festivities at the Space Needle and Magpie's BriarRose.
Alexandra is a Founding Member and resident stage manager at Magpie.
Tony Holzwarth | Moth Man
Originally growing up in the suburbs of the Chicago-land area, Tony Holzwarth (They/He) is a long time appreciator and seldom participant of the arts. Their acting history started off with Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Roger in Rent, and Emmet in Legally Blonde The Musical.
Recently relocated to the PNW, they are excited to explore what the local theatre scene has to offer.
Tony is the very first Technical Intern at Magpie Artists' Ensemble.
Neena Malcom | The Sun
Neena (they/them) is thrilled to be working on a show that celebrates queerness so lovingly, with a company that reflects the show proudly.
Neena recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in dance from PLU in Tacoma.
Their recent credits include Lady Brunhilde in "BriarRose" with Magpie, Agnes in "She Kills Monsters" with Alpha Psi Omega, Rachel in "Reckless" and Ensemble in "Pippin" with PLU Theatre and Dance.
Neena would love to thank their wonderful girlfriend for her constant support in everything they do. They would also like to thank their parents for always encouraging them in all of their pursuits and thank you to the cast and crew for being wonderful!
Katherine Stambaugh | The Moon
Since childhood, Katherine has acted in a range of shows from Into the Woods to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. She works with local Seattle theaters, does live murder mystery improv, and regularly performs in and assists with burlesque shows.
Katherine recently starred in a leading role for the short film Babyteeth, which was selected for the 2023 NFFTY Film Festival. She has also directed and assistant directed multiple musicals and shadowcasts. During her time with Inigo Productions, Katherine held the role of president and coordinated the production of multiple live shows and events.
Katherine enjoys spending their time choreographing burlesque acts, designing costumes, and spending time with their dog and partner. They look forward to more learning opportunities and getting further involved in local theater!
Emma Paulini | The Moon
Emma Paulini is thrilled to join the cast of FABLE and work with Magpie Artists' Ensemble since recently moving to Seattle! Emma graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Biology, with minors in Theatre and German, and now works at the Pacific Northwest Ballet. She has a performance background in theatre, music, and dance (primarily ballroom and modern) and enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and going on adventures big and small.
Kevin Silveria | The Cowherd
Kevin Silveira (he/him) is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. With a focus on electric bass and vocals, he leads the heavy, groovy, ska-punk band Simple Minded Symphony (SMS); performing, touring, and recording with the Seattle-based group.
His most recent projects include directing and editing several music videos for SMS, and the release of a self-titled album under record label Ska-Punk International. FABLE will be Kevin's first collaboration with Magpie, and his first experience with the world of theatre!
Skye Farrell | The Librarian
Skye is an actor/musician who has recently returned to Seattle after receiving their BA(hons) acting degree from the Institute of the Arts Barcelona. Skye first worked on a project directed by James in 2015, and liked it so much he's been working with him ever since. Some of his recent credits include Victorian Christmas Cards (Latitude Theatre), Briar/Rose (Magpie Artists Ensemble), and Taproot Theatre's touring Road Company.
Jana Blumberg | Bird Woman
Bio Coming Soon
Jacq Babb | The Diviner
Jacq Babb (they/them) originally hails from Fresno, CA ("Smile when you say that!"), succumbing to a four year stint in LA as a singer-songwriter before wandering to the greater Seattle area and eventually secreting away in the fae wilds of Whidbey. They have a BA in Theatre and Acting, an MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics, and a DIY in Tiny Living. Favorite performances include Maledict in Monstrous Regiment with Latitude Theatre, Lucius in Titus Andronicus, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, and Minette in Bold Stroke for a Husband with Island Shakespeare Festival. A multidisciplinary artist at their core, Jacq busies themself with photography, visual arts, design, and writing when not traipsing across a stage.
Rasa Lina | The Copyist
Rasa Lina (she/they) is a Lithuanian American performance and visual artist recently relocated to the Seattle area. Originally from Chicago, Rasa studied writing/performance with the Neo-Futurists, improv/sketch writing with Second City, and holds a BA in Theatre from Hope College.
She’s produced/performed original sketch comedy, children’s theatre, and performance art. Deeply passionate about the ensemble collaborative work aesthetic, Rasa is truly delighted to be working with Magpie Artists’ Ensemble in Fable.
When not performing, Rasa creates mixed media visual art, loves music and pickles, and is on the constant hunt for imported flash frozen Lithuanian rye bread.
Emily Fortuna | Bird Man
Emily Fortuna is thrilled to embody their inner bird-person in their first production with the Magpie Artist's Ensemble. Some of their favorite Seattle area stage credits include Wazzer in Monstrous Regiment (Latitude Theater), Jenny Sunshine in Truth Like the Sun (Book-It Repertory Theatre), Thea Elvsted in Hedda Gabler (Harlequin Theatre), South in Codename: Kansas (Copious Love), and Nina Sheinberg in LAPD, Serious Murders Unit (Ghost Light). They also are an improviser, act in films, and have an abnormal fascination with plants. Their performance is dedicated to the crow family that lives near their place: Brett, Meghan, Little Crow, Fledgie, and Jaime Tartt.
Bee Wright | The Stars
Bee Wright is new to Washington and to the Seattle theatre scene, but happy to be here and very excited to be a part of FABLE. They studied theatre in both production and performance at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and worked summers at Fort Peck Summer Theatre in Fort Peck, Montana. Bee recently spent a year in sunny California, where they built scenery for the Pacific Conservatory Theatre and performed monologues, scenes, and sonnets from Shakespeare's works at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. That is where they met their best friend, Missy, a beautiful black cat they will happily show pictures of at the slightest hint of interest.