Magpie Artists' Ensemble

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 after our June 2023 run at Theatre Off Jackson.

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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.

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james t. washburn

James T. Washburn (he/him) is a gay, trans, and disabled Storyteller-Activist based in Seattle. His work is deeply inspired by his community and 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.

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/her) 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 (he/they) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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Kyle Morrow | Writer

Bio Coming Soon

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.