Cast & Crew
Creator
James T. Washburn
James T. Washburn (he/him) is a Queer, dynamically disabled Storyteller-Activist born and raised in Seattle, Washington.
James earned his degree in Original Works at Cornish, where he developed an ensemble devising process drawing on traditional folkloric canons. This process became the foundation for Magpie, where he serves as Artistic Director and resident playwright-director.
You may recognize his writing from Magpie’s Briar/Rose, Arthuriana, RUST: A Ghost Story, and the original Fable in 2024, as well as Achilles + Patroclus with Seattle Opera.
As of September 2026, James will be on sabbatical, studying for his Master’s in Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Co-Writer & Composer
Kyle Morrow
From Las Vegas, Kyle Morrow (he/him) is a composer, percussionist, and pianist. In his compositional work, Morrow examines taboo social dynamics that are typically avoided in everyday conversation, such as mental health and the fluid nature of identity. Morrow is also an avid performer of electronic and experimental music, often collaborating with choreographers and visual artists to create multimedia art.
Kyle Morrow holds a Bachelors of Music, with a Composer/Performer concentration, from Cornish College of the Arts. His primary instructors have been Kaley Lane Eaton, Kerry O'Brien, Anne Goldberg-Baldwin, and Peter Mack.
Kyle is Magpie’s resident Music Director.
Costume Designer & Illustrator
Michelle Marais
Michelle Marais (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, and visual artist at Magpie.
Selected credits: Magpie’s Briar/Rose, Arthuriana, and Fable 2024; Achilles in Sparta at Cornish; Blue to Blue at Annex.
Stage Manager | Kamila | "The Girl in the Mist"
Meghan Williams
Meghan made her acting debut in Magpie’s upcoming film, Jeszcze Raz!
Alexis | "The Warrior"
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, Interim Artistic Director, and resident DP at Magpie.
Past roles: Prince Alister (Briar/Rose), Percy (RUST), The Sun (Fable 2024), Mordred (Arthuriana & Camelot).
Cuilithe | "The Wind"
Kenzie Wells
Kenzie (they/she) is a Seattle based actor and deviser and is thrilled to be returning to the stage with Magpie for Fable! Past credits include Magpie Artist Ensemble's Arthuriana Fest, various productions with Dacha Theatre such as Scandalton LIVE!, The Pomegranate Tree, and The Veil, Latitude Theatre's A Klingon Christmas Carol, and Annex Theatre’s Next Exit as both actor and fight choreographer.
For even more shenanigans outside of live theatre, you can find them on the up and coming actual play D&D podcast Railroad Community Casters Club, wherever you get your podcasts!
Gretel | "The Moon"
Emma Paulini
Emma Paulini (she/they/he) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist and graduate of Pomona College. Emma has a background in voice, modern and ballroom dance, and studied Shakespeare with the British American Drama Academy. She made her Magpie debut as one of three moons in Fable: Tales from Another World (2024) and has since been thrilled to collaborate with Magpie in Camelot (Guenevere), Arthuriana (Lady of Shalott, White Hart, Nimue), and Magpie's Qabarets.
When not on stage, you might find Emma reading, swinging a sword around with Seattle's stage combat community, or admiring plants at the arboretum.
Soleil | "The Sun" & Flora | Spring
Katherine Stambaugh
Katherine Stambaugh (she/they) is a multifaceted, movement-focused performer originally from the Bay Area, CA. She greatly enjoys acting, both on stage and film, and actively performs as a burlesque artist under the stage name Citrine Envie.
Katherine received a BA in Psychology from Seattle University and is currently working on her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Drama Therapy focus.
Katherine Stambaugh made her Magpie debut as one of three Moons during Fable: Tales from Another World (2024). Her favorite part of working with Magpie is the welcoming collaboration she gets to have with the creative team.
Cello | Planina | "The Mountain"
Samantha Farrell
Samantha Farrell made her Magpie Debut during Arthuriana Fest, when she played in the pit for both Camelot and the improvised score of Arthuriana.
Next up: Magpie’s Q4baret: The 4th (sort-of) Annual Queer Cabaret, June 27th!
"Bird Woman"
Anisa Thompson
Anisa Thompson (she/they) is a Seattle local and Língit textile artist. She graduated from University of Washington with Double Honors in Scandinavian Studies with a Minor in Swedish Language, and is currently enrolled in an Occupational Endorsement Certificate program for Ravenstail Weaving through University of Alaska Southeast. She has also taken courses through tribal programs and the Nordic Museum in Seattle.
Having found happiness through folk culture and traditional crafts, Anisa loves learning with the goals to help preserve folk culture and encourage cultural curiosity, responsibility, and pride.
Anisa learned Scottish Highland Dance in high school and is a current member of the Syrena Seattle Traditional Polish Folk Dance Ensemble. She has also taken part in an upcoming Magpie project entitled Jeszcze Raz!
Production Manager
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 FABLE: tales from another world (Magpie and Theatre Off Jackson).
Alexandra is a Founding Member, Interim Managing Director, and resident stage manager at Magpie.
Bookworm | "The Librarian"
David Breyman
David Breyman (he/him) is a long-time Magpie collaborator. He has been featured in past iterations of Qabaret: A Queer Cabaret and originated the role of the King in the workshops for Rust: A Ghost Story.
"The Copyist"
Rasa Lina
Rasa Lina originated the role of the Copyist in Fable: Tales from Another World (2024). More recently, she starred as Babcia in Magpie’s Jeszcze Raz!, currently in post-production.
"Death, the Diviner"
Jacq Babb
Jacq Babb (they/them) originally hails from Fresno, CA ("Smile when you say that!"). After a four year stint in LA as a singer-songwriter, they wandered the greater Seattle area for years, eventually laying down roots in the fae wilds of Whidbey Island. They have a BA in Theatre&Acting, an MFA in CreativeWriting&Poetics, and a DIY in TinyLiving&Nomading.
Favorite recent performances include Maledict in Monstrous Regiment with Latitude Theatre, the roles of Lucius in Titus Andronicus, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, and Minette in Bold Stroke for a Husband with Island Shakespeare Festival, and—but of course— the one and only Death, the Diviner with Magpie Artists’ Ensemble’s Fable, reprising now on tour!
Guitar | "The Cowherd"
AJ Campbell
Local musician AJ Campbell (he/him) is making his Magpie debut as a castmember for Fable: The Endless Tour.
Drums | "Thunder"
Gavin Abandonato
Gavin Abandonato (he/him) made his Magpie debut as a Music Apprentice for Arthuriana Fest, where he shadowed Resident Music Director Kyle Morrow and played in the pit for Camelot and Arthuriana.
Next up: Magpie’s Q4baret: The 4th (sort-of) Annual Queer Cabaret, June 27th!