Tim Mulligan, a San Diego business executive and leadership book author, is back with his second play, ‘Point Loma’, which will make its much-anticipated off-Broadway debut this week at Manhattan Repertory Theatre.
This new spooky tale follows the success of his first play, ‘Witchland’, which premiered in 2021 and quickly became a hit at Backyard Renaissance Theatre in San Diego. Mulligan’s inspiration for ‘Witchland’ stemmed from his childhood experiences in Richland, Washington, a city heavily impacted by the storage of radioactive materials at the Hanford nuclear power plant.
Now, ‘Point Loma’ draws upon Mulligan’s real-life experiences in a potentially haunted house located in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego. The play is currently in previews at the Chain Theatre in Manhattan’s garment district and officially opens on Wednesday, running through June 16. For those interested in attending, tickets can be purchased at witchlandplay.com/get-tickets.
In a recent interview with the Union-Tribune, Mulligan provided updates about his life and work since the premiere of ‘Witchland’. He shared that he has moved back to San Diego and now oversees human resources for Cal Coast Credit Union, while still spending weekends in Palm Springs.
Mulligan also noted that ‘Witchland’ has continued to thrive since its initial success. After its world premiere in San Diego, it is set to run in Palm Springs in 2024 and will have its off-Broadway debut later that same year with a Manhattan-based theater company.
In addition to theatre, Mulligan has ventured into graphic novels and cookbooks. He has adapted ‘Witchland’ into a trilogy of graphic novels titled ‘The World of Witchland’, collaborating with artist Pyrink. The first book, ‘Witchland’, was released in early 2024, followed by ‘Snitchland’, a ghost story focused on Hanford whistleblowers, in October. The third book, ‘Twitchland’, which offers a dark take on vampirism and addiction set at the Hanford site, is slated for release in late June.
Mulligan’s experiences growing up in Richland inspired ‘Witchland’, while ‘Point Loma’ is rooted in his encounters in a historic, allegedly haunted house in Point Loma. He aims to create a quintessential haunted house play filled with a compelling backstory infused with San Diego history.
The new play features paranormal and supernatural elements, similar to those in ‘Witchland’. When asked if he believes in ghosts, Mulligan candidly shared his own encounters with strange, unexplainable phenomena, particularly his experiences in the haunted house that inspired ‘Point Loma’. He expressed his belief that the spirits of those who have passed remain with us in various ways, a theme he explores in both ‘Snitchland’ and ‘Point Loma’.
In ‘Point Loma’, the central character is a hospice nurse named Chad, who navigates eerie experiences while caring for a comatose homeowner. The plot revolves around two hospice nurses who share shifts caring for the homeowner and are soon embroiled in chilling paranormal activity, culminating in the involvement of a popular podcasting duo investigating the haunting.
Mulligan’s collaboration with Manhattan Repertory Theatre has been seamless, stemming from the success of ‘Witchland’. He sent the script for ‘Point Loma’ at the perfect time, and after its positive reception, the theatre expressed strong interest in producing his next work. Throughout this creative process, Mulligan has worked closely with the artistic director Ken Wolf to refine the script, enhance the scares, and streamline the narrative.
Looking ahead, Mulligan hopes to bring ‘Point Loma’ to San Diego, ideally performing it in the same neighborhood where the story takes place. While plans are not yet solidified, he has indicated that the script is currently under consideration by local theatre companies, and a Palm Springs run is likely forthcoming.
As a writer, Mulligan is not resting on his laurels. He has a range of ‘Witchland’-themed plays ready for production, in addition to a series of graphic novels. He envisions potential adaptations of the ‘Witchland’ stories into screen series, recognizing the wide array of ideas stemming from the historical and supernatural context of the Hanford nuclear site.
Ultimately, Mulligan desires that audiences experience a thrilling mix of excitement, fear, and enjoyment during performances of ‘Point Loma’. He aims to create a distinctive theatrical atmosphere where spectators can share in the scares and keep the discussions going long after leaving the theater.
This unique blend of personal experience and theatrical storytelling continues to mark Mulligan’s evolving career as a playwright and artist.
image source from：https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/01/san-diego-playwright-readies-spooky-point-loma-play-for-off-broadway-run/
