ATP Spotlight Feature - Phil Murphy

     

Phil Murphy

While the majority of Aged To Perfection (ATP) members come to the group with a modicum of theatrical experience, a notable exception is one of ATP’s founders, Phil Murphy. “I have directed, produced, and acted in over 250 shows in the last 50 years,” says Murphy, and that doesn’t even count a wealth of involvement in theatre business and administration.

Murphy’s Old Town Playhouse (OTP) resumè began back in 1976 after he arrived in Traverse City following completion of studies in English Literature and Writing at Miami University. He was soon cast as the radical, Perchik, in OTP’s first production of Fiddler on the Roof. From there, he did turns in The Fantasticks, My Fair Lady, and Company while making his directorial debut at OTP with I Never Sang For My Father in 1978. Murphy also helped launch OTP’s Studio Theatre in 1979.

In 1981, Murphy relocated to Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan, where he served as General Manager of its professional theatre program and Business Manager of the summer theatre program. While there, he completed work on an M.A. in Theatre Administration at the Rackham School. That led, in turn, to yet another move, this time to serve as Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Stage Co. (The Metro), a professional theatre in Pittsburgh, a position he held for 3 1/2 years. He also served as a consultant to the burgeoning American Ibsen Theatre and worked in management with the Pittsburgh Playhouse Theatre Center of Point Park College.

It was time for one more move and a friend coaxed him into returning to Traverse City as a temporary destination. One thing led to another and another and another, however, as his stay kept being extended. Murphy directed two shows for OTP—Jesus Christ Superstar and Sweeny Todd. He also co-founded the Mysteries USA theatre company which led to tours around the U.S. Murphy then did a one-year stint at Interlochen Arts Academy and after that, took over the theatre program from Harry Oliver at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC). This undertaking lasted three years, a period which saw him co-found and serve as President of the Traverse City Children’s Theatre (Later: The OTP Young Company).

It was in this period, 1994 to be precise, that Murphy seized his chance to play Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof—a role that he would repeat in 2011. “My favorite role was probably Tevye,”  he points out, recognizing that it was a tremendous opportunity.

After some free-lance writing, Murphy was next hired as a book reviewer for Small Press Magazine and later as Editor for Independent Publisher. He ended that ten-year stint in editing and publishing as Communication Manager for the Jenkins Group.

In 2005, Murphy became Executive Director for OTP and further developed the children’s theatre program he 15 years earlier brought from NMC to OTP, where it was brought under OTP’s Executive Directorship. From there, it evolved into The Young Company. This is just one area where Murphy shaped a plan for reorganization within OTP.

Once at OTP, Murphy began working on an electronic ticketing system. After receiving significant grants, he brought the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, City Opera House, and the Dennos Museum Center together with OTP and created TREAT, which was to make electronic ticketing for any group in the TC Area. It was later sold and continues to serve the community as My North Tickets.

In 2010, an idea was hatched to start a senior readers theatre program at OTP.  Murphy worked with Barbara Goodearl to found this group which became Aged to Perfection. He has been a guiding force for the group ever since - acting, directing, doing sound design, and serving on the Steering Committee.

January of 2019 found Murphy shifting into the position of Artistic Coordinator at OTP as Deb Jackson came in to take the role of Executive Director. With his moving toward retirement in 2024 and the arrival of Wes Curry as Artistic Director, Murphy downsized his focus to computer graphics design. He also remains within ATP as an active member.

After 15 years of involvement in ATP, Murphy finds himself working toward further maturation of the group. “I would really like to see ATP focus additionally on acting and not just reading in our productions,” Murphy emphasizes. This means more movement and interactions among the players. He would also like to see ATP increasingly tackle more serious material, “deepening dramatic reach and doing more challenging things.” This was seen in Spring of 2025 when ATP staged the one act play, Birdbath, under his direction. This took ATP to a whole new realm of expression.

Are there things he would still like to address at OTP? Murphy would love to take on the titular role in Death of a Salesman, though he suspects it would be an elusive goal at this point in his life. He would also like to direct Sunday in the Park with George on the Mainstage. “When I’m directing, I’m in heaven,” Murphy adds, elaborating that he loves picturing the staging and realizing his vision.

What else is in Murphy’s future? Writing. He has been working on a series of mysteries with Annie Goodman. They have created an overarching structure for the series and are presently looking at completing the introductory piece in the saga.

Meanwhile, ATP serves as a dependable vehicle for Murphy’s work in the theatre, providing opportunities for expression and teaching, even as he looks back on a massive career filled with many achievements. “It is my outlet,” he says, and with that objective he holds much in common with the rest of the membership.