Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with ghosts and the paranormal. Maybe it was because of all the episodes I watched of Bewitched, Scooby-Doo & Casper The Friendly Ghost.

As an adult I have gone on several ghost tours, with only one possibility of seeing an orb, but I have had other paranormal experiences from chills down my spine to feelings of being watched to a ghost attacking me in my dreams (whom I luckily fought off), only to have him return several months later, but again, I triumphed over his revenge.

When I heard about Playwright Tim Mulligan's new play Point Loma, being based upon his own personal experiences with ghosts & paranormal activity, I had to find a way to speak with him!

In this interview, Tim answered my call to share:

• When he realized the real life events he was experiencing would make a good play
• What he learned about himself from writing Point Loma
• Why Manhattan Repertory Theatre aligns with his artistic vision
• How ghost hunting made him feel like he was on an episode of Scooby-Doo
• So much more

Connect with Tim: Website, Instagram

Presented by Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Point Loma will play at the Chain Theatre in NYC from May 31, 2025-June 15, 2025. Click here for tickets!

Based on true events, Point Loma tells the story of a committed hospice nurse who takes a job working the night shift in a historic California home in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego near the US military owned Liberty Station.

After a series of terrifying events involving some sort of paranormal presence, a ghost-hunting podcast company visits the home to document the events and learn that the home has a shocking history rooted in the history of San Diego itself.

And that these stories must be told for the living to heal, and for these restless spirits to find peace.

1. You are getting ready for your new play, Point Loma, to be presented by Manhattan Repertory Theatre at the Chain Theatre in NYC. This is your second play that is being produced by them. Why do you feel Manhattan Repertory Theatre's vision aligns so well with your playwriting? Manhattan Repertory Theatre took a chance with me as a first-time playwright in 2024 with my play Witchland, which I will be forever grateful for.

They really help bring new works to the stage - and aren't afraid to take risks and chances. Also, the team there really appreciates the horror genre, and creating plays that make for fun, unique, and scary nights out for adults.

Witchland was such a success that they jumped at the chance to stage the World Premiere of my new play, Point Loma - and have really embraced the horror elements. What they will be presenting on stage will be unlike anything out there in live theater right now.

2. How have they nurtured you as a playwright in a way another theatre company has not? With my last show, Witchland, the play had already had a successful history in other cities, so there was not really much needed in terms of script development.

But with Point Loma, this being a World Premiere, they have worked very closely with me in tightening the script, challenging certain aspects of the story, and really leaning into the horror elements.

Playwright Tim Mulligan in New York City's Time Square
Photo Courtesy of Tim Mulligan's Social Media

3. Point Loma is based on some real life events that happened to you. At what point during these experiences did you go, "I have to write a play about this"? I'm a huge fan of the horror genre, in all forms. With Witchland, I really wanted to tell the story of my real life home town, which is the home of a giant nuclear reactor cleanup, and has suffered decades of tragedy, and oddity.

So it made sense for me to write what I know, and tell the story of this town, and my own experiences growing up in a "haunted" town, with the Witch thrown in that terrorized me all through high school. I then adapted Witchland to a trilogy of graphic novels, continuing with the story.

With Point Loma, I wanted to tell a different type of story, about the place I live and love, San Diego. So of course the setting of my good friends' home - a historic home near the military base in San Diego that is inhabited by a "supernatural presence," made perfect sense.

So I set out to create the quintessential haunted house play - based on this house, and the events experienced living in this house, and of course tying it all to the history of San Diego.

4. What did you learn about yourself from writing this show that you didn't know living through the original experience? I have become very fascinated (obsessed) with the concept and reality of "ghosts" living among us. This was also the topic of my second graphic novel, Snitchland.

With Point Loma, I really wanted to explore why is a house haunted? What can ghosts do, or say, or what are they trying to do and say? Can we just simply co-exist with them?

Now that I've written Point Loma, and I visit the house in question, I certainly experience the phenomena in a different way - not necessarily afraid, but more intrigued with what is going on around me. And around all of us, anywhere, really - that we can sense, but not necessarily see.

Playwright Tim Mulligan 
Photo Courtesy of Tim Mulligan's Social Media

5. Is there any part of the show you are worried about presenting to an audience? If so, why are you so nervous? I've been very careful to protect the identity of the family who continue to live in this house - that's been key.

As for an audience, I wouldn't say I'm nervous about it - I just really hope audiences come to Point Loma with an open mind, ready to scream, jump, grab the hand of the person sitting next to them. And experience a live theater experience in a way totally different than how they've experienced theater before.

6. Outside of the events that happen in Point Loma, have you ever encountered any other paranormal activity? My first play, Witchland, is based on real experiences with a "witch." As for paranormal activity, yes, I've had my fair share - haven't we all? It wasn't until this home in Point Loma, however, where it was so overt and in-my-face.

Playwright Tim Mulligan
Photo Courtesy of Tim Mulligan's Social Media

7. During your ghost hunting experiences, did you ever feel like you were in an episode of Scooby-Doo, and if so, who would you be? That's funny. I always feel like I'm in an episode of Scooby-Doo. I'm definitely the Fred of the group - taking charge, planning, and leading the way.

8. Press notes state that the show is "a chilling, darkly funny, new play about ghosts, and the haunting truth that no one really moves on." What is something that you haven't moved on from like you thought you had? Part of my fascination with ghosts, or the paranormal, is exactly the question - why are there ghosts around us?

I like to think there are spirits of those who have passed "lingering" around us - after death - for whatever reason - either stuck in a setting due to some unresolved trauma or unfinished business or guilt - or, just because nothing truly ends, and peace is elusive.

For me, I often go through life thinking/hoping/sensing that loved ones (parents, friends, pets) are still with me, somehow, in some way. That's the haunting truth I'm referring to.

Tim Mulligan holding his Perfect 10 Cookbook
Photo Courtesy of Tim Mulligan's Social Media

9. Who or what inspired you to become a playwright? During COVID, and quarantine, I finally forced myself to open the laptop and do something I've always wanted to do - write a play, a scary play. And so I taught myself, in my mid-50's, to do so.

Always being a junkie of attending live theatre, I really felt that a genre was severely lacking in this space - that of a scary/haunting play. So that was my goal.

Now, four years later, I've written five plays, and had two make the rounds, including Off-Broadway runs - along with a trilogy of graphic novels...and two cookbooks!

I still work full-time by day, but my spare time is now fully engulfed with the processing of creating. And I have so many ideas for future projects, I just keep writing and writing.

10. What is something we didn't get to talk about in this interview that you'd like my audience to know about you? I think my message overall - that it's never too late in life for a second life, or a career you never thought would happen.

It took becoming an empty nester (my two kids moved out and on during COVID) and a pandemic to get me fired up to finally do what I've always wanted to do. And if I can do that, I'd say anyone can.

Tim Mulligan, Photo Credit: Matt Chambers

More on Tim Mulligan:

Tim Mulligan wrote Point Loma based on real events he has experienced in the San Diego home of a friend. In addition to Point Loma, Tim wrote the play Witchland that garnered excellent notices in California and NYC, as well as writing the popular World of Witchland trilogy of graphic novels based on his home town, and the best-selling Perfect 10 cookbooks.

An avid fan of theatre/movies/books/TV, pretty much all things pop culture – especially in the horror genre, Tim and his partner Sean live in Palm Springs and San Diego.