play development

  • Amputees (by Quentin Nguyen-Duy)

    Fall 2019 - Production Workshop. Gathered research, suggested and assisted with revisions, designed and executed a lobby display on a budget of zero dollars, and led a talk back.

    Spring 2020 - Zoom Workshop. Major role was furthering the lessons and goals learned from the 2019 production, and suggesting and assisting with revisions.

    It would be neglectful to not mention that her on-going partnership with writer, Quentin Nguyen-Duy, has shaped her as an artist. In his words “I made her,” in hers “I guess he was around.”

  • Untitled Middle School Play (by Grace Goble)

    Spring 2023 - Staged Reading, Attic @ The Tank. Suggested and assisted with edits. Focused on the organization of the play, it’s historical (yes historical) context, and consulted on the subject of being a weird weird middle school girl.

    Who knew slumber parties were so tense? (We did!)

  • Salamander and the Impediment (by Charlotte Weinman)

    Pre Spring 2021 - Charlotte Weinman emails McKayla 15 pages of absolute gold—she cannot help assisting in the development from that moment on.

    Spring 2021 - Zoom Workshop. Created a dramaturgical presentation, lead development based rehearsals, suggested and assisted with revisions.

    This play may be Charlotte Weinman’s kid, but it’s McKayla Witt’s first gig as a midwife.

  • The Body Electric (by Grace Goble)

    Fall 2021 - Workshopped at Boston University

    Suggested and assisted revisions. Dug in and oriented the play in its goals, questions, and hopes. This play is a kick ass combo of theater and politics that has West Wing shaking in it’s earth-toned boots.

  • 122112 (by Julia Hertzberg)

    Spring 2021 - Zoom Workshop. Created a dramaturgical presentation, lead development based rehearsals, suggested and assisted with revisions. But mostly focused on creating a playwright centric project that served a script in progress.

  • Laure (by Mya Ison)

    Spring 2021 - Zoom Workshop. Created a dramaturgical presentation, lead development based rehearsals, suggested and assisted with revisions. The work during this process was able to propel the work into receiving a full stage production the following fall.

  • Holistic Review (by Nelson Niu)

    Summer 2020 - Zoom Workshop. Lead development in and out of rehearsals.

  • Missing (by Raymond Vasco)

    Spring 2019 - Staged Reading Workshop. Facilitated the development and rehearsal process.

published works

Spring Awakening (Upcoming)

As resident dramaturg of Outside the Lines Theater, McKayla Witt is working alongside Emma Cavage and the team’s designers to create a world that emphasizes the parallels between 1840s Germany and our present day. McKayla Witt will gather research, create a dramaturgical protocol, and facilitate a voter registration sign-up pre and post shows.

Lizzie: The Musical

In a Boston University 2022 production, McKayla Witt worked with alongside director Emma Cavage and the teams designers to find a world filled with 1890s/1990s angst. McKayla Witt gathered research material, created a dramaturgical protocol, and worked closely with the creative team to prepare for the rehearsal process.

Sweat

Assisted Kristin Leahey in the pre-production dramaturgy for Trinity Rep’s Sweat by Lynn Nottage. McKayla helped outline and compiled resources for the production’s protocol.  This production was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Othello

In a Boston University 2020 production, Dir. Noah Putterman focused on setting Shakespeare’s tale in the political landscape of 90s America. In an effort to fulling support this vision McKayla gathered research, presented a dramaturgical presentation, and created a lobby display. Throughout the process she worked closely with the director to ensure all themes were coming across.