keelyn mcdermott

DIRECTOR. COSTUME DESIGNER. WRITER. PERFORMER. STAGE MANAGER.

Meet me!

Hi! I’m keelyn mcdermott — a theatre artist telling bold, imaginative stories through direction, design, and performance.

My work oftentimes employs humor and bold genre to create outlandish worlds that criticize our own — like through my directing of A midsummer night’s dream or my own original work. When I’m not at the helm creating said world, i play apart in executing it visually — whether through costume design or stage management.

I’m currently based in Southern California and open to production, design, and directing opportunities that challenge form and invite audiences to imagine differently.

Professional theatre

Costume Designer/stage manager, Hello, My Name Is — Moving Arts

photos by eric keitel

Dir. Darin Anthony. Written by amy dellagarino. Designed and constructed four original jumpsuits from the ground up for a diverse cast of actors, each with distinct body types. This process involved custom pattern drafting, fittings, and iterative adjustments to ensure both visual cohesion and individualized fit.The designs balanced movement, durability, and storytelling, supporting the physical demands of performance while reinforcing the production’s aesthetic and thematic goals. Collaborated closely with directors and performers to create costumes that felt both expressive and functional onstage.

“Keelyn McDermott’s costumes — red jumpsuits resembling an inmate’s uniform — are apropos for a tale about a group of people in a prison of their own making.” – Deborah Klugman, Stage Raw

Winner of best ensemble, stage raw awards ’25

for more of my costume design work, click here!

Stage manager, Dead Moose – Oceanside TheaTRE COMPANY

Served as Stage Manager for Dead Moose, leading all technical and organizational aspects of the production within an accelerated six-week rehearsal and production timeline. Called and executed cues for lights, sound, and projections, maintaining precision and consistency under a condensed schedule. Managed and collaborated with an Assistant Stage Manager, delegating backstage responsibilities and ensuring clear, efficient communication across departments. Successfully balanced multiple technical tracks while supporting the cast and creative team, helping to deliver a cohesive and polished production on a fast-paced timeline.

“OTC’s production of Dead Moose is proving hard-felt work, creativity, and room for new pieces that need to be told with fresh perspectives and angles…Congratulations to all at OTC as the theatre year has started on the right foot.” – Alejandra Enciso, From another 0

Theatre journalism

San diego Correspondent, Stage raw

Review: Fiasco Theater’s bartleby

review: adolescent salvation

Personal essay: Cycle of Salvation

for more of my writing, subscribe to my substack here!

directing

director, A midsummer night’s dream

I directed a contemporary reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that foregrounded imagination, desire, and the chaos of human connection. Blending modern music, dynamic physical comedy, and inventive staging, I built a fast-paced, visually engaging production that made Shakespeare accessible and resonant for today’s audiences. I led a collaborative rehearsal process, guiding actors through both text work and movement-driven storytelling, while working closely with designers to create a cohesive and playful world. This project reflects my strength as a director in balancing conceptual vision with ensemble-driven performance and audience engagement.