A Bit About Caitlyn…
Caitlyn McCain (she/her) is an award-winning, black-mixed-queer NYC-based applied theatre practitioner, actor, educator, and voice professional. With an MA in Applied Theatre from the City University of New York and a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Caitlyn believes theatre is the most powerful tool for connection, self-discovery, and social change. She has worked with diverse populations, including K-12 students across NYC, youth in transitional housing, LGBTQIA+ communities and neuro-divergent communities, focusing on social-emotional growth through a trauma-informed lens.
Caitlyn is committed to creating anti-oppressive, anti-racist, accessible, and trauma-informed theatre that empowers individuals to lead with curiosity, creativity, and respect for humanity. As Associate Program Director of the Creative Arts Team (CAT) Youth Theatre, she devises socially relevant theatre with middle and high school students, fostering critical thinking and community engagement.
Her work includes creating "Start the Conversation" (STC) with New York City Children’s Theater, providing adults with tools to engage in meaningful dialogue on complex topics with children. She also co-created "The Trauma-Informed Toolkit for Educators," offering strategies to create supportive, healing-centered environments. Caitlyn also works as a Drama Curriculum Specialist with The Juilliard School’s K-12 Programs and Initiatives to support theatre educators across the country. Recognized with the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) Community Impact Award, the American Alliance for Theatre Education (AATE) Distinguished Thesis Award and featured in the New York Times, Caitlyn’s work emphasizes collaboration, acknowledging community expertise and working with mental health professionals to harness theatre’s therapeutic potential.
Caitlyn’s work empowers people of all ages to dream, to imagine and rehearse new realities, making space for a more just and compassionate world.