In December, 2007 Cal High graduate Ashley DeWitt became a Children’s and Family Emmy winner for Outstanding Voice Directing for the animated Netflix show “Ada Twist, Scientist”.
DeWitt was the voice and casting director for the show.
Her path to becoming an Emmy winner started when she was in high school at Cal, where she joined play production and choir. During her time in Cal’s drama club, DeWitt was the stage manager for the plays “Dearly Departed” and “The Laramie Project”. She portrayed Mrs. Gibbs in the play “Our Town”, and Gertrude McFuzz on “Seussical”.
“Being able to do [drama and choir] in high school and being able to explore singing and acting in high school helped me continue my passion,” DeWitt said.
During the casting of “Ada Twist, Scientist” DeWitt watched hundreds of auditions. She shortlisted the best ones which were then given to executive producers to be reviewed.
After graduating from Cal, DeWitt attended Cal State University of Northridge, where she majored in theater.
While in college, DeWitt interned at a commercial casting company until she realized she didn’t like working in commercials, so she applied to work for DreamWorks.
DeWitt started working at DreamWorks in 2016. There, she worked in their casting companies and helped schedule actors for recording sessions. While at DreamWorks, DeWitt found her passion for voice directing.
DreamWorks is also where DeWitt met Kristi Reed, who was a voice director. After leaving DreamWorks in 2018, DeWitt worked for BlazeCon, a video game convention and helped with their talent management.
DeWitt was working at BlazeCon when Reed reached out to her, asking if she was still interested in voice directing. DeWitt then left BlazeCon, and became Reed’s assistant.
DeWitt helped Reed cast for projects and scheduling. It was with Reed that DeWitt started to learn her new craft.
“[Reed] also taught me how to voice direct, while introducing me to other studios,” DeWitt said. “She introduced me to the people at Cartoon Network.”
In 2020, Reed got offered to cast and direct anti-racism shots for “Steven Universe”, but passed the job along to DeWitt. Reed believed that these shots would be important for DeWitt as she was a woman of color.
The anti-racism shots for “Steven Universe” marked DeWitt’s first break as a voice director.
“I ended up being the casting and voice director for that show,” DeWitt said. “I got to cast the kid actors in that, so I helped them find those kids.”
Chris Nee, creator of “Doc McStuffins” and “Vampirina”, reached out to DeWitt after her job with “Steven Universe”. Nee was looking for a voice and casting director for a new show, “Ada Twist, Scientist”.
DeWitt was interviewed at Netflix, where she got the job. Working as a voice director for “Ada Twist, Scientist” allowed DeWitt to cast an entire series by herself.
“Ada Twist, Scientist” started recording in 2020 and wrapped at the end of 2022.
When she learned news of the nomination on Nov. 2, 2023, DeWitt and the rest of the show’s team couldn’t believe it. DeWitt knew the show had been submitted to be nominated for an Emmy, but didn’t expect it to actually happen.
“I don’t do my job for that,” DeWitt said. “It’s so cool to be recognized. It’s an honor truly.”
Even though the show revolves around science and some terms could be technical, DeWitt said there are important themes reflected in the show.
“The show is about the emotions behind discovery,” DeWitt said. “It is okay to fail and it’s OK to try again. It’s OK to take a moment to look at all the possibilities to make informed decisions, and that’s an important message, especially for preschoolers. Especially the message that not everything is perfect.”
DeWitt later posted on Instagram, “I am so beyond proud to have been nominated for an Emmy for my first animated series as voice director. Working on ‘Ada Twist’ was such a dream way to debut, and I can’t wait for what the future holds.”
