Christie Zhao 赵元媛 (She/Her) is a theatre director, a producer and a interdisciplinary artist. She currently serves as the founding artistic director at Yun Theatre in Seattle. She is also the upcoming 2050 Artistic Fellowship at New York Theatre Workshop.
Growing up in a working-class family in an industrial city in China made her acutely aware of class dynamics and her family’s position in the social whole from a very young age. Discovering theater in college, she pursued a double degree in Computer Science and Drama. This unconventional combination merged technology with her creative soul.
Her aesthetic can be described as bold, socially conscious, and thought-provoking. She gravitates towards works that tackle complex social issues, explore identity and culture, and challenge conventional narratives. She values storytelling that sparks conversations, sheds light on underrepresented perspectives, and pushes boundaries. She is passionate about documentary theatre and new work development.
Her past directing credits include June is the First Fall by Yilong Liu, Passage by Christopher Chen, On the Train by Lisa Price, Young People Social Death Archive by Siming Lu, In Between, a Collection of Short Plays, Caught by Christopher Chen, 14/48 Festival, Two Goldfish (Who Become Heroes) by Olivia Xing and Gefei Liu, Monologues of n Women, and The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht. Additionally, she has worked in production management, stage management, light design, and sound design with Seattle Public Theatre, Sound Theatre Company, SIS Productions, Shattered Glass Project, Swim Pony, School of Drama at the University of Washington, Dum-Canny Alley, and Fertile Ground Festival.