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 a 2050 Artistic Fellow in Directing at New York Theatre Workshop (2024–2025).
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 directing credits include Li by Wei He; 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; Two Goldfish (Who Become Heroes) by Olivia Xing and Gefei Liu; Monologues of n Women; and The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht. Her new play development work includes Wandering by Max Yu; Brother Brother Brothers by Rebs Chen; Chop Suey by Max Yu; Sawmill (adapted from From Forest Farm to Sawmill); Machinal AI, developed through New York Theatre Workshop, the Adelphi Residency, the American Playwrights Foundation, Abrons Arts Center, and festivals including 14/48 and Instant Noodles: A 24-Hour AAPI Theatre Festival. She is the Founding Artistic Director of Yun Theatre and has also worked across producing, production management, and design roles with Ping Chong and Company, Theatre Off Jackson, SIS Productions, Sound Theatre Company, Swim Pony, Pork Filled Productions, and the University of Washington School of Drama.