Christine
Gradl
Seitz

As the Executive and Artistic Director of the Duluth Playhouse, Christine Gradl Seitz provides leadership and vision for the Playhouse and is responsible for the artistic overview of productions and programming. Her extensive background in performing arts has made her a perfect fit for the job. She has been a professional actress, dancer, singer, director, choreographer, teacher, and arts leader.

Christine began her career in New York City and was soon cast in her first of several principal roles on Broadway. Christine has a long history with A Chorus Line performing throughout the world with the traveling production. She has also been on All My Children and Days of Our Lives, as well as several commercials and radio jingles. She was also privileged to perform with an elite cast for former President Reagan, Mrs. Reagan, and White House staff in the televised special: In Performance at the White House.

Christine resides in Duluth with her husband Bob, and her cat, Millie. Her life outside theater is quite full with five stepdaughters and four grandchildren.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Energy. I’m animated, intense, feisty. Energy leads to all the others.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I don’t think I’ve found my greatest achievement. I’m still finding it. That’s not to say I haven’t had some great achievements, but I’m still looking for my greatest. The greatest thus far is that I am happy and feel good about my life, my choices, and where I am.

When and where were you happiest?
I am happier today than I was yesterday. The here and now, even though there are daily bad moments and there’s been adversity. I sometimes look back on my life and I was so happy in New York and traveling extensively. I didn’t think life could get better. But it did get better. I’m happier now than I was then.

What is your greatest regret?
I don’t have any regrets. I really don’t. In the moment, people often have regrets and there certainly have been decisions I’ve made that I thought at the time weren’t the right choice. But I can’t think of any situation that was bad that didn’t lead to good. And some of the hardest things I’ve had to face have led to the greatest adventures in my life. I believe everything happens for a reason, so even in a moment when I’m not happy with a decision of mine, even in that moment, I can say “it’s going to be ok.” More often than not, that doesn’t come right away – sometimes it takes a great deal of time. You have to hang on and know that it’s going to be ok.

Who I’ve become is all part of what’s meant to be and I just embrace that and am ok with that.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
That’s a tough one. My first thought is that happiness isn’t perfect. It’s about having to have certain experiences. Sometimes some less-than-perfect situations can bring about happiness in your life.

For me happiness is balance, in work and relationship, travel and a core value – having impact. Having impact makes me very happy - when I get up in the morning and know that something I’m going to do that day will make a difference.

What is your most treasured possession?
My mind and body.

Where would you most like to live?
On a warm beachfront.

What is your greatest fear?
This is a pretty easy one for me. I’ve always had a fear of not being able to complete what I want to do. Even as a child I didn’t want to go to bed without having completed something. I don’t want life to end before I’ve experienced everything I’ve wanted to experience.

That tomorrow will come, I won’t wake up …and I’m not done yet.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Lack of patience. It’s my lifelong struggle. I’m just not good at it. It’s not natural to me. It’s with myself, with others, with things not moving fast enough.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lack of honesty.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
I don’t know how virtues can be overrated. But I suppose any virtue could be overrated if taken to the extreme.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Clothes. I’m not that extravagant, but with clothes, if it fits and I like it, I buy it.

What’s on your ipod?
When I figure out how to work it – running music.

What is your favorite journey?
The process. Of life, of achievement. It’s why I love theatre so much. I love the process of bringing plays to life – more than watching them. The process of learning something new, figuring things out, going somewhere. Forward movement is my favorite journey.

What is it that you most dislike?
Boredom. Second in line and getting closer and closer every day is growing older.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Reliability. Several are really important but the single most important one is to be reliable. And with that comes words like integrity, strong morals. The other quality is compassion – a man that really cares.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Self-assuredness. Driven, independent. The same qualities as in a man - honesty, compassion. I’m most attracted to women that are unassuming, but self-assured.

What do you most value in your friends?
The same as in men and women. My best friends are strong supporters, reliable friends – people I know I can count on.

If you were to come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A cat. I either was a cat or I am going to be a cat. I have a very catlike personality – fierce independence with fierce loyalty. Cats don’t require a lot of attention but when they want it, they let you know and then they’re warm and fuzzy.

How would you like to die?
First, I’m too busy to die. I haven’t thought about it. This makes me think about it. So, believe it or not, I’d like to know. I’d like to be healthy and have the full functions of my mind and body. If I could plan my exit I’d like to. If I could know a year in advance, I’d have enough time to tie up loose ends, see the people I want to see, have some final impact, travel to some places I still really want to see. I’d want to plan it prior to my health deteriorating.

I want to be cremated, put in a little tiny urn (with peepholes) and go everywhere with my husband so I don’t miss anything.