When Hartzell was hired in 1984, Seattle Children's Theatre was a small, dedicated company with a modest annual budget. It is now a major force in introducing children to theatre thanks to Hartzell's work.
Hartzel helped bring the Pasek and Paul musiucal James and the Giant Peach back to life in 2013.
Hartzell told the Seattle Times, "Now I’m greeting the children of grandchildren and parents who visited the theater when they were young. I’m proud of what we’ve done, and the way we’ve done it. Theater is a team sport, and this is not a dysfunctional place. I’ve worked with so many great people. We collaborate, and we laugh a lot."
Hartzell will continue to work on projects with the theatre after retiring from her position. A national search for her successor will begin soon.
