Artistic Director
Linda Fortunato has spent 17 seasons at Peninsula Players as a director, choreographer, actor and business manager. Fortunato was previously the artistic director of Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana where her credits include directing White Christmas, Cabaret, The Pajama Game, Big River, The Tin Woman, Steel Magnolias, and a dozen others as director, choreographer or actor. Linda been nominated for five Joseph Jefferson Awards for her work as a choreographer and director. She received both the Equity and Non-Equity Jeff Award for Outstanding Choreography in the 2013-2014 season, garnering Theatre at the Center their first award for her Choreography of 42nd Street.
Fortunato’s other directing and choreography credits include work at BoHo Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Timeline Theatre, Writers Theatre, American Players Theatre, New Tuners, Riverfront Theatre, The Lamb’s Theatre-NY, and dozens of productions at Chicago-area High Schools and Colleges. Her performance credits include roles at Marriott Theatre, Peninsula Players, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Evergreen Park, Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, Fulton Opera, Chicago Dramatists, American Eagle, and Candlelight Playhouse.
Fortunato has taught in the Theatre Departments at Columbia College Chicago and Loyola University Chicago. She graduated from Millikin University with a BFA in Theatre and a minor in Dance. Linda is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) and Actors Equity Association (AEA). She lives in Evanston with her husband, actor Sean Fortunato, and their 13-year-old son.
2021 Roles: Sally Talley in Talley’s Folly
2019 Roles: Director/Choreographer for Ghost the Musical
2018 Roles: Director for Living on Love
2015 Roles: Amy Summerfield in A Real Lulu; Director for Lend Me A Tenor
2014 Roles: Director for Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None
2013 Roles: Director for Once A Ponzi Time; Celeste 2/Elaine in Sunday In The Park With George
2012 Roles: Director for The Nerd; Choreographer for Chicago
2011 Roles: Cecily Cardew in The Importance Of Being Earnest; Director for The Fox on the Fairway
2010 Roles: Choreographer for A Little Night Music; Dance Consultant and Trudi Floote in Comic Potential; Girl in dress shop in Comic Potential
2009 Roles: Choreographer for A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine; Susy Hendrix in Wait Until Dark
2007 Roles: Choreographer for Little Shop of Horrors
2006 Roles: Brooke/Vicki in Noises Off; Choreographer for Cabaret
2004 Roles: Sophia Zubritsky in Fools; Choreographer for Into the Woods
2002 Roles: Charlie in Dames at Sea; Nikki Crandall in Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
1999 Roles: Edith in Blithe Spirit and Sister in It Runs in the Family (and Business Manager)
1998 Roles: Business Manager
1997 Roles: Eileen in Moon Over Buffalo, Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls, The Woman in The Woman in Black
1996 Roles: Elaine in Crazy for You