Sara Blankestyn became part of the Summer Place Family in 2016, as a follower in Jesus Christ Superstar. This was a return to the stage after a long hiatus and she couldn’t be happier. Since the summer of 2016, Sara has been seen on stage with SPT in Anything Goes and Sugar – the Some Like It Hot Musical. When Sara is not on stage, she still likes to be part of the team that makes the magic happen! Lending her skills in Production Management, Costumes, Props, and now as a board member with SPT.

Sara holds a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management and works as a Group Sales Manager at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois.

Steve made his Summer Place Theater debut in 2018, marking a return to the stage for the first time in 37 when he protrayed Mr. Bienstock in Sugar - The Some Like it Hot Musical, and followed it up by playing Uncle Wes in Footloose. Steve brings to the board a passion for theater and years of experience in writing and web site administration. 

Cynthia Lauren-Grant has created the Summer Place’s last four original Musical Revues, as well as our big anniversary show 50 Years of Musicals from the Summer Place Theatre. She was the producer/director for the show, as well as being a performer. Cynthia grew up in Bensenville, but gravitated to Los Angeles to “be a star,” where she worked as an actress and singer for The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville Theatre and the Birdcage Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm. In Illinois, Cynthia has worked with the Tempo Players and the Magical Starlight Theatre. A Naperville resident, she was asked to be on the Board of Directors of the Summer Place Theatre in 1993, after playing “Peter” in their production of Peter Pan. It was her first production with the Summer Place, along with her then 5 year old son Corin, now an actor in Los Angeles. One of her early responsibilities for the Board was the theatre’s mailings. The mother and son team “licked and sticked” over 3000 labels per mailing! Since that time, Cynthia has performed in many Summer Place productions, most recently appearing as Sweet Sue in Sugar - The Some Like It Hot Musical in 2018, as well as serving as vice president, secretary, producer, and music director. She is the House Manager for SPT. Cynthia holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education, with a minor in Theatre, from the University of Illinois. She is a retired vocal music teacher with the Naperville Public Schools, and plans a second career in the world of voiceover performing.

Sharesa Uher Moffitt holds a degree in music education with a vocal focus from St. Xavier University. She owns a successful business travel teaching voice and piano lessons in the Hinsdale area. She has performed in close to 20 musicals, and has recently broadened her horizons by performing in plays. She first appeared on the Summer Place Theatre stage in 2015 as a Ni Knight in Spamalot, then as a citizen in Jesus Christ Superstar, Ethel in The Music Man, John in Anything Goes, and Dude most recently in Sugar - The Some Like It Hot Musical. The stage is where she feels she is her best self! Sharesa also has experience in music/vocal directing and props, hospitality, program compilation, sound board, and marketing and advertising. She is thrilled to be a part of SPT and cannot wait to see what is in store for the theater in the upcoming years!

Ramona started her theater career in high school with John Pearce, who took a liking to her and featured her in George M. Cohan and Flower Drum Song. She won third place twice in the Last Fling Talent Show. She taught at Rosemary Beyer Dance Studio in the 1980s, and performed in the Sesquicentennial Follies in 1981 with the late, great Naperville Mayor George Pradel and John Ripsky.

Ramona has been in several Summer Place musicals, including The Music Man, Anything Goes, and most recently, Sugar - The Some Like It Hot Musical.

She has been a dental assistant since the 1970s in Naperville and currently works at Alexian Brothers Hospital.

Susan has been on the board for two and a half years. She has always been interested in theater. As a child she was in several operas and Toyland. When her children became interested in doing theater she became active with Kidz Kabaret, then Summer Place Theatre. As a board member she has helped with sets, manages the Box Office, and produced Shakespeare Land of the Dead and Desk Set.

Ted Waltmire has been a part of The Summer Place since 1977 when he was cast in Damn Yankees. Since then he has served as a musical director and on the Board of Directors producing plays and musicals as well as a term as President.  Ted has also studied at the Second City Training Center, Chicago Dramatists, and Porchlight Theater.  Following a stroke in 2009 Ted wrote the book and lyrics, collaborated with Stephanie McCullough on the music, and starred in The Mighty Ted which has been produced twice in Chicago. He was recently seen as the Bellboy in Sugar - The Some Like It Hot Musical. 

Steve is the past president of Summer Place Theatre and has been a major supporter of this theatre group for years. He's also an accomplished actor and singer, appearing in many of our plays and musicals, most recently as Osgood Fielding in Sugar - The Some Like It Hot Musical, as well as Arthur in Spamalot, and appearances in Oklahoma, Harvey, The Man Who Came to Dinner, a Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (pictured).