Linda Surlak
Board of Directors

Originally from New Jersey, Linda has lived in the Chicago suburbs since 1998. She has a B.A. in Education from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) but hasn’t let that get in the way of living an interesting life. Growing up in a musical family, she can’t remember a time when she didn’t sing in a choir, probably starting at age 3, and working her way up to NJ All-State High School Chorus. After the obligatory piano lessons, Linda also played trumpet, French horn, flugelhorn and baritone in various school and community bands. (And yes, she’s still got a lot of brass.) Before moving to Illinois, she was Director of Music at a Presbyterian church, directed the McGuire Air Force Base officer’s wives chorus, the Skylarks, and sang with a female quartet called Harmony Express. After a few years working in community theater, Linda now studies cabaret, with a strong leaning toward musical comedy, and is an associate member of Chicago Cabaret Professionals. She collects novelty songs, has written several parodies and original humorous ditties, and is hoping it won’t be too long before she’s known as “Victor Borge in a dress.” To stay out of trouble from 9-5, Linda works as a communications associate; after 5pm, she enjoys volunteering her time and computer skills, most recently as Grove Players’ newsletter and playbills editor. While still living in New Jersey, she was named “Volunteer of the Year” for the state of NJ with the American Cancer Society, where she taught the “Look Good, Feel Better” program, spoke at various functions and designed the “Adopt-a-Racing-Duck” fundraiser. Having been the recipient of much kindness during her lifetime, she sees working with Acts of Kindness Cabaret as the perfect way to repay the universe.