Anthony DeSantis, KStJ[1] (January 5, 1914 - June 6, 2007) was an American entrepreneur and theater owner in Chicago, Illinois.
[2] DeSantis was born in Gary, Indiana, and began his career in show business as a trumpet player in Chicago.
In 1940, he purchased a club on Michigan Avenue before moving out of Chicago to nearby Evergreen Park, where he opened the Martinique Restaurant, which was highly acclaimed.
[4] Despite the occasional setback, his Drury Lane Theater empire grew steadily and DeSantis became a wealthy man.
Significant increases to production budgets has allowed Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook Terrace to modernize the look of the stage, enhance scenic design, add more players to the orchestra pit, secure better costuming, and cast with, as Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune said, “a real eye to excellence,” drawing from both “the very talented, vibrant Chicago theater community” and “a national casting pool.”[7] In 2013, the facility unveiled phase I of its multimillion-dollar renovation, including the 27,000 square foot Grand Ballroom, the Main Lobby and Cocktail Lounge, and the French and English Rooms.