Social Seens... Photography by Gram
A Grand Reopening
Following its $1.5 million renovation, the all-new Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater reopened with much
fanfare. The evening, which was dedicated to Nancy and the late Ray Murray, included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and
entertainment by the legendary rock ‘n roll group Sha Na Na, former Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts scholarship recipient
and Broadway star Quentin Darrington, the Ruth Eckerd Hall/Clearwater Jazz Holiday Combo, as well as greetings from Ruth
Eckerd Hall President and CEO Zev Buffman, City of Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos, former Mayor Frank Hibbard, and
other dignitaries.
Ken Pereira and his wife Terri, whose parents
helped fund the original as well as the redesigned
Murray Theater, were moved by its reopening
presentation.
Greg Willsey and his wife Sandra Nesbit
and their GFS Private Wealth company were
among the Murray Theatre’s Grand Opening
Event Dream Sponsors.
Zev Buffman, Ruth Eckerd Hall’s president and
CEO, and his wife Vilma excitedly explained the
Theatre’s numerous new seating configurations
and uses that the renovation makes possible.
Josh Magidson, Ruth Eckerd Hall’s outgoing
board chair, and Marcus Greene, its incoming
chair, were glad to see so many attendees at the
Murray’s opening.
Lee Hooper expressed pride in the part her
husband Ed, a former State Representative,
played in procuring partial funding for the
Murray from the State of Florida.
Carol and Phil Beauchamp, along with
Pinch A Penny, were the Grand Sponsors
of the well-orchestrated Murray Theatre
Grand Opening Event.
172 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015