Social Seens... Photography by Gram
MOULIN ROUGE
The Spectacular Spectacular Gala
Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater’s board of directors and staff, led by CEO
Susan Crockett and board chair Mike Bollenback, welcomed guests to
Moulin Rouge, their French-themed, black-tie optional, cancan attireencouraged
gala.
The benefit began with a cocktail reception in the hall’s newly expanded
Grand Lobby with entertainment by the Ruth Eckerd Hall Jazz Combo under
the direction of Frank Williams and Michael Kernodle.
Once on the temporarily extended Main Stage, the evening’s honorary chairs,
Dr. César and Penelope Lara were introduced, as was former Tampa Bay Buccaneer
Ronde Barber, who is now the general chairman of Copperhead Charities and
the Valspar Championship, which is helping to support Ruth Eckerd Hall.
The French-inspired lobster and steak dinner and entertainment by cancan
dancers and Marlee Michael, a student at the hall’s Marcia P. Hoffman School
of the Arts and an alumna of its The Grammy Museum’s Music Revolution
Project, were followed by a live auction. Then when special guest artist Grammy
nominee Taylor Dayne, who is known as the queen of dance pop, took the stage,
she filled the air with her powerful voice and the dance floor with eager dancers.
Susan Crockett, Ruth Eckerd Hall’s president
and CEO, and her husband Grant Crockett
were excited to party and dine with friends
and supporters of the hall’s entertainment
and education programs.
Penelope and Dr. César Lara, honorary chairs
of the evening gala they helped sponsor, are
ardent supporters of Ruth Eckerd Hall, where
he is a member of the board.
142 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Bonnie and Mike Bollenback, chair of
Ruth Eckerd Hall’s board of directors,
were impressed with a performance by
talented voice student Marlee Michael,
a voice student of the hall’s Marcia P.
Hoffman School of the Arts.