Ruth Eckerd Hall

by Elizabeth Aretis

Performing arts is one of my greatest passions. As of 2006 Ruth Eckerd Hall has been my stage and home. It was once a vast parcel of land before becoming the great stage for artists today. The story began when June Baumgardner Gelbart donated a 38-acre load of land to Clearwater. Her only request was that the land be used for a performing arts center.  Jack Eckerd donated money so the building could start for the performing arts center, and he too had a single request. He requested that the concert hall  be named after Ruth Eckerd, his wife. Once construction was finished it opened to the public on October 15th, 1983. Since then it has been a non-profit organization. Ruth Eckerd Hall is part of the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts. Its two thousand-one hundred-and eighty seat auditorium provides a great view from any point in the theater. It also provides performing arts education to all. It hosts concerts, recitals, plays, and special events. The mission of Ruth Eckerd Hall INC. is to “present the fines in the performing arts and provide performing arts education, making each available to all segments of the community”.

Like all old buildings it has gone through one main fantastic renovation. The restoration began in the middle of year in 2012. The full renovation needed $20 million. The  money collected was not just used for the Hall.  The restoration money was split between the Capitol Theater, which Ruth Eckerd Hall has been operating for the city for two years, and Ruth Eckerd Hall. Twelve million dollars were given to Ruth Eckerd. The fundraising money was used to improve the main hall, focusing to improve and increase its visibility from McMullen Booth Road, expanding the lobby, improving dressing rooms backstage, a new roof, glass walls, and a twenty-five foot higher ceiling. All of this construction was finished just in time for Ruth Eckerd Hall’s thirtieth anniversary in December 2013. The remaining eight million dollars were utilized for the restoration of the Capitol Theater located in Clearwater. The renovations included seating for seven hundred-and fifty people, a repainting, six new loge boxes, an outdoor wraparound balcony, extended room for socializing, and a rooftop terrace and bar.

 

Not only does Ruth Eckerd Hall host small recitals  but many famous artists have performed there. These artists include: Anita Baker, Anne Murray, B.B. King, Dave Koz, Don Rickles, Itzkah Perlman, Jethro Tull, Joan Rivers, Earth Wind and Fire, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Gipsy Kings, Irish Rovers, k.d. land, Sheryl Crow, State Symphony of Russia, Tokyo String Quartet, Yamato Drummers of Japan, the Florida Orchestra, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Moscow Festival Ballet.

    Ruth Eckerd Hall has been the host of a performer who set two consecutive records. Singer Dave Chappelle set the two consecutive records on December 17th at 7:30 and 10:00 p.m. At the 7:30 show two thousand-one hundred-and seventy-one tickets. At the 10 o’clock show there were two thousand-one hundred-and ninety-three tickets sold. There was a total of four thousand-three hundred-and sixty-four tickets sold. That was one of the two consecutive records, which was the most paid tickets over two shows for the same performer. The second consecutive record was the number of tickets sold for the 10 o’clock show, which was the most ever number of tickets for a single performer.

Ruth Eckerd Hall has also won many awards.  In April of 2008, Pollystar ranked Ruth Eckerd Hall sixth in ticket sales amongst theaters with five-thousand or fewer seating arrangements in the world. In July, Billboard Magazine ranked Ruth Eckerd number one in ticket sales and gross dollars for venues with two thousand-five hundred seats from November 2007 through May 2008. In December of 2008 Ruth Eckerd was nominated for Pollstar Concert Industry Award in the category of Theater of the Year. The Hall was nominated along with Beacon Theater in New York, Chicago Theater, Fox Theater in Atlanta, Nokia Theater in L.A. , Radio City Music Hall in New York, and Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

To conclude, Ruth Eckerd is a cultural landmark for the people in Pinellas County, Florida. It has provided over the years a home for the performing arts world and its followers.  Not only is it a place where history and culture meet but it also is a place where it soothes the soul of many people including me… a dancer.