Susan Crockett Named Chief Operating Officer/VP of Operations at Ruth Eckerd Hall

Zev Buffman, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. President & CEO announced today that Susan Crockett has been promoted from Chief Information Officer/VP of Operations to Chief Operating Officer/VP of Operations for Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Capitol Theatre and Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road.

In announcing the promotion of Crockett, Buffman commented, "Over the past 28 years with Ruth Eckerd Hall, Susan has gained a vast amount of knowledge and has earned tremendous respect from her colleagues and the Board of Directors. I have worked closely with her for nearly 5 years and could not ask nor find a better COO. She has certainly grown into this position with the necessary expertise."

"I am very thankful for the trust and support that I have been given by Zev, the Board of Directors, the senior staff and the entire organization," commented Crockett. "I look forward to working with our staff carrying out our mission."

In her new role, Crockett will be involved in all aspects of company-related matters, including operations for the more than 250-events scheduled at Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Capitol Theatre and Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road. Susan will continue to over-see the Ticketing, Technical Operations, Event Services and Facilities departments.

A graduate of Eckerd College with a degree in Business Management, Susan joined Ruth Eckerd Hall in 1988 as Assistant House Manager. Over the years she has been promoted to a wide variety of positions including Box Office Manager, Arts Education Project Manager and Business Analyst. In 1998, she was promoted to Director of Ticketing & Information Services. In 2008, Susan was promoted to Chief Information Officer and last year VP of Operations was added to her CIO title. Susan's promotion is effective immediately.

Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, owned by the City of Clearwater, manages and operates 2,200-seat Ruth Eckerd Hall, the 200-seat Murray Theatre, the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts, the 750-seat Capitol Theatre and Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road. Our mission is: Changing lives through the performing arts.

Ruth Eckerd Hall was named #10 theater venue in the world and within that same ranking #6 in the United States, by industry trade publication Pollstar in 2016. Designed by the prestigious Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Ruth Eckerd Hall is known for its fantastic sightlines and near-perfect acoustics.

The Capitol Theatre, located in downtown Clearwater's Cleveland Street District, was constructed in 1921 and is one of Florida's oldest operating theaters. In 2016, industry trade publication Pollstar named the Capitol Theatre the #42 club venue in the world and within that same ranking, the only Florida venue in the Top 50. In 2013, the theater underwent a complete $10 million renovation and is the catalyst for downtown development.

The Murray Theatre, located at Ruth Eckerd Hall, originally opened in 2003 as part of an education expansion of the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts. Through the generous support of Ray and Nancy Murray, a state grant and Capital Campaign donors, a $1.5 million renovation was completed, which includes state-of-the-art lighting and sound and a one-of-a-kind hand-painted mural depicting music, theater and dance. The Murray Theatre offers affordable, accessible, high-quality experiences to audiences of all ages.

The Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts is one of the largest providers of arts education and outreach in the nation. Reaching more than 35,000 students annually and providing over 80,000 hours of high-caliber arts experiences with programs encompassing three distinct arts education divisions: presenting, community engagement and outreach and instruction in jazz, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theater, voice and technical theater. Each division reaches students of all ages and abilities on the Ruth Eckerd Hall campus and off-site in local schools, hospitals, community centers, specialty residences and other arts centers throughout the Tampa Bay area and the State of Florida.

Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road books and produces a number of off-site events including Friends of Music Member Appreciation Concerts, Blast Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays Summer Concert Series, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday and events in other partner venues including the Palladium, the Tampa Theatre and the Amalie Arena. In 2016, industry trade publication Pollstar named Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road #34 in the world and #19 in the United States of concert promoters.

To post a comment, you must register and login.