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Zev Buffman is a Broadway producer and current President and CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida.〔 He has produced more than 40 Broadway shows. He partnered with Elizabeth Taylor to present her in her Broadway debut, The Little Foxes. Mr. Buffman is also the co-founding General Partner of the NBA Champion Basketball team the Miami Heat. ==Career== Zev Buffman was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1930. His parents were early pioneers from the Ukraine. His initial involvement in the performing arts began in 1947, while in the 89th Commandos. At the age of 16, he debuted as a stand-up comic throughout Israel, entertaining troops in periods of cease fire during the War of Independence. Zev served from 1947-1950, and returned for the Six Day War as well as the Yom Kippur War. He came to the United States as a foreign exchange student in 1951, moved to Hollywood, California, and worked as an actor while attending college. His first role was playing an Arab guard in the film ''Flight to Tangier''. His most memorable film work was a role in the Cecil B. DeMille classic ''The Ten Commandments''. By 1960, he had produced his first Hollywood to Broadway-bound musical, ''Vintage 60'', in partnership with Broadway’s David Merrick.〔 In 1962, Buffman purchased and renovated the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida, and until 1971 he was the President/CEO/Owner He also established the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. In 1967 he built, opened and ran the Parker Playhouse, Ft. Lauderdale's first theater, for 23 years.〔 From 1976-1990, he was President of the Jackie Gleason Performing Arts Center, located in South Miami Beach. He helped renovate the theater complex and brought in Broadway performers, including Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli, Angela Lansbury and Yul Brynner. The opening of the 3,000-seat performing arts center was part of the real estate comeback of South Beach and the nearby Lincoln Mall.〔 During the 1970s and early 1980s, he launched the “Zev Buffman Broadway Series” in Ft. Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, Norfolk, New Orleans and Chicago, as well as the first three seasons of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (known now as the Straz Center for the Performing Arts) in Tampa. Buffman sold his theatre interests to Pace Theatrical in 1988. Buffman was a general partner/ producer at the Chicago Theatre from 1977-1981, along with partner Frank Sinatra. At this national landmark theater, he partnered with the city of Chicago to oversee a $50 million restoration and reopening. Upon completion, Buffman presented Broadway shows and concert performances by internationally known artists.〔 He also purchased and fully restored the vintage 1927 3,000-seat Saenger Theatre in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Working with his partners at Pace Theatrical of Houston, the Saenger Theatre became a national landmark and New Orleans’ new home for the performing arts. In 1988, Buffman became the Founding General Partner of the NBA basketball team the Miami Heat with partner Ted Arison, owner of Carnival Cruise Lines.〔 Buffman also helped with the fundraising efforts to build the Miami Arena, where the Heat played until 1999.〔 In the 1990s, Buffman began a new partnership with Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Video to become a major player in the concert business. As the President/CEO he planned, built and oversaw four new 20,000-seat outdoor amphitheaters in Phoenix, Southern California, Charlotte and West Palm Beach. The venues were sold to SFX in 1997. In 2003, Buffman became CEO of RiverPark Center in Owensboro, Kentucky. While there, he founded the International Mystery Writers’ Festival. Currently, Buffman is the President & CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc., a performing arts venue in Clearwater, Florida that also operates the Capitol Theatre. He collaborated with the city on the renovation of this historic theater in downtown Clearwater, which reopened in December, 2013. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. also produces concerts for the Major League Baseball team the Tampa Bay Rays, and other organizations and events throughout the United States. Other positions he has held include:〔 *Wolftrap Amphitheatre Galas and Co-chair/Producer with First Lady Mrs. Nancy Reagan *University of Tel Aviv Chair/Producer - Fundraising *New World Symphony Gala Producer - Co-Founder 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Zev Buffman」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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