Zev Buffman

Zev Buffman (born Ze'ev Bufman ) (October 11, 1930 – April 1, 2020) was a Broadway producer who served as president and CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida.

Life and career Buffman was born in Tel Aviv, Palestine, to Ukrainian Jewish parents. 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 1948 Arab–Israeli War. 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.

In 1958, he produced the Arnold Schulman play A Hole in the Head in Los Angeles and also opened one of the first dinner theaters, Le Grand. His first Broadway show, Vintage 60, an original musical revue, was produced in partnership with Broadway's David Merrick, and played at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in 1960, but was a flop.

From 1976 to 1990, he was President of the Miami Beach Theater of the Performing Arts (later renamed the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts), located in Miami Beach, Florida. He helped renovate the theater complex and acquired an exclusive theatrical lease 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. Broadway Series" in Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg (Bayfront Center), Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, Norfolk, New Orleans and Chicago.

In 1988 Buffman-Pace sold the Chicago Theater to Donjo Medlevine and Buffman sold the Zev Bufman Theater Partnership to Pace Theatrical, who took over the Florida theater circuit of six theatres and 75,000 subscribers. Buffman decided to withdraw from the theatrical industry to pursue sports and amphitheater development.

In 2003, Buffman became CEO of RiverPark Center in Owensboro, Kentucky. While there, he founded the International Mystery Writers' Festival.

In 2011, Buffman was named the President & CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc., a performing arts venue in Clearwater, Florida that also operates the Nancy and David Bilheimer 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 produced concerts for the Major League Baseball team the Tampa Bay Rays, and other organizations and events throughout the United States. Buffman retired in October 2018.

Other positions he held include:

Recording and music producing

Broadway producing credits

Blithe Spirit (Broadway 2009) Jerry's Girls (Broadway 1985-1986) The News (Broadway 1985) Requiem for a Heavyweight (Broadway 1985), starring John Lithgow & George Segal Peg (Broadway 1983) The Corn is Green (Broadway 1983), with Cicely Tyson Private Lives (Broadway 1983), starring Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor Producer of the Year: Wolftrap Amphitheatre, Washington, D.C Man of the Year Awards: Miami, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Palm Beach, Baltimore, Miami Beach, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg Wharton School of Business- FL, Distinguished Achievement Award Entrepreneur of the Year 2008- Owensboro, KY Nomination for 1971 Tony Award Best Play (Tony Sills' Story Theatre) Nomination for 1980 Tony Award Reproduction (Play or Musical - Peter Pan) Nomination for 1981 Tony Award Reproduction (Play or Musical - The Little Foxes) Nomination for 1981 Tony Award Reproduction (Play or Musical - Brigadoon) Nomination for 1982 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) Nomination for 1982 Tony Award Best Musical (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) Nomination for 1983 Tony Award Best Reproduction (Play or Musical - A View from the Bridge) Nomination for 2009 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Revival of a Play (Blithe Spirit) The New York Drama Critics Award Best Musical (Your Own Thing, 1967-1968)