It isn’t quite as much of a mouthful as “1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre” (now MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre), but regular visitors to downtown Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre will be calling the historic Tampa Bay venue by a brand-new name.
TBBJ said that Nancy and David Bilheimer have given Ruth Eckerd Hall a $2.5 million gift that will enable it to expand and secure its arts education efforts, which provide educational programs for 45,000 students.
To honor the gift, the Capitol Theatre, which first opened in 1921, will now be called The Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.
“Nancy and I understand the importance of arts education for children and we are thrilled to be a part of the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts,” David Bilheimer, said. “Education and access are vital for our community.”
The theater was nearly demolished in 1995, and almost closed again in 2009, but the city of Clearwater saved it from foreclosure and entered into a partnership with Ruth Eckerd Hall to manage and operate the facility. It underwent a major renovation in 2013.
Not sure if the new name is going to fit on the marquee, but we all know you’re going to keep calling it “The Cap” anyway.
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This article appears in Mar 28 – Apr 4, 2019.