$30 million Second Century Campaign<\/a>, which will fund restoration, accessibility and expansion projects. In recognition of the donation, the twinkling ceiling inside the Duncan Auditorium will be named the Tara & David Ruberg Night Sky, honoring Ruberg and her late husband, according to a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe theater did not disclose the value of the gift or how much the campaign has raised to date.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat moves me most about Tara\u2019s gift isn\u2019t the size of it \u2014 though it is the largest individual gift in our history \u2014 it\u2019s what it says about what she values,\u201d Devin Dominguez, the theater\u2019s vice president and development director, says in the theater\u2019s Tuesday announcement. \u201cShe sees this theatre the way we do: as something worth carrying into its next hundred years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Architect John Eberson designed Tampa Theatre as an \u201catmospheric\u201d movie palace, using Mediterranean-inspired architecture and a ceiling made to resemble a night sky. The downtown landmark opened in 1926 and is owned by the city of Tampa and operated by the nonprofit Tampa Theatre Foundation.<\/p>\n
Construction is underway to restore the historic auditorium and add 3,000 square feet of education space. Future campaign projects include accessibility upgrades to the stage and backstage areas, a full restoration of the theater\u2019s Mighty Wurlitzer organ and the conversion of second-floor office space above the marquee into a new gathering and event venue called the Peacock Room.<\/p>\n
The Wurlitzer dates to the theater\u2019s silent-film era and continues to be used for live accompaniment and other performances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese next projects are about access and experience,\u201d Tampa Theatre President and CEO George Levesque says in the announcement. \u201cThey will allow more people to fully participate in everything Tampa Theatre has to offer, preserve one of our most treasured historic features, and create beautiful new spaces for our community to gather.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ruberg gift represents a major milestone for the campaign as Tampa Theatre begins its second century in operation. Once the ceiling is formally named, generations of moviegoers will watch films beneath the Tara & David Ruberg Night Sky.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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