Tag Archives: Zev Buffman

2020 SoFla Theater: What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been

A look back at 2020: Yes, South Florida theater was crippled by the pandemic. But its acolytes remained driven to express their artistry, and patrons remained ravenous for their work. They continued to explore projects, create avenues and seek paychecks with efforts ranged from filmed full-fledged productions to monologues newly penned in bedrooms.

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UPDATED: Zev Buffman, Legendary Local & National Figure, Dead At 89

Nationally-known impresario Zev Buffman, a key figure in the evolution of South Florida theater, died Wednesday. Charismatic with an elfin visage and a slight accent from his origins in Israel, he was known for enthusiasm, showmanship and drive as he developed the Coconut Grove Playhouse and Parker Playhouse, helped develop the modern-day national touring system, and co-founder of the Miami Heat.

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Agatha Christie’s Radio Plays The BBC Murders Intriguing, Entertaining, But Not Riveting

There’s the canny germ of an idea in producer Zev Buffman’s pet project to fuse radio, theater and modern technology into a hybrid exemplified in his latest production, Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders at the Parker Playhouse. The end result is undeniably entertaining in a quiet smile kind of way, although this is clearly an early foray into this genre and, arguably, not the most enthralling material to do it with.

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Zev Buffman Sees No Mystery In Producing Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders In Florida

South Florida impresario and veteran Broadway producer Zev Buffman foresees a future for stage theater — in radio. Not just for any theater, but orphans like the Parker Playhouse that are too big for local theater troupes and too small for Broadway tours. And he wants to do it in part by reviving the genre of mystery/thriller plays. Local audiences will see his first foray this month with his production of Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders, four radio plays lost for a half-century, uncovered by Buffman’s detective work and adapted by grafting full-fledged theater techniques onto a vintage radio drama foundation.

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Zev Buffman Returns to Florida

Famed South Florida theater producer Zev Buffman will become president and CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater in January, the performing arts center announced last week. Buffman, one of the last theatrical impresarios, virtually created Florida’s touring circuit and …

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