April 30, 2012, Clearwater, FL - The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute and Eckerd Theater Company are planning a very special community event around a performance of ETC's acclaimed production of The Hundred Dresses on May 12 at 1 pm in the Murray Studio Theater at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Non-profit organizations in the community that serve children by providing immediate needs (clothing, food, shelter) will be invited to attend the performance and two that specifically provide clothing - HEP (Homeless Emergency Project) and "Clothes to Kids" will be the recipients of new and gently used dresses that have been donated throughout the past year. Spearheading the collection of dresses is Ruth Eckerd Hall volunteer and Leading Lady Doreen Halliwell who has collected more than 140 dresses, to date, single-handedly. Donations of new and nearly new clothing for children of any age will be accepted until the day of the event and can be dropped off at the Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc., administrative office during normal business hours.
The Hundred Dresses, based on the Newbery Honor Book by Eleanor Estes, tells the story of Wanda Petronski, the new girl in room 13, who wears the same faded blue dress to school every day, but insists that she has a hundred bright, shiny new ones at home. As Wanda's story unfolds, her classmates learn the secret of the hundred dresses and with it, a lesson in tolerance, in taking responsibility and in living with the consequences of our actions. This endearing tale focuses on the difficult issue of bullying and how mistreating someone because he or she is different from oneself brings as much harm to the bully as to the victim. The performance is best enjoyed by children aged 7 and older and their families.
A limited number of tickets priced at $8.00 are available at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office located at 1111 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater or by calling 727.791.7400. The Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office is open Monday through Saturday, from noon to 6 pm and one hour prior to showtime. Patrons may also purchase tickets at www.rutheckerdhall.com 24/7
The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute at Ruth Eckerd Hall provides year round instruction in Drama, Dance, Voice, Instrumental and Jazz. Ruth Eckerd Hall is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
