With the exception of a three-year period during the early ‘70s when the curtain stayed down — brought on by a free fall in revenue as people flocked to malls and multiplexes — the Count Basie Theatre (known until 1984 as the Carlton Theatre) has provided a steady stream of top-notch stage and film entertainment.

“Eighty years ago when it opened, the Basie, or Carlton, was one of four or five Vaudeville houses in the greater Red Bank area,” explains Rusty Young, CEO of the Count Basie Theatre Foundation. “One by one they died off, except for the Basie, which hung on and continued to offer Vaudeville and movies and stage acts.”

A crowd of 4,000 was on hand for two shows on opening night, November 11, 1926, which were headlined by the Keith-Albee Vaudeville, along with the feature film "The Quarterback," Carlton's News Events, and a 10-piece orchestra. The Count Basie Theatre Web site notes that in describing to the audience the new theater’s policies, Walter Reade, a part-owner of the theater, stated that during the summer and fall the theater would “try out” musical comedies and other shows to be produced in New York. Reade was adamant that admission never be more than 75 cents for picture and Vaudeville shows, allowing that prices might be higher for musical comedies and other special attractions.

Over the years, the Count Basie Theatre has played host to an enormous array of top entertainers, including James Brown, Bill Cosby, Foreigner, BB King, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Tony Bennett, and countless others.

According to Young, Tony Bennett is especially important to the theater, not only as a performer, but also as an enthusiastic supporter and in his role as honorary co-chairman of the Count Basie Theatre Capital Campaign. Young recounts the comments Bennett made on stage when performing at the theater in 2005, and in the dressing room. Bennett told the audience that he had performed at the theater as a young man in his 20s, and how wonderful he thought the old theater was.

“Of course, at this point the Basie was falling down,” notes Young, “but Tony says to the crowd, ‘Let me show you something about this theater.’ He turns to his combo — he was on stage with four or five people — and says to his pianist, ‘Tone it down a bit.’ So they play a little softer. Tony takes his mic and puts it on the piano, and proceeds to sing a capello with no amplification — I mean, he was 80 years old, and ironically, born in 1926, same as the theater — and you could have heard a pin drop. People in the farthest reaches of the auditorium heard every note that he sang.”

Bennett also said he would be happy to help out in any he could. Backstage, after the performance, Young asked him if he really meant it, about helping out. “And Tony said, ‘Yeah, why?’ And I said, ‘Well, how’d you like to be an honorary chairman of our capital campaign?’ I had to bug him for a while afterwards, but he finally agreed.”

Tony Bennett will be performing at the Count Basie Theatre in November, when the theater re-opens following extensive renovations in the auditorium, which commenced in July. “Tony is a real old-time entertainer, a real pro,” says Young. “He shows up, puts on his tuxedo, walks on stage, and absolutely commands your attention. It will be great to see Tony Bennett do it again in November. It really will.”

Bruce Springsteen and THE Fab Faux Fund-raisers
WERE Theater-Closing Sendoffs

The Bruce Springsteen benefit concert in May, which raised $3 million for the Count Basie Theatre, was not only the largest single fund-raising event in the Basie’s history, but probably one of the largest-ever fund-raising events by a performing arts venue in the state of New Jersey. This was followed by a second fund-raiser in June that featured The Fab Faux, a Beatles tribute band made up of five studio and touring musicians who all share a love for the Beatles. The Fab Faux got together 10 years ago in Manhattan. Seven years ago, Young brought them to the Basie, to raise money for the theater and the Red Bank YMCA. After next year’s show The Fab Faux will have helped raise more than $1 million for the theater, according to Young. In between have been Blondie (band leader Debarah Harry lives in Middletown Township), Huey Lewis and the News, and theatergoers also have been treated to a number of performances of “High School Musical,” a Disney blockbuster put on by Phoenix Productions, a non-profit community-theater organization based in Red Bank that re-creates popular musicals.

Bobby Bandiera, Kevin Smith &
Tony Bennett Kick Off ‘Reopening’ Week.

In putting together the “reopening” entertainment lineup, “we tried to cover all the Basie’s demographic during that first week in order to get as many people back to the theatre as we can,” says Young. “We think we’ve got an exciting lineup, and that the performances will be a wonderful way to celebrate our reopening.”

OCTOBER 30 — Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue: California Dreaming
This year’s show, the Revue’s seventh at the Count Basie Theatre and directed by Jersey Shore musician extraordinaire Bobby Bandiera, is titled “California Dreaming.” The evening will feature music ranging from The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Doors, Santana, The Eagles, and Jefferson Airplane to Janis Joplin, The Mamas and the Papas, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Sonny and Cher. “Bandiera along with the Revue makes for a quintessential Jersey Shore band,” says, Young. “They’ve done a number of shows especially designed for the theater, and they’re great.” A longtime shore area musician, Bandiera plays guitar with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, often tours with Bon Jovi, plays every now and then with Bruce Springsteen, and has his own group, The Bob Bandiera Band.

OCTOBER 31 — Capitol Steps
Capitol Steps will again take the stage at the Basie on October 31. It is described on the theater’s Web site as “the musical sketch comedy troupe that puts the mock in democracy and the only group in America trying to be funnier than Congress! A troupe of current and former Congressional staffers who monitor events and personalities on Capitol Hill, in the Oval Office and in the worldwide centers of power, Capitol Steps take a humorous look at serious issues, providing a nationwide laugh for millions.”

NOVEMBER 6 — Spyro Gyra & The Rippingtons
Ten-time Grammy-nominated Spyro Gyro has been performing for over 30 years, offering a mix of soul, jazz, pop, and world-beat instrumentals. The Rippingtons, a contemporary jazz group, enjoyed tremendous success with its debut album "Moonlighting," which was voted the most influential contemporary jazz album of all time by Jazziz Magazine. The group’s album “20th Anniversary” reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz chart and, notes the Count Basie Theatre’s website, includes a photo of the Basie marquee in the album liner notes.

NOVEMBER 7 — An Evening with Kevin Smith
According to the theater, this is your big chance to celebrate the Basie’s re-opening with a no-holds-barred Q&A with local native and filmmaker Kevin Smith. The writer, director and actor is noted for such award-winning films as “Clerks,” “Chasing Amy,” “Dogma,” “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Jersey Girl,” and “Clerks II.” His new movie, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," is set for release the week prior to his appearance at the Basie.

NOVEMBER 8 Tony Bennett
Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926, in Queens, New York, the man known as Tony Bennett — a singer of popular music, standards, and jazz — has sold millions of records, and garnered 15 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the United Nations Citizen of the World award. His most popular titles include "I Wanna Be Around," "The Good Life," "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" and his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Bennett and Patti Scialfa Springsteen serve as honorary chairpersons of the Count Basie Theatre Capital Campaign.

COUNT BASIE THEATRE
99 MONMOUTH STREET 732.842.9000
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