Count Basie Center for the Arts facts for kids
Entrance to Count Basie Theatre in 2018
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| Former names | Carlton Theater (1926–71) Monmouth Arts Center (1973–84) Count Basie Theatre (1984–2018) |
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| Address | 99 Monmouth St Red Bank, New Jersey United States |
| Owner | New Jersey State Council on the Arts |
| Capacity | 1,568 (Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | November 11, 1926 |
| Renovated |
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Carlton Theater
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| NRHP reference No. | 09001100 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 2009 |
The Count Basie Center for the Arts is a famous place in Red Bank, New Jersey, where people go to watch live shows. It's a special building that has been around for a long time! It was first called the Carlton Theater when it opened in 1926. Later, it became the Monmouth Arts Center in 1973.
In 1984, it was named the Count Basie Theatre. This was to honor a very famous jazz musician, William "Count" Basie, who was from Red Bank. In 2018, its name changed again to the Count Basie Center for the Arts. The main theater inside is now called the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre. This beautiful building was designed by an architect named William E. Lehman and can hold 1,568 people.
Contents
History of the Basie Center
The Carlton Theater first opened its doors on November 11, 1926. It was part of a chain of theaters owned by Edward Franklin Albee II. These theaters showed vaudeville acts. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different short performances, like comedy, music, and dance, all on one stage.
On opening night in 1926, almost 4,000 people came to see vaudeville acts and a movie called The Quarterback. Crowds gathered two hours before the first show! A local newspaper called the new theater "a marvel of beauty, convenience and comfort."
Later, the theater chain faced money problems. In 1928, it was taken over by a new group led by Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., who was the father of a future U.S. president. The Carlton Theater closed in 1970.
In 1973, a kind person made a large donation. This allowed the Monmouth County Arts Council to save and reopen the theater for cultural events. It was then renamed the Monmouth Arts Center.
In 1984, the building was renamed the Count Basie Theatre. This was done to remember William “Count” Basie, who had passed away that year. The Monmouth County Arts Council ran the theater until 1999. After that, a special non-profit group called Count Basie Theatre, Inc. took over. They managed the shows and helped keep the theater in good condition.
On May 14, 2018, the theater changed its name to the Count Basie Center for the Arts. This was part of a big $26 million plan to make the center even bigger. Later that year, Hackensack-Meridian Health bought the rights to name the main auditorium. So, it became the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre. In 2020, the Center opened a second, smaller venue called The Vogel.
Famous Shows and Performers
Many famous artists have performed at the Count Basie Center for the Arts. Besides Count Basie himself, musicians like James Brown and Tony Bennett have graced its stage. Other well-known performers include Al Green, George Carlin, Olivia Newton-John, and "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Even local legends have made appearances! Bruce Springsteen has surprised audiences with guest performances. Jon Bon Jovi has also organized and attended many charity concerts there. The theater is also home to regular performances by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra.
Community Programs
The Count Basie Center is not just for shows. It also helps young people learn about performing arts. The Count Basie Center Performing Arts Academy offers classes and workshops. These teach skills like acting, auditioning, and professional development.
Some famous people who took part in these programs include singer Charlie Puth, Broadway actress Jillian Mueller, and singer Cari Fletcher.
Since 2006, the center has also hosted the annual Basie Awards. These awards celebrate excellence in high school theater in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
The Building's Features
Over the years, the building has had many improvements. Between 1995 and 2001, major repairs were made to keep the building strong. In 2004, new, historically accurate seats were added. Beautiful alabaster lights were installed in the auditorium. Old plasterwork was also carefully restored and painted.
More than $1 million has been spent on these improvements, thanks to donations and support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. In 2016, a large $28 million project began. This project doubled the size of the Center. It added a second venue, The Vogel, and a new building for arts education. It also made the main theater's lobby much bigger.
The main theater has 1,568 seats. These include seats in the orchestra section, special loge boxes, and balcony seating. There are also spaces for wheelchairs.
Basie Center Cinemas
In 2020, the Count Basie Center for the Arts took over a movie theater. They reopened it as the Basie Center Cinemas. Now, you can also watch movies there!
The Vogel Venue
The Vogel is a newer, smaller music venue that opened in 2020. It's part of the Basie Center. This two-story club-style venue can hold up to 800 people standing. It is named after Anne and Sheldon Vogel, who are from the area. Sheldon Vogel used to manage the money for Atlantic Records, a famous music company.
See also
- New Jersey music venues by capacity
