AnnualReport - Count Basie Theatre

On August 2, 2007,filmmaker and Red Banknative Kevin Smithcelebrated his birthdayat the Basie and filmedthe event for a DVD.The Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue,under the Musical Direction of BobBandiera, returned to the Basie on August9, 2007 with the debut of “Layla and OtherAssorted Eric Clapton Songs,” performingthe seminal Derek and the Dominos album“Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.”Photo: John KavanaughOn August 9, 2007, a brand new roof wasdedicated, which replaced the original 80-yearold concrete roof. Pictured at the dedication are(left-right): Christa Gibbons, National Trust forHistoric Preservation; Pasquale Menna, Mayorof Red Bank; Rusty Young, CEO, Count BasieTheatre Foundation; Ellen Karcher, then NJAssemblywoman for the 12th Legislative District;Joseph Siberry; Lowe’s Home Improvement;Wayne Packer, Lowe’s Home Improvement;Numa Saisselin, Count Basie Theatre CEO, andBill Marraccini, Vice Chair, Count Basie TheatreBoard of Trustees.On September 20, 2007, the5th Annual Count Basie TheatreMen's Golf Outing raised$30,000 in support of the theatre.Pictured at Spring LakeGolf Club are Rusty Young, CEOof the Count Basie TheatreFoundation; Committee MemberBruce Severance; Steven Smith;Todd Axt; and Ralf Sellig.Also pictured at the Men’s Golf Outing are CommitteeMember Peter Fitzsimmons, Ralf Sellig, Committee Co-ChairPeter Reinhart, Committee Member Bruce Severance, RustyYoung, Bill Dodge, and Committee Member Bryan Holsey.On October 4, 2007comedian Ron Whiterecorded his show atthe Basie.On October 8, 2007 the annual Columbus Day Sale,offering $10 tickets to select shows, shattered all previousrecords, with over 2,700 tickets sold in just 6 hours!On October 20, in conjunction with his company’sperformance of Romeo and Juliet that evening,Michael Capasso, Artistic Director of NYC’sDicapo Opera Theatre conducted a MasterClass for aspiring young vocalists in thetheatre’s rehearsal room.On November 16, 2007, members of the Philadanco dancecompany conducted a Master Class for young dancers at RedBank Regional High School in conjunction with the company’sperformance at the Basie that evening.In their November/December2007 issue, Contribute Magazinenamed the Count Basie Theatreone of their Top 200 InvestorWorthy Charities.On December 16, 2007footage from Brian Setzer’sNovember 20 Basie showwas featured on CBSSunday Morning.On Friday December 21, 2007, The Hope Concert III raised overhalf a million dollars for the Valerie Center at Monmouth MedicalCenter. Pictured are Numa Saisselin, Count Basie Theatre CEO;Lucia M. Baratta, Chair, Monmouth Medical Center Foundation;Frank Vozos, MD, Executive Director, Monmouth Medical Center;Susan Dulczak, Clinical Director, Children’s Hospital atMonmouth Medical Center; Margaret C. Fischer, MD, MedicalDirector, Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center;Bunny Flaunders, Director of Communications and SpecialEvents, The Valerie Fund, and Joe Mangione, Chairman ofthe Valerie Fund Board of Trustees. Photo: John KavanaughThe Hope Concert III featured performances by over 30 musicians who donated their services,including Southside Johnny and Jon Bon Jovi, plus Gary US Bonds, Bob Bandiera, Tim McLoone andthe Shirleys, and the Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue. The Count Basie Theatre donated its venueand services. Photo: John KavanaughOn New Year’s Eve, the world listened in when SiriusSatellite Radio broadcast Southside Johnny and theAsbury Jukes’ New Years Eve show live.On January 25, 2008, the Elvis costume contest tookthe stage during intermission of the Elvis Birthday Bash.The costume contest has become as much of an annualtradition as the show itself.The Count Basie Theatre wasfeatured in TV ads airing in 8 statesfor the NJ Department of Travel andTourism’s “Great Destinations in AnyDirection” campaign.Enrollment in The Count’s Cool School, the theatre’sarts education program, was at an all-time high thisyear. Each 10-week term ends with a showcaseperformance on the Basie stage.4In January, the Count Basie Theatre madePollstar Magazine’sYear End WorldwideTicket Sales Top 100 Worldwide Theatreslist for 2007.On February 22, 2008,David Bromberg recordedhis performance for a DVD.On March 13, 2008, the New Jersey State Councilon the Arts named the Count Basie Theatre a MajorPresenting Organization for the State of NJ, thecouncil’s highest and most prestigious award.Pictured left to right are: Judith G. Leone, 2nd ViceChair, NJSCA; Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini;Numa C. Saisselin, CEO, Count Basie Theatre; CarolAnn Herbert, Chair, NJSCA; New Jersey Secretary ofState Nina Mitchell Wells; Steve Runk, ExecutiveDirector, NJSCA.5