AnnualReport - Count Basie Theatre

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.Cool School students frequently perform outside thetheatre. Here, Cool School students perform in RedBanks’ Riverside Gardens Park. In 2007-2008 studentsalso performed at community centers including NavesinkHarbor, Riverstreet Commons, and Kensington Gardens.The Cool School’s collaboration with The Rockit! ForKids program gives young musicians an opportunity toplay music with their peers as a band. Students cometogether for three six-week rehearsal periods, followedby a show on the Basie stage.On May 7, 2008 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Bandperformed a benefit concert in support of the theatre’srestoration, raising $3 million. It was their first show as a bandin a theatre-sized venue in almost 30 years, and their first showas a band at the Basie since their six-night stand in August,1976. During her welcome before the show, Patti Scialfa,Honorary Co-Chair of the theatre’s Capital Campaign, said,“The Count Basie Theatre has been an integral part of our localcommunity…. (bringing) life, vitality, a sense of history andcultural currency to the places we live…It’s a place where wecome together for works of music, art, theater and film thatexpress our highest ideals.”Photo: Joseph Quever/Backstreets.comNBC news anchor andMiddletown native BrianWilliams also helpedintroduce the E StreetBand show.On May 21, 2008Joe Piscopo hosted the3rd Annual Count BasieTheatre AwardsHonoring Excellence inMonmouth County HighSchool Theatre.Shore Regional High School’s production of“Beauty and the Beast” took home the Basiefor Outstanding Production of a Musical.Ocean Township High School’s production of “The LaramieProject” received the Basie for Outstanding Dramatic Production.Director Bob Angelini and the cast received the award fromJoe Piscopo.Over two dozen other BasieAwards were presented. Here,NJ Secretary of State NinaMitchell Wells presents theaward for Outstanding Chorusin A Musical.For the second year in a row, the Basie Awards were sponsored bythe Moser IP Law Group. Pictured are Robert Brush and Ray Moser,Jr. of the firm, presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award.Anthony Migliaccio of RedBank Regional High Schoolreceived the Basie for LifetimeAchievement.On June 28, 2008, theCount Basie TheatreFoundation presented7th Annual Fab FauxBenefit Concert, raising$197,760 in support of theCount Basie Theatre.Pictured at the Fab Faux Reception areRichard Maser, Monica Thatcher, and Buzz andJane Waltman.Also pictured at the Fab Faux Reception are: Ester and AlanFendrick, and Danette and Stu Alderoty, a member of theCount Basie Theatre Foundation Board of Directors.At the June 30 Construction Kick Off,celebrants wrote affirmations to the Basieon walls that would soon be newly painted.Pictured here, Carol Herbert, Chairwomanof the NJ State Council on the Arts, wrote,“The Count Basie is a theatre for all ofNew Jersey – a true gem!”8Pictured backstage after the Fab Faux concertare a pair of young fans, Jack Petruzzelli of theFab Faux, and Cynthia Wilby.Also pictured backstage after theFab Faux concert are Will Lee ofthe Fab Faux, Joan Pieros and hermother, and Jimmy Vivino of theFab Faux.On June 30, 2008, the last day of the fiscal year, the theatre closed for afour-month, $8 million interior renovation.The project includes restoration of the interiordecorative plaster and paint; new bars, carpet,and house lighting; a new heating system; theinfrastructure for a new air conditioning systemand electrical upgrades; improved Box Officewindows; and a new Patron Lounge.Pictured at the Construction Kick-Offon June 30 are (left to right): MichaelSchnoering, Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects;Brian Leddin, Chair, Count Basie Theatre Boardof Trustees; Hugh Ward and Marshall Knopf,Co-Chairs, Count Basie Theatre FoundationBoard of Directors; Rusty Young, CEO, CountBasie Theatre Foundation; Michael Dupont,Red Bank Borough Councilman; NumaSaisselin, CEO, Count Basie Theatre.9