Count Basie Theatre Foundation

We are proud of the rich history that accompanies the Count Basie Theatre … a presence in Red Bank spanning 84 years, legendary performances and our award winning performing arts program. Do you have an interesting tidbit or experience you would like to share?  Know someone who does?

Submit it to Tiffany C. McDermott at tmcdermott@countbasietheatre.org along with a photo. 

Donna Pinamonti - 2011 Take a Chance Raffle Winner

Dear Count Basie Theatre Foundation,

I would like to thank you for a wonderful year at the Count Basie. As winner of the raffle, I had the opportunity to share my good fortune with over 50 family, friends, neighbors and co-workers, as well as several charities.

I was thrilled to see Idina Menzel, The Fab Faux, Holiday Express and so many other wonderful acts. I was so happy to introduce many new people to the beautiful Theatre and to Phoenix Productions, which I have had season tickets to for over 10 years. I was also happy to have seen my first symphony, which I truly enjoyed and will definitely attend again. Another act I will definitely see again is the RockIt concert. I am so impressed with the talent of these young performers and the work that the Count Basie Performing Arts Academy has done.

I encouraged all those who I shared my tickets with to support the Count Basie as I have done for several years.

In memory of this fantastic year, I used the Count Basie lobby for the background of my Christmas card. (See on right)

Thanks again for providing this area with such quality productions in such a beautiful Theatre. I’m hoping lightening strikes twice on New Year’s Eve when the new raffle winner is chosen. Thanks again for an exciting year.

Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Donna Pinamonti

Cindy Dwyer – "How the Basie Sustains Performing Arts in our Schools"

Cindy Dwyer, the Music/Drama Director at Mater Dei Prep in New Monmouth, NJ can attest to the importance of the Basie Awards program as it has greatly impacted her students and school community, which ultimately led to the creation and continual growth of the theatre department at Mater Dei.

Each year, the Count Basie Theatre hosts over 190 performances of award-winning entertainers. However, the Basie also strives to highlight the work and efforts of promising actors, singers, choreographers, costume designers and directors. This recognition has occurred annually since 2005 at the Basie Awards. At an evening, similar to the Tony Awards, the theatre honors high school drama and musical productions of the current academic year. The Count Basie Theatre Education Department recruits a staff of volunteers to evaluate the productions of participating schools, which are located throughout Monmouth and Ocean County. The talent is astounding and each year the Basie Awards brings nominees together to showcase their talents and support each other. This work helps to keep performing arts a staple in our schools and communities.

Ms. Dwyer’s first encounter with the Basie’s occurred three years ago when she submitted the school’s production of “Seussical” for evaluation by the Basie Awards committee. In their first year of consideration, the 18 person cast was nominated in six categories, including “Outstanding Musical”. These preliminary nominations were a great motivator to the student theater group and its participants. In addition, this acknowledgment created a buzz in the school community – causing this small club activity and its members to get some overdue attention. With these nominations, the cast was invited to perform one of their production numbers on stage to a live audience at the Count Basie Theatre. Although this first year of participation did not yield a win, Ms. Dwyer remembers the experience as “a validation to all the time, energy and dedication that was invested by the cast”. She also adds that these nominations “allow a show to continue on for a few months longer which is a comfort to the performers and crew members that have become so close during rehearsal and performance times”.

Now in their third year of involvement with this program, Mater Dei can boast a total of 33 nominations and 7 award wins since 2009. Audience numbers and ticket sales have increased, parents and faculty have expressed interest to volunteer their time to the program and Ms. Dwyer has now been able to expand her one person staff to include an alumnus who will assist her with directing responsibilities this year.

On May 25, 2011, the school’s winter musical “A Year with Frog and Toad” received a win for “Outstanding Ensemble Group”. Mater Dei was also awarded the following awards for their spring production of “The Drowsy Chaperone”: “Outstanding Production of a Musical,” “Outstanding Direction” and “Outstanding Musical Direction” to Cindy Dwyer, “Outstanding Choreography” to student Samantha Amaral and “Outstanding Lead Actress” to student Courtney Kurkemelis.

Looking back at her involvement with the Basie Awards, Ms. Dwyer is grateful for this program, which motivates students and spotlights their talents. “From an educator’s standpoint the Basie is more than just a venue for big names and stage shows… it is an organization that plays an integral role in our community fostering the talent of young performers and the efforts of local high schools which are working to increase the presence of arts and drama in the school curriculum.”

The Alden Family - "Keeping Performing Arts Alive"

John Alden and his wife, Kelly Silver, of Leonardo, NJ wanted to share their love of the arts with their two children. In addition to their careers as professional entertainers, Kelly discovered Phoenix Productions in hopes of contributing her talents to a local theatre company. From Kelly’s involvement with Phoenix Productions, John & Kelly learned about the Count Basie Theatre, its history and goals to maintain the theatre and to keep the arts alive in Monmouth County. The Basie mission seemed to be exactly what they were looking for.

After a successful audition, Kelly secured a role in Phoenix’s production of “Cinderella”. Kelly says “this was the perfect way to introduce theatre and performance” to their oldest daughter, Olivia, now 4. The “Cinderella” connection proved successful and they enrolled Olivia in the Count Basie Theatre Performing Arts Academy. This past summer Olivia appeared on stage at the Basie with the “Summer Showcase 2010”.  John will also be appearing at the theatre … through a series of auditions; he was selected to perform in the upcoming “Sinatra Birthday Bash”. This annual event at the Basie celebrates Frank Sinatra and allows chosen performers to appear onstage with the Red Bank Jazz Orchestra.

For John & Kelly, the Count Basie Theatre has something to offer the whole family.

“What started as a search for a local theatre company has turned into an opportunity to be part of an organization which is also an historic landmark. In addition to a dynamic calendar, the CBT provides countless opportunities for adults/children to cultivate their talent and offers them the chance of a lifetime… to appear on the Basie stage. As theatre members, patrons and through our involvement with the Performing Arts Academy we, as a family, have been fortunate to experience the theatre in every capacity.”

-John Alden

Dr. Angelo Scotti - "Growing Up at the Basie"

As a local teenager, Dr. Angelo Scotti spent many of his weekends in the red velvet seats of the Carlton Theatre watching movies. As a frequent patron of double features, Dr. Scotti and his fellow teammates from the Red Bank football team would pool their money to buy one movie ticket, while the rest of his gang waited by the side exit door of the theatre to sneak inside for free. Any left over allowances went to concessions of popcorn and sodas.

When asked about his earliest memory of the Basie, Dr. Scotti spoke of an experience back in 1955.  “Blackboard Jungle”, with Sidney Poitier was playing on the big screen. In his opinion this film was “a key moment in music history for Red Bank”. It was here that “Rock Around the Clock” was heard for the first time by a sold out crowd. He recalls that the entire audience instantly jumped up from their seats and started dancing in the aisles. It was a sound they had never heard before, but knew they would never forget!  He also remembers the ushers trying to settle the audience back into their seats to no avail.

Although movies at the Basie offered many fond memories of his childhood, he mentioned that his favorite Basie memory occurred just two months ago.  Dr. Scotti made his return to the renamed Count Basie Theatre on September 11, 2010.  A benefit screening of the movie “Severe Clear” was offered as a fundraiser for Reserve Aid, a national charity for military families. This film follows the journey of his son former Marine Corps 1^st. Lt. Michael Scotti and his experience in 2003’s Operation Iraqi Freedom. Using a hand held camera and a notepad; Lt. Scotti’s first hand accounts were documented and ultimately created into a film directed by Kristian Fraga. When asked about this movie going experience, Dr. Scotti said, “seeing the work of my son, sharing his experiences with our local community and having them offer him a standing ovation at the end of the evening was an absolutely incredible experience”.  

“Having been a long time resident of Monmouth County, the Count Basie Theatre conjures up memories of a different time for my childhood friends and I … we snuck into this theatre and escaped our lives for an afternoon at the movies. However, after seeing my son’s film ‘Severe Clear’ on the big screen at the Basie, I see this theatre in a new light.”  My son heard my stories of the theatre when I was young and now Michael and our family have our own Basie story to share.”

- Dr. Angelo Scotti

Paul Bartoli - "Rock the Basie"

Red Bank residents Paul Bartoli and his wife Joan have been patrons of the Basie for at least 15 years. As long time patrons/members and avid music fans, the couple was more than familiar with the theatre and the Basie stage; having seen the performances of BB King, Steve Winwood along with many others.

However, two years ago, Paul became further acquainted with the Basie in a way he never imagined …

A friend read about auditions for “Rock the Basie”, the adult rock ensemble program offered through the Count Basie Theatre Performing Arts Program. Knowing Paul’s talent as a gifted musician as well as his appreciation for blues and rock, he encouraged Paul to audition.  After completing a successful audition, Paul was accepted into the ten week program, where he was able to meet other like-minded musicians who shared his passion and thrived on this opportunity to let their inner rock star loose. The intensive ten week rehearsal proved to be an exciting process – starting with a variety of possible songs, the group narrows their set list down to six, which are practiced and ultimately performed for the public in a quarterly “Rock the Basie” showcase.  Paul compliments his instructors, Vinny Daniele and Marc Muller, praising their ability to arrange songs to spotlight each musician’s talents; he also speaks highly of his fellow band members and the dynamic which is created after weeks of working together.

Perhaps the most memorable experience from his participation with “Rock the Basie” was his first performance on the Basie stage on December 6, 2009. Paul vividly recalls his first encounter with the stage as a performer, “walking through the doors of 99 Monmouth, through the alley-way up to the stage door was nerve wracking. I was hoping not to get lost as I opened the stage door and passed the backstage ropes and sound equipment and then suddenly, I was in the light – looking out from a stage where I had seen some of my favorite performers create music for their audience. It was such a rush to have this once in a lifetime opportunity. I knew I would never forget it.”

Two years later, Paul continues his work with “Rock the Basie” and has even been successful in recruiting other musicians, one of which he works with outside of the Basie. He and the group will be performing again this March and he admits that the excitement and the nerves remain every time he looks out from the stage.