Count Basie Center for Theatre Arts

The Count Basie Center for the Arts continues to persevere in its mission to Inspire, Educate and Entertain through our distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings, all of which aim to embrace and amplify the diversity of the region. In FY2024, the Count Basie Center Academy welcomed nearly 1,000 students to our Red Bank campus, engaging them with a variety of experiences - from mainstage productions like Disney's "Frozen Jr.", "The Descendants", "Mean Girls", "Seussical Kids", and "The Spongebob Musical"- to acting, dancing and vocal lessons, instruction in auditioning for television and film, and more. At the Basie Center's Monmouth Conservatory of Music, more than 200 students received regular instruction in piano, classical guitar, woodwinds, strings and other instruments, in addition to group experiences such as ensembles and orchestra. In line with our continued focus on promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion both internally and throughout the community, the Count Basie Center trained staff members to conduct DEI onboarding efforts, embarked on a partnership with Two River Theater to create a bilingual workforce training program, and continued trainings and implementations as recommended by the staff-wide DEI Task Force as well as the DEI Committee, made up of members of the Count Basie Center Board of Trustees. Our DEI work helps inform the ways in which we engage the community through our performing arts and education programs, including events celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos. More than 50 area students participated in the annual, free Louis and Gia Maione Prima summer music camp - many of whom had previously never picked up a musical instrument. The Count Basie Center Gospel Choir headlined Basie Center stages and numerous public events, while our partners with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company continued its onsite classes and performances in promotion of traditional Mexican folkloric dance. The Basie Center's 'Forever For Everyone' endowment campaign raised more than $15.5 million towards the effort's $20 million goal. Promises of the endowment are already being realized; the Basie Center's Academy programs offered scholarships to 258 students - a 55% increase over the year prior. 'Forever For Everyone also supports the Basie Center Fund for Strategic Growth, which Provides funds to launch new programs, especially those which deepen our commitment to cultural competency, racial equity, and social inclusion. Lastly, nearly more than 6,000 students visited the Count Basie Center campus as part of our 'Curtains Up For Kids' school show program, which welcomed students from 58 schools throughout the state - from as far as Warren and Atlantic counties, plus Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer, Union, and Hudson - while subsidizing more than $41,000 in event tickets and $16,000+ in bus transportation.