Count Basie Theater In Red Bank To Host First Show Since March

RED BANK, NJ - The historic Count Basie Center for the Arts' Hackensack Meridian Theater in Red Bank will be opening its doors to the public for the first time since March. While familiar cabaret-style shows are scheduled throughout early next year, attendees to the landmark will notice the venue’s new pandemic makeover.

The 94-year-old venue recently announced a brand-new “pop-up” stage, with guests to be seated on an elevated platform. Performances will be limited to 150 attendees at tables of two, four or six, with tables distanced six feet apart.

The inaugural performance will be completed by vocalist Chris Pinnella on Dec. 19. Tickets go on sale Friday at thebasie.org.

“When Governor Murphy announced in October that performance venues could reopen, we immediately started to think of the safest, most economical way to present performances in our historic theater,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO of the Count Basie Center for the Arts.

“The “Pop-Up Stage” configuration is a cool and unique set-up we’ve used at galas, but more importantly, it allows us to achieve the distancing measures we’ve found to be key in the success of presenting shows next door at The Vogel.”

Other COVID-19 precautions include temperature checks and face mask requirements when attendees are not eating or drinking. Guests with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will be issued a refund and denied entry. For nights with two back-to-back performances, entry for the second show will begin once the previous crowd is cleared and the venue is sanitized.

Last call for drinks will be 9:45 p.m. to comply with state regulations.

But despite remaining shuttered for nearly nine months, the arts institute has had quite a busy year. In October, the former Bow Tie Cinemas reopened under the name Basie Cinemas. The 600-person capacity theater screens classic films, independent winners and new hits. Read more: Red Bank's Bow Tie Cinemas Will Reopen Under A New Name

Count Basie Center of the Arts’ The Vogel also opened in October, part of the Basie's $28 million expansion that more than doubles the nonprofit's cumulative size. Read more: Count Basie Center Launches New Performance Venue In Red Bank

“The Count Basie Center for the Arts has lost in excess of $8 million since the onset of the pandemic,” Philipson said.

“Producing these performances, as well as holding safe and socially distant onsite classes and films at Basie Center Cinemas, is crucial to our survival. But none of this is possible without safety being at the forefront of everything we do. We’re as dedicated to creating and maintaining safe environments as we are in our mission to inspire, educate and entertain through the arts.”