Theater granted spot on national historic register

BY KIMBERLY STEINBERG Staff Writer

The Count Basie Theatre occupies a special place in the Red Bank community and now its provenance has been recognized on the national level.

Chief Executive Officer Numa Saisselin announced that the National Park Service added the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, to the National Register of Historic Places on Dec. 18.

“We all know the Count Basie Theatre has been a special place in the civic and social life of the Two River area for over 80 years, but as one of the last surviving historic theaters in the state, the Basie’s acceptance onto the state and the national registers of historic places is an acknowledgment of the theater’s broader statewide importance, both then and now,” Saisselin said.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.

The Count Basie Theatre is listed on the register as the Carlton Theatre, the third of the five names the theater has had in its 83-year history. Construction on the Red Bank theater was announced in 1925.

Before it even opened, it was renamed the State Theater, and then the Carlton Theater, the name under which it operated from opening day, Nov. 11, 1926, until 1973, when the Monmouth County Arts Council acquired the property from the estate of Walter Reade, one of the original partners in the building.

“When the Basie was constructed in 1926, it was one of four theaters in Red Bank alone. Now, it’s the only one that survives — and not only does it survive, but it’s more vibrant and alive than ever before,” Saisselin said. “This award recognizes the historical and architectural importance of its four walls, but it also serves as an important reminder that the activity that happens within those walls is at least as important.”

The arts council operated the theater as the Monmouth Arts Center until 1984, when it was renamed in honor of Red Bank native, jazz composer, pianist and band leader William “Count” Basie following his death that year.

The Count Basie Theatre Inc. is the nonprofit corporation that has owned, managed and programmed the theater since 1999. The theater has also been listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

“The Count Basie Theatre’s listing on the state and federal registers of historic places is recognition of the theater’s statewide importance as a place where the community comes together to be entertained and to exchange ideas about our common and uncommon experiences,” said Saisselin.

“As an organization, we’ve been pleased to preserve this historic venue for part of the first 83 years of its history and we look forward to at least another 83 years, if not longer,” he added.

In order for a building to be considered for the historic designation, an extensive nomination packet must be submitted which documents the history and architectural value of the landmark.

According to the theater’s website, the Basie is one of the most significant works of William E. Lehman, a prolific and important Newark-based architect.

In 2004 the theater underwent renovations and the 1,400 seats were replaced with 1,543 historically accurate seats, which returned the theater to its original seating configuration.

The theater reopened on Oct. 30, 2008, after the completion of renovations that included decorative painting; new carpeting in the theater, upper lobby and lower lobby; heating, ventilation and air conditioning work; new chandeliers; and new lighting equipment.

According to Saisselin, more than 200,000 people attend about 200 live performances of music, dance, theater and film at the Count Basie Theatre each year, and more than 1,000 students a year participate in arts education classes and workshops at the theater.

The Count Basie Theatre Inc. has carried out $10 million worth of renovation and restoration projects on its historic buildings since 2004.

“It is important for the public to know that even though we have spent $10 million in the last five years on renovations, we are only halfway done, and there is another $10 million worth of work left to do on the building, so any little edge we can get in the highly competitive world of fundraising is a good thing,” Saisselin explained.

The historic designation opens the door to state and federal grant money for the theater, he said.

“No. 1, it’s good bragging rights, of course, but it also makes the theater eligible to apply to certain grant programs and certain tax credit programs, which can be used for further renovations,” he explained.