Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 2 2 38 JERSEY SHORE PROFILE THE COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, continued from page 37 center in August 1974, followed by Basie's return to the iconic stage the same year in celebration of his seven- tieth birthday. Basie also graced the Monmouth Arts Center's stage in 1979 for a per- formance benefiting the A.M.E. Zion Church of Shrewsbury and again in 1983 shortly after the death of his wife, Catherine. Less than a year later, Basie succumbed to cancer, and the Monmouth Arts Center was renamed to honor Basie. The Basie has since established itself as a nonprofit organization committed to enriching the commu- nity's quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, col- laborating with other mission-based organizations, and promoting regional economic prosperity. Additionally, it has become one of the nation's most acclaimed centers for the performing arts. In 2008, The Basie underwent a massive inte- rior restoration that brought the theater back to its original Spanish- influenced magnificence, similar to how it looked in 1926. The build- ing's exterior facade was restored in 2010, and today, The Basie's influ- ence stretches well beyond the build- ing's Monmouth Street walls. Renamed in 2018, The Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre is the centerpiece of The Basie and features world-class performances in an inti- mate setting. Countless preeminent performers have taken the theatre's stage, including James Brown, Tony Bennett, Al Green, George Carlin, Counting Crows, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Jon Bon Jovi, and Jon Stewart. While the theatre's lights were dark during the pandemic, both new and old feet once again stand upon its stage almost every night of the week. The Vogel, a second state-of- the-art performance venue, was officially unveiled in October 2020 after almost four years in the mak- ing. Named for area philanthropists Anne and Sheldon Vogel in recog- nition of their support of The Basie, the 20,000 square-foot, balconied, two-level venue's original opening was planned for June 2020, but like everything else, was delayed by the pandemic. However, organizers real- ized The Vogel was a diamond in the rough and could provide a way to generate revenue after enduring The Vogel is The Basie's second state-of-the-art performance venue, officially unveiled in October 2020. Performance at The Basie Center's Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre. courtesy of The Count Basie Center for the Arts courtesy of The Count Basie Center for the Arts

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