Red Bank Theater Watch: Basie Awards Wednesday

Wednesday brings the Sixth Annual Basie Awards to the historic Count Basie Theatre. The Basie Awards honor the outstanding achievements of Monmouth County high school theater.  Awards are handed out for exceptional performances in dramatic and musical productions that have been performed by high schools throughout the year.

The awards also feature live performances by the casts of Best Musical nominees and celebrity presenters from across Monmouth County.

Much like any award show, awards are handed out for behind the scenes productions as well as to those appearing on stage.   This year, Rumson-Fair Haven’s Hunchback of Notre Dame leads the pack in the behind the scenes drama category, with nominations for Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Direction.

For behind the scenes in musicals, Mater Dei High School’s The Drowsy Chaperone leads the nominations, with nods for Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Choreography, and Outstanding Costume Design. 

For onstage performances in drama, the stars of Red Bank Regional’s As You Like It have been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Lead Actress.

In musicals, Mater Dei’s The Drowsy Chaperone has a number of nominations, including three nominations in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category. It also stands a chance in Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Direction.

The show starts at 7 p.m.

Chicago Comes East

On Friday, legendary rock bank Chicago takes the stage at the Count Basie Theatre.  Throughout their more than four-decade long career, Chicago has enjoyed the sale of 100 million albums.  They have had five number one albums, and 21 top ten hits.

Friday’s performance will include all original members of the group, as Chicago is one of the few rock groups of the era that never suffered a breakup.

Among their most notable hits are Make Me Smile, Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?, Saturday in the Park, If You Leave Me Now, and You’re the Inspiration.

The group won a Grammy Award for If You Leave Me Now in 1977. They have won numerous other awards throughout their career, including American Music Awards and People’s Choice Awards. 

Chicago has long been involved in “giving back” as well. Since 1995, a portion of their ticket sales have been donated to the children’s charities Hannah and Friends and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Fund.  

In 2009, Chicago’s nationwide tour helped raise money for the nation’s food banks. Chicago’s performance on Friday is a public fundraiser and will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monmouth County.

The show starts at 8 p.m.

Jacuques Brel is Alive in Red Bank

If that isn’t enough to keep you busy this week, Two River Theater heads into the second week of its performance of Jacques Brel is Alive and Living In Paris.  The play, which is described as “naughty, funny, dark, and romantic,” is a revue of the work of singer-songwriter Jacques Brel.

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris brings the songs to life onstage in a performance that The New York Times calls “a potent mixture of romanticism and cynicism, world-weariness and jaunty whimsy.”

The show runs through Sunday, June 5. All music is by Jacques Brel and it is directed by Daniel Ostling.

For show times, visit  TRC on the web.