Count Basie Theatre Inc

What Count Basie Theatre Inc does

Count Basie Theatre Inc (doing business as the Count Basie Center for the Arts) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) performing arts organization headquartered at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, New Jersey, founded in 1926 and approaching its centennial. The organization operates a multi-venue campus that includes the 1,568-seat Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre (the original 1926 Spanish-influenced building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places), The Vogel (an intimate performance space), the Basie Center Cinema House (film screenings on Veezi ticketing), and — as of June 2026 — ParkStage, an 8,500-capacity outdoor concert venue at East Freehold Showgrounds operated as a joint venture with Monmouth County Tourism. A 46,000+ square-foot modernization completed by JRM Construction Management in April 2026 added new dance studios, box office, offices, and conference rooms, and delivered the Grunin Arts Education Building that houses the Turner Academy of the Arts education program.

The business is event-driven: primary revenue comes from ticket sales across its four venues (distributed via on-site box office and Ticketmaster), supplemented by venue rentals for private events, membership and donation programs (including cryptocurrency gifts, the Encore Society planned-giving program, and named giving circles), corporate sponsorship (Hackensack Meridian Health, Grunin Foundation, Bank of America, Citizens Bank, OceanFirst, Peapack Private, Ansell Grimm Aaron), and tuition from the Turner Academy's classes, summer camps, private music lessons, and the TVT3 film program. The marketing stack combines owned digital channels (website, Facebook, X, Instagram, Flickr), email and SMS, and earned media, while supporting technology includes Ticketmaster, Veezi, and a Blackbaud-powered donation platform.

Governance is by an uncompensated Board of Trustees with day-to-day operations run by a professional executive team led by President & CEO Adam Philipson, COO Izzy Sackowitz, CFO Karen Franklin, and CMO Jonathan Vena. Customer concentration is low: revenue is diversified across mass-market ticket buyers, a broad base of individual donors and members, multiple corporate sponsors, and foundation/government arts funders including the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. The organization is consistently recognized by Pollstar magazine as one of the nation's top-performing live event venues.

Name

Count Basie Theatre Inc

Legal name

Count Basie Center for the Arts

Website

https://thebasie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Count Basie Theatre Inc is a New Jersey-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) operating the historic 1,568-seat Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank — a multi-venue performing arts campus (theater, The Vogel, Cinema House, ParkStage outdoor venue) that programs concerts, theater, comedy, film, and arts education for regional audiences in the New York metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Performing arts center
• Live performance venue
• Arts education programs
• Theater ticketing services
• Cultural event programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Red Bank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from live performances, concerts, theater productions, comedy shows, and cinema screenings across multiple venues (Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, The Vogel, Basie Center Cinema House, and ParkStage).
2. Venue Rentals: The facility is available for private event rentals including corporate events, weddings, and community gatherings.
3. Memberships and Donations: Nonprofit fundraising through membership programs, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, cryptocurrency donations, commemorative giving, and planned giving through the Encore Society.
4. Education Programs: Revenue from Academy classes, summer camps, private music lessons, performing arts instruction, and TVT3 film and television program.
5. Gift Certificates: Sale of gift certificates for events and education programs.
6. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship arrangements with named sponsors across food, beverage, banking, and other categories displayed on website and event materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Count Basie Center for the Arts is a nonprofit performing arts organization operating a multi-venue campus anchored by a historic 1,568-seat theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. The organization presents live concerts, theatrical productions, comedy shows, and film screenings across multiple performance spaces, while also operating a performing arts academy, venue rental services, and a fundraising/membership program.

Product overview

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is a nonprofit performing arts venue and cultural organization offering a multi-venue portfolio centered around its historic 1,568-seat main theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. The organization operates multiple performance spaces including the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre (major concerts and theatrical productions), The Vogel (intimate performances and comedy), and Basie Center Cinema House (film screenings and cinematic events). A recent expansion includes ParkStage, an outdoor venue at East Freehold Showgrounds accommodating 8,500 attendees. The organization also operates the Turner Academy of the Arts, a classical music conservatory and performing arts education program offering instruction for all ages. A major $26 million capital campaign has expanded the facility with the Grunin Arts Education Building, Turner Academy spaces, and additional amenities, positioning the center as a regional performing arts hub approaching its centennial in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre A named performance space within the Count Basie Center campus hosting major concerts, comedy shows, and theatrical touring productions.
• The Vogel A secondary, more intimate performance space within the Count Basie Center featuring concerts, comedy performances, and special events.
• Basie Center Cinema House An on-site cinema house operated by the Count Basie Center showing theatrical film releases and hosting special cinematic events including Open Mic Comedy Nights.
• ParkStage

Quantifiable outcome

• Consistently ranked among nation's top-performing live event venues by Pollstar magazine
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monmouth County TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Collaboration to develop and operate ParkStage, a new outdoor concert venue at the East Freehold Showgrounds. ParkStage held grand opening June 19, 2026 with sold-out Sublime concert. Venue accommodates approximately 8,500 attendees with general admission lawn seating, VIP viewing areas, and multiple bars and food options.
• JRM Construction ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 14 April 2026Completed 46,000+ square-foot renovation of Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey. Project modernized historic venue (originally opened 1926) while preserving architectural character. Work spanned basement through third floor including new dance studios, box office, reception area, offices, conference rooms, MEP system replacements, and exterior restoration. Venue remained fully operational during construction.
• 180 Turning Lives AroundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Nonprofit organization hosted private movie night at Basie Center Cinema House for survivor families as part of student-led 'Hope in Dark Light' initiative. Approximately 18 families representing more than 45 guests attended the inaugural event designed with trauma-informed approach.
• Ranney SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led initiative creator Brooks Chandler from Ranney School launched 'Hope in Dark Light' program at the venue, providing positive shared experiences for families affected by domestic violence and trauma.
• Emporium PresentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-presenter of events including Davide De Pierro performances at The Vogel venue.
• TicketmastercoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary online ticketing platform for all Count Basie Center venues including Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, The Vogel, and Basie Center Cinema House.
• Hackensack Meridian HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming sponsor of Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, one of the primary performance venues at the Count Basie Center campus.
• New Jersey State Council on the ArtscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment arts council providing funding support for Basie Center programming. Noted as making programming possible in part.
• Grunin FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing support for artistic and educational programming. Named sponsor of Grunin Arts Education Building housing Turner Academy of the Arts.
• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on website footer with other named sponsors including Ansell Grimm Aaron, Citizens Bank, OceanFirst Bank, Peapack Private, and others.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Lincoln Center operates multiple performance spaces, presenting classical, jazz, and contemporary programming with significant education initiatives. Comparable multi-venue nonprofit model at substantially larger scale and brand prestige.
• Radio City Music Hall: Radio City is a historic, large-scale NYC entertainment venue operated as part of MSG Entertainment, presenting concerts, family shows, and signature events. Comparable as a heritage venue but commercial rather than nonprofit.
• Carnegie Hall: Carnegie Hall is a much larger, established nonprofit presenting venue in NYC with a classical/jazz/cross-genre mandate and extensive education programs. Comparable in nonprofit presenting model but operates at significantly greater scale.
• Kennedy Center: The Kennedy Center is the U.S. national performing arts center with multi-stage programming, education, and a national footprint. Comparable as a multi-venue nonprofit presenting organization but at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC): MPAC is a nonprofit performing arts center in Morristown, NJ, in a restored 1937 theater hosting concerts, comedy, family shows, and education programs. Closely matched in scale, mission, and regional competitive set.
• New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC): NJPAC is the largest nonprofit performing arts center in New Jersey, operating multiple halls in Newark with a comparable mix of concerts, education, and community programming. It is the most direct geographic and mission-aligned peer to Count Basie Center.
• Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC): bergenPAC is a New Jersey-based nonprofit performing arts venue in Englewood presenting national touring concerts, comedy, and family programming. Closely comparable regional venue competing for the same NY-metro audience.
• Apollo Theater: The Apollo is a historic nonprofit performing arts venue in Harlem, NYC, presenting concerts, comedy, and community/education programming. Comparable as a heritage nonprofit venue with national touring bookings and an education mission.
• State Theatre New Jersey: State Theatre New Jersey is a nonprofit historic performing arts center in New Brunswick presenting concerts, Broadway tours, film, and education programs. Directly comparable mid-size regional venue with similar mission.

Others

• Phoenix Theatre (Phoenix Productions at Basie): Phoenix Productions is the in-house community theater company at Count Basie Center producing musicals and plays; included for its internal production arm comparable to resident companies at other regional nonprofit venues.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/basiecenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/basiecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/basiecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/count-basie-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Count Basie Theatre Inc