COUNT BASIE THEATRE, ASBURY PARK PRESS REVEAL MAJOR PARTNERSHIP

Asbury Park Press Stage
(L-R): Basie board member Michael Parent, Asbury Park Press Executive Editor / Vice President Hollis Towns, President of the Asbury Park Press and Northeast Regional President for the Gannett East Group Tom Donovan and Basie President / CEO Adam Philipson

 

(MARCH 6, 2017 – RED BANK) – The Count Basie Theatre has announced an exclusive capital campaign partnership with the Asbury Park Press, granting the newspaper the naming rights to the historic Count Basie Theatre stage, where everyone from Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, Bon Jovi and William “Count” Basie, Jr. himself has performed. Beginning immediately, main stage events will come to be known as “Live from the Asbury Park Press Stage at the Count Basie Theatre.”

“This partnership will help transform our nonprofit theater into a regional center for the arts,” said Adam Philipson, CEO and President, Count Basie Theatre. “Pop and rock will live alongside teaching facilities for jazz and rock music, classes and workshops in our new Education and Outreach building, as well as visual and public art – everything one should expect from a creative and thriving cultural campus.”

“This opportunity comes at a time when the Asbury Park Press and our sister media companies are expanding our footprint and overall news and information impact throughout the state of New Jersey,”  said Tom Donovan, President of the Asbury Park Press and Northeast Regional President for the Gannett East Group.

“Our shared commitment with the Basie to support the arts, education, entertainment and live music throughout our region make this partnership a great fit. We very much look forward to growing with the Basie in the years ahead and ensuring that our children are exposed to the very best arts and music education while our communities can connect and enjoy a world class cultural environment,” Donovan said.

The Count Basie Theatre announced in November that it has reached the halfway point of its landmark, $20 million vision to expand the theater campus to include a second venue, additional space for its growing Performing Arts Academy, rehearsal rooms, conservatory space, state-of-the-art staging components, and improvements throughout the facility to create an inclusive, barrier-free experience for all. As part of the campaign, naming rights to various elements of the facility are available to individuals and corporations, whose generous donations will allow the Basie to realize its vision for the future.

To date, more than 100 generous donors have contributed to the Basie campaign, raising nearly $11 million in the process.

“Naming rights are a not for profit’s opportunity to recognize a high level of support in a public fashion while helping with the overall fundraising goal,” Philipson added. “This support from the Asbury Park Press also demonstrates a partnership of an even greater magnitude between two organizations committed to arts, education, entertainment and information throughout our region.”