’22 Basie Awards, honoring excellence in Monmouth County high school theatre, returning to live format May 25

 

TICKETS ON SALE, NOMINEES TO BE REVEALED LATER THIS MONTH

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ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA

 

2022 Basie Awards, presented by Bank of America

(RED BANK | APRIL 11, 2022) The Basie Awards, the annual celebration of Monmouth County high school theatre presented by Bank of America, will return to the Basie Center stage on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

Tickets for this year’s presentation go on sale Friday, April 22 at 10am through theBASIE.org and the Basie Center box office, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank. Nominees will be announced the following week in Red Bank.

The previous two years of Basie Awards presentations were presented online on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One of the greatest nights of the year at the Basie Center is when we gather to celebrate our region’s high school productions,” said Adam Philipson, President / CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Though our virtual ceremonies did an excellent job, nothing showcases the hard work of the schools, actors and administrators than the live experience of theatre!  Seeing these productions provides a semblance of normalcy and the exhilaration is palpable when communities and students gather to honor their achievements.”

“And thanks to our generous sponsors at Bank of America, the show will go on – though as we know at the Basie Center, it never really stopped!”

“For the sixth year, Bank of America is sponsoring the annual Basie Awards program,” said Alberto Garofalo, President, Bank of America New Jersey. “Our partnership with the Count Basie Center allows us to support the arts in our local schools, and like the Basie Center, Bank of America strives to foster creativity and resiliency in the communities we serve. We are very much looking forward to the excitement and electricity of the Basie Awards ceremony on May 25.”

Now in its 17th year, the Basie Awards program is modeled after the TONY™ Awards, and evaluates musical and drama productions in high schools throughout Monmouth County. A rubric is used to assess performance in 25+ categories, recognizing excellence in everything from acting and directing to set and costume design, choreography, lighting, and orchestra. This year, 16 dramas and 23 musical performances were evaluated by the BASIE AWARDS nomination committee.

A complete list of participating schools is located at the end of this release.

“As excited as we are to return to a live show, we’re just as impressed that our region’s high school acting community has remained so dedicated to its craft,” said Samantha Giustiniani, Senior Director of Education, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “The arts played an important role for students and families navigating their way through the last two years, and our hope is that this year’s Basie Awards celebrates and showcases that resiliency like never before.”

Each year, the Basie Center invites all Monmouth County high schools to enter their productions for consideration.  Productions evaluated as part of this year’s program are as follows:

Dramatic Productions

  • Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft (“The Great Gatsby”)
  • Collier High School, Marlboro (“The Importance of Being Earnest”)
  • Colts Neck High School, Colts Neck (“Exit the body”)
  • Communications High School, Wall (“Peter and the Starcatcher”)
  • Freehold High School, Freehold (“The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon”)
  • Manalapan High School, Manalapan (“CLUE on Stage”)
  • Marlboro High School, Marlboro (“Decision Height”)
  • Matawan Regional High School, Matawan (“The Curious Savage”)
  • Mater Dei Prep, Middletown (“Puffs”)
  • Middletown North High School, Middletown (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”)
  • Middletown South High School, Middletown (“Back Story”)
  • Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls (“12 Angry Jurors”)
  • Raritan High School, Hazlet (“Noises Off”)
  • Red Bank Regional High School, Red Bank (“A Streetcar Named Desire”)
  • Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, Rumson (“Legend of Sleepy Hollow”)
  • Trinity Hall, Tinton Falls (“Puffs”)

 

Musical Productions

  • Christian Brother’s Academy, Lincroft (“13 The Musical”)
  • Collier High School, Marlboro (“Mamma Mia”)
  • Colts Neck High School, Colts Neck (“Bye Bye Birdie”)
  • Freehold High School, Freehold (“Grease”)
  • Freehold Township High School, Freehold (“Curtains”)
  • Henry Hudson Regional School, Highlands (“Chicago: School Edition”)
  • High Technology High School, Lincroft (“The Addams Family”)
  • Holmdel High School, Holmdel (“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!”)
  • Howell High School, Howell (“Young Frankenstein”)
  • Keansburg High School, Keansburg (“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”)
  • Manalapan High School, Manalapan (“Grease”)
  • Manasquan High School, Manasquan (“Grease: School Edition”)
  • Marlboro High School, Marlboro (“Honk!”)
  • Matawan Regional High School, Matawan (“A Bronx Tale”)
  • Mater Dei Prep, Middletown (“Legally Blonde”)
  • Middletown North High School, Middletown (“A Chorus Line”)
  • Middletown South High School, Middletown (“Grease”)
  • Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls (“Little Shop of Horrors”)
  • Raritan High School, Hazlet (“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”)
  • Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank (“The Little Mermaid”)
  • Red Bank Regional High School, Red Bank (“Godspell”)
  • Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, Rumson (“Mamma Mia”)
  • Saint John Vianney, Holmdel (“Freaky Friday”)
  • Trinity Hall, Tinton Falls (“Twelfth Night: The Musical”)