Count Basie Theatre

This is a beautiful venue, with nice acoustics.  The first few times I saw a show here, I (like others) thought there are no "bad" seats.  I found out recently, though, that this is incorrect.  On the orchestra level (first floor), there probably really are no bad seats.  Once on the second floor, though, the ONLY good seats are the "Loge", which is a separate area in the front of the balcony consisting of three rows.  Those seats are nice and offer great views.  Going up into the actual "balcony," however, is extremely unpleasant.  Those seats are TIGHT, uncomfortably so.  Even the middle seat on a plane offers more room.  A LOT more room.  No joke.  My 6-foot husband could not even move once he'd folded himself in, and I heard many others around me grumbling about how ridiculously tight the balcony seats and rows are.

Other than the balcony seating - which is COMPLETELY unacceptable in my opinion - my only complaint is scheduling.  Just about all the shows I've seen and wanted to see at the Basie, have all been on weekday nights.  It's kind of strange how consistent this is.  Most times you want a night out, you want it on a weekend.  Yet show after show at the Basie is on a weeknight.  Once or twice with this, I can deal.  But rolling on into infinity?  It's annoying.  

Beyond that, it is a beautiful, historical facility and the Orchestra and Loge seating are very nice.  There are bars on both upper and lower levels, which is nice for early arrivals. The Basie offers a lot of stand-up shows, which I personally appreciate.  Pricing is highly variable, from reasonable prices for local symphonies and choruses, to what I consider very high pricing for big names like Tracy Morgan.  Parking is kind of an issue, as there is really only one pay lot nearby.  But, Red Bank is small enough that you can park once wherever you can find a space, and walk to your restaurant, show, bar afterwards, etc.  All in all, the Basie is definitely worth the trip and a nice aspect of Red Bank (outside of the balcony seating).

Definitely one of my favorite places to see a performance. No "bad" seats, really.

Love the Basie!! Have been to a few shows here and there is not a bad seat to be had in this beautifully restored classic theater.  They have a wide variety of shows here and the prices aren't usually too bad. Tickets can be purchased online or right at the theater box office. They have a bar in the lobby, serving a small slection of drinks and beers. If I can say anything bad about this place, it's the bathrooms and the parking. The bathrooms are on the second floor and the lines can get rather long. As for the parking, between the event at the theater and all of the restaurants and bars in the area, street parking can be hard to come by. There is the municipal lot across the street, but that is often full too. Get here early for a better chance for parking.