Count Basie Theatre presents
flick
A Gala Celebration of Film & NJ Filmmakers
Friday, June 14
Event Program
flick Schedule 6:30PM Cocktails on the Patio 8:00PM Welcome by Adam Philipson, Count Basie Theatre CEO; Tom Widener, Count Basie Theatre Foundation Chairman; Ray Moser, Count Basie Theatre Chairman; 8:10PM Performance by Randy Newman 9:30PM Dinner, Dancing, Wine Pull and Auction on the Patio Gala Catering by: Buona Sera
Gala Band: Head Over Heels
flick Gala Committee
Raymond R. Moser, Jr. Gala Co-Chair
Jonathan Demme Honorary Gala Chair
Tom Widener Gala Co-Chair
Mitch Ansell Michael Benedetto Avery and Chris Brighton Tracy and Nick Brown Nena Danevic and Tom Bernard Gordon Eadon Vinnie Favale Eileen and Larry Fell Alison and Steven Friedel Siobhan and Peter Hogan Nan and Ron Honsa Karen and Tom Hyland Carrie Keating Etta and Chris Kelly Barbara and Richard Kenderian Estelle and John Ketterer
Claire and Woody Knopf Phil Kuntz Eileen and Bill Luby Kris and Russ Lucas Judi and David Marrus Mindy and Jim O’Mealia Michael Parent Pat Pinto Missy and Blair Potter Maggie Riker Melanie and Matt Saker Maria and Chip Schulz Arlene and Larry Thoma Lynne and Hugh Ward Dakota and Donnie Woodham
Adam Philipson Chief Executive Officer Count Basie Theatre
Shannon Eadon Director of Development Count Basie Theatre
Jonathan Demme
June, 2013 As the Honorary Chairman of the flick Gala, I would like to join Tom Bernard and Friends of Film in welcoming you tonight. Thank you for coming and showing your support for the Count Basie Theatre. This is a marvelous old theatre that could not accomplish what it does without the help and patronage of the community. We anticipate a sensational show on stage with Randy Newman and thank you for your support of this event, the proceeds for which will help purchase the digital and satellite technology necessary to bring the Basie’s film program into the 21st century. New Jersey has a rich history of films, actors and filmmakers and tonight we honor all of those past and present whose craft and art bring great stories and great performances to the screen.
99 Monmouth Street A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Office 732-224-8778
Red Bank
Box Office 732-842-9000
Fax 732-842-9323
NJ
07701
countbasietheatre.org
Thank you all for coming tonight and helping us transform the Count Basie Theatre into the digital age! The Basie has been a hub of cultural activity for Red Bank and Monmouth County since its inception in the 20’s and it is truly an auspicious opportunity almost 100 years later, for us as a community to be entrusted with keeping the Basie current, relevant and accessible. It is an honor to be part of my first Basie gala and that Mr. Newman is able to perform on our stage. I am grateful to our chairmen Ray Moser and Tom Widener, our honorary Chairman Jonathan Demme, the very generous Friends of Film and Mr. Tom Bernard. I also give great thanks to our board of Trustees and Directors who have been instrumental in helping us have a s uccessful event! If not for you all, we could not keep the Basie open and on behalf of the entire Basie team we thank you for your continued support! With digital projection possibilities we intend to continue our very successful “Film for Thought” series, show more free films, utilize satellite broadcasts and live streams to show work from afar and create a home to generate meaningful dialogue and community conversations. This is the way that film becomes part of our programmatic vision and we can ensure wider and deeper outreach -something to be expected of a regional center for the arts and education. The great screen writer John Milius once said “Pain is temporary, film is forever!” Thank you for helping us play in the realm of forever.
Adam Philipson CEO, Count Basie Theatre
FRIENDS OF FILM Welcome to this festive night in which we all salute CINEMA and
the vital role which those moving and talking and singing heretofore celluloid images play in venues throughout the State and importantly here in our beloved theatre, the Basie. The financial success which we hope to record through your generosity this evening will almost magically transport the Basie from the ancient flickering images to the digital world of imagery. Some of you may still remember screen images projected by arc lighting and then high intensity electrical illuminations as we presently experience them. Unfortunately, all have now become obsolete and with this milestone ends the use of film to produce screen images in the future. Cinema as an art form has universal appeal. All ages of our community enjoy it. They are entertained by it. Its accessibility becomes a bridge by which our community can experience the further richness and diversity of the Basie’s offerings. If the Basie is to continue to fulfill its mission in providing an ever widening and limitless cinema resource, the urgent need is at hand to acquire digital capability, the medium of the future.. With your help we will meet this challenge. Have a wonderful evening!
99 Monmouth Street A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Office 732-224-8778
Red Bank
Box Office 732-842-9000
Fax 732-842-9323
NJ
07701
countbasietheatre.org
Since the Count Basie Theatre opened as the Carlton Theatre in November of 1926, the Basie has shown movies. On opening night, the feature film The Quarterback was presented in two shows to four thousand people. The film, of course, was a silent film; however, a ten-piece orchestra added a live soundtrack. “Talkies” soon replaced silent films. The Basie adapted to present the state-of-the-art talking picture technology and the Basie became the focus of nightlife in downtown Red Bank. Through its adaptive nature and a bit of luck, the Basie outlasted all other Red Bank theatres of its era. Now, eighty-seven years after the grand opening, the Basie is poised to bring state-of-the-art cinema to Red Bank. The Basie Gala is celebrating the rich movie-making heritage of New Jersey, while raising funds to purchase state-of-the-art digital projection equipment. Consequently, the Basie will once again adapt to a new technology and be able to present digital content in the digital age. That is something to celebrate!! I’d like to thank the Basie’s management, staff, and Boards of Trustees (Theatre and Foundation) for their vision in enabling the Basie to continue its legacy of providing state-of-the-art cinema to our community. In addition, I’d like to thank the Basie’s many donors and patrons for their continuing support of the Basie and its place in New Jersey’s cinematic history. Sincerely,
Raymond R. Moser Jr. Chairman Count Basie Theatre Board of Trustees
The Count Basie Theatre Foundation
I am delighted to welcome so many friends and supporters to the Count Basie’s annual gala. This year’s gala, “flick,” in addition to being the Basie’s largest fundraising event, is a tribute to film and to New Jersey filmmakers. A portion of tonight’s proceeds are earmarked for the purchase of a digital movie projector and the satellite equipment necessary to simulcast live performances from afar to our stage as we continue to position this grand old theatre for the 21st century and 21st century technology. In fact, although many of us think of the Basie primarily as a place to see great concerts (and it is that!), the Basie originally opened in 1926 as a vaudeville and movie house and over the years it has screened many iconic films such as The Sound of Music and Star Wars. Today, the Basie is home to two movie series, the Film for Thought series that pairs newly released movies and documentaries with relevant, interesting speakers and our Free Film Series, generously underwritten by CBT’s Friends of Film. Many thanks are due to many people for making tonight and all we do at the Basie possible including the Basie’s dedicated Boards of Directors, its incredibly hardworking and talented staff, our Advisory Board member Tom Bernard, Chairman of Sony Picture Classics, our honorary chair and Academy Award winner Jonathan Demme, the individuals behind the Friends of Film who in addition to all they do all year long are generously supporting tonight’s event, and all of our other sponsors of “flick.” Randy Newman is the perfect entertainer for us tonight: a musician recently elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and an Oscar winner for songs inextricably linked to films, such as “You Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story. I am honored to chair the Count Basie Theatre Foundation board and to be co-chair of tonight’s event with my friend Ray Moser. Again, I thank you all for coming out to support the wonderful theatre and programs that are the Basie and I look forward to seeing you here many more times at concerts, films, and performances. In the meantime, though, please have a great time tonight -- it should be a fun, memorable evening. Sincerely, Tom Widener Chairman Count Basie Theatre Foundation Board of Directors 9 9 M o nm outh Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-224-8778
count b a si e t h e a t re . org A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
A prolific film music composer, Randy Newman has won two Academy Awards (in 2002 for “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters, Inc and in 2011 for “We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3), three Emmy Awards and six Grammy Awards. Among his notable scores are The Natural, Parenthood, Awakenings, Avalon, Pleasantville & Leatherheads; Newman even shared screenwriting credit for the 1986 Steve Martin hit, Three Amigos! Newman is also the recipient in 2002 of the Recording Academy’s prestigious Governors’ Award, and a recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His own Top 40 success came with the most unlikely track, “Short People,” from the 1977 Little Criminals.
flick History In 1926 the Count Basie Theatre opened its doors as “The Carlton Theater” and was a vaudeville and movie house. Over the years it has screened iconic films such as the Sound of Music,
Romancing the Stone, Herbie the Love Bug and Star Wars. Today, the Count Basie Theatre has the pleasure to have two movie series: the Film for Thought Series that pairs newly released movies and documentaries with incredible speakers spearheaded by Tom Bernard of Sony Pictures Classics and our Free Film Series underwritten by Count Basie Theatre’s Friends of Film that opens the doors of the Basie to everyone with an interest in seeing a wonderful movie. This past year, Tom Bernard and Sony Pictures Classics have brought amazing films to the Count Basie Theatre such as
Searching for Sugarman, (which just won the Academy Award for Best Documentary), West of Memphis and Neil Young Journeys in addition to incredible speakers such as the Academy Award-Winning Director, Jonathan Demme. The CBT’s Friends of Film have generously restored the Theatre’s 35mm Projector and have consistently underwritten for years the Theatre’s annual Free Film Series which has made films accessible to our community. In 2012-13 we have shown such wonderful films as Jaws, It Happened One Night, Easy Rider and Big. Tonight, with the help of your generous contributions and that of Friends of Film, we are well on our way to purchase the digital equipment necessary to take the Count Basie Theatre’s film program into the 21st Century. Please let us know if you are able to make a further contribution toward this goal!