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SPRINGSTEEN TO PLAY BASIE BENEFIT MAY 7

Payme

Bruce Springsteen has scheduled a May 7 concert at the Count Basie Theatre as a fundraiser for the historic Red Bank venue and some of its programs.

The Monmouth Street theatre announced the rare headline appearance by the rocker this morning. While he’s a not-uncommon walk-on at events featuring other musicians, Springsteen has rarely booked the theater for his own shows, preferring large arenas and stadia.

He and his E Street Band last week resumed a world tour that began last year in support of their latest album, ‘Magic.’

Springsteen’s wife, recording artist Patti Scialfa, is on the Basie Foundation’s board of directors and serves as honorary chair of the capital campaign. Though she trouped along for the tour’s first leg, she wasn’t with the band when it hit the road again last week.

“We have three teenagers at home, so we live in constant fear of the house burning down,” he told an audience in Hartford, Conn. “It must be watched.”

Presumably, the couple will be able to either bring their kids to the Basie show or get somebody else to keep an eye on them and their home, which is in either Rumson or Colts Neck, depending on which source you use. They own estates in both towns.

Here’s the text of a press release from the theater:

Bruce Springsteen will perform a benefit concert at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ on Wednesday, May 7th.

Proceeds from “An Evening with Bruce Springsteen” will benefit the historic Count Basie Theatre and help offset the cost of the renovation and restoration of the theatre that will begin this summer. A portion of the concert proceeds will also support other programs and operations at the Theatre, such as the Cool School. Patti Scialfa serves on the Board of the Basie Foundation and as Honorary Chair of the Capital Campaign.

Tickets will be made available to the public through an online “Make Your Best Offer” Auction beginning March 20th at www.countbasietheatre.org . Instructions on how the auction will work will be provided at www.countbasietheatre.org on March 20th. Concert information can also be found at www.brucespringsteen.net and www.backstreets.com .

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Posted on March 6, 2008 at 10:08 am, filed under Breaking News, Coming Soon, Entertainment, Fundraisers, Music, People. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed. Email this story.
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  • I paid $5.50 to see Bruce at the Count Basie in 1974 or 1975 - guess it will cost a bit more now….

    Posted by: Sue on March 6, 2008 at 3:28 pm | Permalink

  • Add a few zero's….

    Posted by: Anonymous on March 6, 2008 at 3:54 pm | Permalink

  • I paid $6.50 in July '76, and it was the Carleton Theatre ;-)

    Posted by: Anonymous on March 6, 2008 at 4:28 pm | Permalink

  • WHO CARES……HE IS A COMMUNIST WITH A BAD VOICE.

    Posted by: Alexander on March 7, 2008 at 7:46 am | Permalink

  • Its still nice to see him give a benefit for Red Bank.

    Posted by: lenny on March 7, 2008 at 8:26 am | Permalink

  • I am sure Mr. Springsteen is as nice and down-to-earth a guy as everyone says he is. Also, the benefit for the Count Basie is a good thing. It's a transfer of cash within a certain group of people in which we Red Bankers do not have to participate, and yet on the side we gain the benefit of an attractive neighborhood use.

    But, to be clear, this is *not* "a benefit for Red Bank": It is a benefit for the Count Basie. The two are not the same. Most of the 10,000+ residents of Red Bank never step foot in the Count Basie, and those which do rarely do more than a handful of times in their lives. Likewise the vast majority of people who use the Count Basie are not Red Bankers.

    And, again, that's all perfectly fine. But if Mr. Springsteen ever wanted to do a benefit for Red Bank, all he would ever have to do is stroll into the Rumson and Fair Haven Boro Council and School Board meetings and say "Hey– from now on, lets share schools and services with Red Bank!"

    That's all it would take. Twelve little words.

    Posted by: Passerby on March 7, 2008 at 12:31 pm | Permalink

  • I would like to thank Bruce for all the memories and he never forgets this area. I know for me I saw him at CBA in 1973 and I have never seen a concert again that had such an impact on me. The entire gym was shaking that day. I know even now at 49 if i am cleaning the house and put on a Bruce Springsteen song it gives me great energy. In short, Bruce Springsteen is like an old friend always giving back. Thanks Bruce! I will be hopeful to get tickets but I know that it is not easy. Best of luck to all who really want to go! This is so exciting!

    Posted by: Kathy O on March 7, 2008 at 1:25 pm | Permalink

  • Lenny writes–But, to be clear, this is *not* "a benefit for Red Bank": It is a benefit for the Count Basie.

    Press release says–Bruce Springsteen will perform a benefit concert at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ on Wednesday, May 7th. Proceeds from “An Evening with Bruce Springsteen” will benefit the historic Count Basie Theatre…

    Huh?

    Posted by: Kevin C on March 7, 2008 at 1:34 pm | Permalink

  • Worship services will be held May 7 at 9:30am, 11:15am, and 1PM. All hail Bruce!

    Posted by: BLB on March 7, 2008 at 6:43 pm | Permalink

  • yeah, and good luck buying a ticket, they are not being sold, rather an auction on the count web site. I guess the tickets will be going for around 1000.00 and up. Boy oh boy, If I didnt have to pay for my health care we could go, lucky some.

    Posted by: gary morris on March 7, 2008 at 7:01 pm | Permalink

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  • recent comments:

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