Comic tunesmith Bo Burnham makes a Count Basie Theatre debut Tuesday, and Engelbert Humperdinck makes a triumphal Red Bank return Wednesday.
A tantrum-throwing tempest named Joaquin may have blown past the Greater Green, but over at Red Bank’s Count Basie Theatre, a robust gust of activity promises to carry us over the wacky-weather hump — or is that Humperdinck? — in signature style.
It starts with gales of laughter on Tuesday, when Bo Burnham makes an inaugural trip to those fabled Basie boards that have hosted so many kingpins/queens of comedy legend.
A multitasker whose skillsets include acting, storytelling, screenwriting, multi-instrumental prowess, rapping and even a successful turn as a published poet (the 2013 NYT bestseller Egghead), the 25-year-old Massachusetts native comes to town with a production that mixes stand-up with his signature satirical songs and something akin to theater. It adds up to a fairly unique offering that’s helped his recorded concert specials like “what.“ and YouTube videos amass views in the hundreds of millions.
The fact that he can play the social media platforms like a concert baby grand — and the fact that he earned his first national TV special at an age when most of his peers would be getting bounced from 21-and-over comedy clubs — have made him “the funnyman you love to hate” among fellow working comics, and his tune-infused comedy (touching upon topics that include race, sexual preference, gender and religion) continues to garner protests and plaudits alike. Reserve tickets to the 8 pm show ($39.50) right here.
Returning to Red Bank on, appropriately enough, “hump day” is a British-born master of the mellow mood who’s been seducing ’em in song since the Fab Four will still touring. Now pushing 80 years of age (but showing no signs of stopping), Engelbert Humperdinck takes the Basie stage for the humpteenth time in an October 6 concert that promises surefire signatures like “Release Me,” “After the Loving” and “The Last Waltz” — and maybe a taste of his recent explorations into Southern gospel, or a 2014 album of duets that saw the re-energized pop singer trade verses with everyone from Johnny Mathis to Gene Simmons.
Take it here for tickets to the 8 pm show ($39 – $175) — and monitor the Basie’s website for new schedule adds, plus details on upcoming shows starring The Flying Karamazov Brothers (October 11), Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt (October 13), Loreena McKennitt (October 22) and many others.
