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2026 Basie Awards: See Who’s Nominated Across Monmouth County

The annual awards ceremony celebrates the best of Monmouth County’s high school theatre.

| Updated
The Count Basie Center for the Arts, located at 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank. (Google Maps)

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — The Count Basie Center for the Arts has revealed this year’s nominees for the 2026 Basie Awards, the annual celebration of Monmouth County high school theatre.

Modeled after the Tony Awards, the Basie Awards program evaluates musical and drama productions in high schools throughout Monmouth County.

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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.

“As the Count Basie Center celebrates its Centennial, we're excited to once again recognize and honor the hard work that goes into Monmouth County's high school productions,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts.

“Now in its 21st year, the Basie Awards program continues to be one of our most exciting nights of the year — one that not only showcases terrific talent but solidifies the county-wide theatrical community as one of the state’s very best.”

This year’s Basie Awards will take place on Tuesday, May 19, at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

Tickets for the award show go on sale Friday, May 8, at 10 a.m. through theBASIE.org, the Basie Center Box Office, or via phone at 732-842-9000.

“With our Centennial in mind, we thought it appropriate to recognize the rich history of Monmouth County’s performing arts community,” said Anthony Greco, Count Basie Center Senior Manager Arts Education and Outreach and director of this year’s ceremony. “This year’s Basie Awards will honor that heritage as a bridge to celebrate the present and dream of the future.”

For 2026, the Basie Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to State Senator Vin Gopal, whose personal and legislative support of the arts has allowed the Basie Center and other arts organizations to flourish throughout Monmouth County.

“Vin Gopal is a steadfast supporter of the arts, here at the Basie Center and throughout the 11th district — a community he serves with an unending level of support, compassion and grace,” Philipson said. “To honor him as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner is not only appropriate, but an honor for us as well.”

This year, 53 high school productions were evaluated by the Basie Awards nomination committee, producing nominations in the following categories:

DRAMAS & COMEDIES

CAROLE MALIK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN OF A PLAY

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - COMEDY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - COMEDY

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - DRAMA

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - DRAMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - COMEDY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - COMEDY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - DRAMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - DRAMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - COMEDY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - COMEDY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - DRAMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - DRAMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING COMPANY IN A COMEDY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING COMPANY IN A DRAMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING STAGE + TECH CREW OF A PLAY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

MUSICALS

CAROLE MALIK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

OUTSTANDING ALL STUDENT ORCHESTRA

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING MIXED STUDENT + ADULT ORCHESTRA

AMY GIINTHER FREDERICKS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ENSEMBLE GROUP

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING CHORUS IN A MUSICAL

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - MUSICAL

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - MUSICAL

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE - MUSICAL

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

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